The loud and meaningful message of Jesus Christ to all the participants of the First Archdiocesan Mission Congress to “go to the whole world and make disciples of all nations” (Mt. 28:19) was heard loud and clear. The central message that the Church is missionary by nature became radically obvious from one speaker to the other, from one activity to the next. Delegates from the parishes, schools and different institutions consciously and actively involved themselves in listening, reflecting, sharing and taking down notes from the lectures and homilies. The bishops, priests, lay and youth leaders who witnessed the unfolding of the event of the mission congress as the first and foremost centerpiece of the three year preparation for the centennial celebration of the ARCHDIOCESE OF LIPA in 2010 concretely saw the success and meaning of the three day congress. It was a grace experience for the whole Archdiocese. Guests from other dioceses and congregations admired the whole congress, the manner it was executed and the diligence and spirit of all the participants. There was no doubt that the event transpired with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the grace of God and the guidance of Jesus Christ, our savior and the first to be sent to bring the Good News of salvation. Participants and the staff who prepared the congress acknowledged this truth. God used LACMMI to initiate and lead this event but everybody shared and made the event a special blessing and a great challenge. It is very inspiring to hear priests and lay people already taking initiatives to bring the message of the Congress of Telling the Story of Jesus into their parishes, organizations and barangays. They do this in many different ways: putting stickers of biblical passages to tricycles, jeepneys and buses; setting up tarpaulins with Jesus’ messages in waiting sheds within the parish; integrating the mission message to the Marian October devotion, holding mission seminars, doing Bibliarasal to tell the story of Jesus, integrating mission in the catechesis and religion classes, reaching out to the poor, and many more means of doing mission. The task and responsibility is huge and it will be difficult realistically to reach out to everybody and make impacts on all strata of life: political, economic, social, cultural, religious, academic and spiritual aspects. But every act of mission starts with small beginnings. The Apostles did it little by little beginning with themselves, their immediate community before going to many places and countries and bringing the story and teachings of Jesus to many people. Mission has become the umbrella of all pastoral activities and tasks. Whatever commissions, parish or organization we have, it must be rooted in the mission of Christ. We are only expanding His mission in our local churches so our faithful can experience the story and message of Jesus in their lives. Hence, we live, love and serve God in a missionary spirit in the Archdiocese. God will guide us because he sends us!
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