A confused missionary... needs help!

  • Thread starter Thread starter StDominicsSword
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
S

StDominicsSword

Guest
Hello, I’m new here. I am 29 years old, have been Catholic 1 year and a Christian for 15 years. I have also been married for 8 years. My husband and I spent more than 10 years training to be Protestant Missionaries. I can’t imagine doing anything with my life besides Missionary work. Now that I’m Catholic, I’m a little confused about how to be a “Catholic Missionary”. A priest I know said that “we believe in universal salvation”, which, I know is not true, but how do I find people who are devoted to preaching the gospel to the lost? When I was a Protestant, there were schools, classes and conferences all the time teaching people how to be missionaries. I have tried various avenues to find advice and help, but now it just seems like we are going to have to figure this all out on our own. Does anyone know any formerly protestant missionary converts to Catholicism? Any help or info. would be **greatly **appreciated!
 
Dear Missionary family,

What kind of missionary work have you been involved in and what kind would you like to get involved in?
 
We have been focused on ministry to Muslims.

I’d rather not say what country we plan to move to, but we have already been there for a short time.
Our focus is social work and evangelism.
 
Fellow Missionary,

I personally don’t know of any Catholic mission organizations. If you Google Catholic and Missionary it does pull up several results. You best avenue I think would be to start calling them and sharing with them where you feel God is calling you.

I’m not sure what you meant by not believing in what the priest said about universal salvation. I believe it may be a misunderstanding. A lot of the time, as a convert I know this to be true, Protestants and Catholics have many different words for the same thing, or at least the same intention of meaning. That said, I believe what the priest was referring to was,

"Missionary motivation. It is from God’s love for all men that the Church in every age receives both the obligation and the vigor of her missionary dynamism, "for the love of Christ urges us on.“343 Indeed, God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth”;344 that is, God wills the salvation of everyone through the knowledge of the truth. Salvation is found in the truth. Those who obey the prompting of the Spirit of truth are already on the way of salvation. But the Church, to whom this truth has been entrusted, must go out to meet their desire, so as to bring them the truth. Because she believes in God’s universal plan of salvation, the Church must be missionary.” - CCC 851 empasis mine.

We are all called to be missionaries and all are called by God to be saved. This is what we mean by the universal **call **to salvation - not universal salvation. So I would only offer up a word of caution and give the priest the benefit of the doubt.

In regards to how you find people who want to preach teh Gospel to those that are lost: There are plenty of Catholics here in the states that are lost. There are also many Muslims who are closer to God than many Catholics here in the states. I applaud your efforts to go to ALL the nations - as for me and my family we shall stay here and evangelize the lost here. This will help in your missionary efforts in bringing many people to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and HIS Church (can’t hurt with your fundraising since Catholics give substantially less than our protestant brothers and sisters.)
 
I think that a big part of being a Catholic Evangelist is helping bring sunday catholics into a deeper relationship with the Lord, maybe even helping them appreciate the value of the sacraments and other devotions. That is one way to build up the church, but again that is working from the inside out. Maybe you want to work from the outside in, and that is great too!

One way that I have found that helps evangelize within the church is throught the charismatic renewal, which really brings people closer to God than ever before. No matter what level of faith you are at, the charismatic renewal can make it stronger because it is focused on helping people open up even more to the Holy Spirit within them.
 
two suggestions, first Marcus Grodi’s Coming Home Network
chnetwork.org/
which assists Protestant clergy and their families, which I imagine would include those laypersons whose work and training has been with their church ministry, who decide to become Catholic, in finding employment and discerning their new vocations.

second is REsponse, from the Catholic Volunteer Network, which is a catalog but also accessed on line, for missionary and other volunteer activity with Catholic orders and agencies.
www.cnvs.org
 
Just a thought…

when Protestants talk about “missionary work” it means evangelizing or converting others…which is not the first thing Catholics think of,

when Catholics talk about “missionary work” it means helping and serving the poor, sick, imprisoned, persecuted, etc…, which is not what it seems you are talking about…

Maybe the problem you are having finding info is due to the “wording” of your search…

The Franciscans were the only Christians allowed to stay in the Holy Land after the Crusaders lost to the Muslims. They have guarded and kept the holy sites since then, and still do…which means they are still there…

Maybe you could try to get in touch with Franciscans in the Holy Land, and other Muslim countries…they are probably your best bet for “inside” info…and they certainly are missionaries! [in the Catholic sense]
 
StDominicsSword said:
Hello, I’m new here. I am 29 years old, have been Catholic 1 year and a Christian for 15 years. I have also been married for 8 years. My husband and I spent more than 10 years training to be Protestant Missionaries. I can’t imagine doing anything with my life besides Missionary work. Now that I’m Catholic, I’m a little confused about how to be a “Catholic Missionary”. A priest I know said that “we believe in universal salvation”, which, I know is not true, but how do I find people who are devoted to preaching the gospel to the lost? When I was a Protestant, there were schools, classes and conferences all the time teaching people how to be missionaries. I have tried various avenues to find advice and help, but now it just seems like we are going to have to figure this all out on our own. Does anyone know any formerly protestant missionary converts to Catholicism? Any help or info. would be **greatly **appreciated!
Click to expand...
Believe me in a 2000 yr-old institution, you don’t have to figure out anything “on your own”…you just have to find the right connection, since we have SO many different “paths” to serve others, it may take a while.

It does strike me that maybe it isn’t “missionary work” that you are seeking but rather apologetics…most converts from Protestantism to Catholicism seem to get into apologetics as a natural progression from their zeal to convert others, which Catholics don’t really do from the “missionary” work, which is given to whomever needs it…regardless of religion or tradition…

Maybe if you were more specific about what kind of “work” you seek to do…the actual job functions…
 
I’m not sure what you meant by not believing in what the priest said about universal salvation. I believe it may be a misunderstanding. A lot of the time, as a convert I know this to be true, Protestants and Catholics have many different words for the same thing, or at least the same intention of meaning. That said, I believe what the priest was referring to was,
Click to expand...
(Dismas)

Well, I love that priest he is an awesome priest but the context was that we were in RCIA and talking about purgatory and a girl asked a question basically like “Is there a second chance for people who didn’t believe in God in purgatory?” (implying that everyone could have a chance to repent after they died) and that’s when he said “We believe in universal salvation”. So, after that I just assumed that maybe some Catholics believed that everyone would eventual go to heaven. But hopefully, I just misunderstood.
I applaud your efforts to go to ALL the nations - as for me and my family we shall stay here and evangelize the lost here.
Click to expand...
(Dismas)

That’s wonderful, and you probably will have a harder time than we will. God bless you, thanks for the comments.
 
Flame_of_Christ said:
I think that a big part of being a Catholic Evangelist is helping bring sunday catholics into a deeper relationship with the Lord, maybe even helping them appreciate the value of the sacraments and other devotions. That is one way to build up the church, but again that is working from the inside out. Maybe you want to work from the outside in, and that is great too!

One way that I have found that helps evangelize within the church is throught the charismatic renewal, which really brings people closer to God than ever before. No matter what level of faith you are at, the charismatic renewal can make it stronger because it is focused on helping people open up even more to the Holy Spirit within them.
Click to expand...
Thank you. I don’t know if I will do any good with “sunday Catholics” I still feel slightly like an outsider myself, and still trying to figure out a lot of “Catholic stuff”. I’m ok with theology, but all the detail of how to “be” a Catholic…that might take a while.
Charismatic renewal–I’m there already. I go to a Charismatic prayer group at our Church, and I agree with you because the people there are very interested in reaching the lost and “reverting” Catholics.
peace
 
puzzleannie said:
two suggestions, first Marcus Grodi’s Coming Home Network
chnetwork.org/
which assists Protestant clergy and their families, which I imagine would include those laypersons whose work and training has been with their church ministry, who decide to become Catholic, in finding employment and discerning their new vocations.

second is REsponse, from the Catholic Volunteer Network, which is a catalog but also accessed on line, for missionary and other volunteer activity with Catholic orders and agencies.
www.cnvs.org
Click to expand...
I tried the CHN but as of the time I contacted them, they didn’t really have an outreach for missionaries. I’m not sure if that is because not many Protestant missionaries have converted or what?
I’ll try the REsponse thing. Thank you
peace
 
when Protestants talk about “missionary work” it means evangelizing or converting others…which is not the first thing Catholics think of,
Click to expand...
when Catholics talk about “missionary work” it means helping and serving the poor, sick, imprisoned, persecuted, etc…, which is not what it seems you are talking about…
Click to expand...
When I personally talk about missionary work, I really mean both evangelism and service.
It seems like at some point in History, “missionary work” for Catholics meant both as well. I’m sure it means both to the people who are actually there doing the work.

peace
 
StDominicsSword said:
When I personally talk about missionary work, I really mean both evangelism and service.
It seems like at some point in History, “missionary work” for Catholics meant both as well. I’m sure it means both to the people who are actually there doing the work.

peace
Click to expand...
Well, yes, I guess I didn’t express myself well…

For example, in a country under Islamic rule, it is a death sentence to convert to any other religion, right? Well, what some missionaries [at least the ones I always seem to read about] do is have schools or orphanages and serve everyone, especially the poor, and by their lives, they “preach”…and evangelize…but I haven’t heard [not to say they don’t exist] of anyone actively going just to evangelize & convert Muslims…which sounds dangerous, btw…

Do Protestants go to those countries to evangelize? Interesting…

I would still try the Franciscans, at least they can be a good resource for support once you are there…

Good Luck and God Bless!
 
StDominicsSword said:
(Dismas)

Well, I love that priest he is an awesome priest but the context was that we were in RCIA and talking about purgatory and a girl asked a question basically like “Is there a second chance for people who didn’t believe in God in purgatory?”

I’m trying hard to imagine how would someone make it to Purgatory [which means they are definitely going to Heaven, just getting ready first] without believing in God…I’m not saying it is impossible, if they have a good heart and will, etc…but in practical life, difficult! However, what did that girl mean about “second chance”? If anyone is in Purgatory, THEY MADE IT! 😃

(implying that everyone could have a chance to repent after they died) and that’s when he said “We believe in universal salvation”.

The only time I have heard of “universal salvation” is in opposition to “predestination”…meaning that salvation is open to absolutely everyone who wishes to accept it by using free will. So, not just a few are chosen, everyone is chosen!:yup: However, since we have free will [which predestination limits to a degree] some may choose not to accept. 😦

So, after that I just assumed that maybe some Catholics believed that everyone would eventual go to heaven.

That is our prayer and wish…we pray Jesus will have mercy on those who need it the most…and we will see them in Heaven like prodigal sons…every single one! However, we don’t know who makes it or not…unless God wishes to show us with abundant signs [canonized saints]…otherwise, we have no clue. It just seems to us that chances are slim that everyone will accept our Lord’s invitation:( We continue to pray the prayer Our Lady taught us in Fatima…
Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy Mercy!

But hopefully, I just misunderstood.
Yes, there is a real Hell, but wouldn’t it be wonderful if no humans went there! :bounce:

(Dismas)

That’s wonderful, and you probably will have a harder time than we will. God bless you, thanks for the comments.
Click to expand...
 
In the US you could do door-to-door evangelizing on your own, but get one other person to do it with you, and consider taking a third person to stand at a distance with a cell phone in case you are assaulted. You could also set up a table in a public area. Years ago I Iived in NYC, and in what must be the largest bus terminal in the world, the John Birch Society, the Scientologists, the Trotskyites and other groups had tables, but there was no Catholic table.

I lived four years in Egypt (90% Muslim) and two years in Turkey(98% Muslim but the most secularized of the Muslim countries), and although evangelizing was not against the law the few who tried it ran into problems. In Turkey a British evangelical who was teaching in an expensive school for Turkish girls and evangelizing elsewhere was given ten days to leave the country with no explanation given to him. If you are interested in working with Muslims, consider doing it in the US where the number of Muslims has been growing due to immigration, conversion and a birth rate higher than the birth rate among Catholics.
 
macroom2 said:
In the US you could do door-to-door evangelizing on your own, but get one other person to do it with you, and consider taking a third person to stand at a distance with a cell phone in case you are assaulted. You could also set up a table in a public area. Years ago I Iived in NYC, and in what must be the largest bus terminal in the world, the John Birch Society, the Scientologists, the Trotskyites and other groups had tables, but there was no Catholic table.

I lived four years in Egypt (90% Muslim) and two years in Turkey(98% Muslim but the most secularized of the Muslim countries), and although evangelizing was not against the law the few who tried it ran into problems. In Turkey a British evangelical who was teaching in an expensive school for Turkish girls and evangelizing elsewhere was given ten days to leave the country with no explanation given to him. If you are interested in working with Muslims, consider doing it in the US where the number of Muslims has been growing due to immigration, conversion and a birth rate higher than the birth rate among Catholics.
Click to expand...
It is interesting that you suggest evangelizing Muslims in the US instead because Islam is the religion with the highest conversion rate [from Christianity to Islam] and I have heard from different Muslims that by far most of the converts are Catholics.

It may be that God is calling this missionary to address this. Besides, even if eventually they move to another country, at least they get practice here focusing on the religious conversion issues rather than the legalities and dangers of evangelizing in countries where that is against the law or at least not acceptable at all.
 
Well, I love that priest he is an awesome priest but the context was that we were in RCIA and talking about purgatory and a girl asked a question basically like “Is there a second chance for people who didn’t believe in God in purgatory?” (implying that everyone could have a chance to repent after they died) and that’s when he said “We believe in universal salvation”. So, after that I just assumed that maybe some Catholics believed that everyone would eventual go to heaven. But hopefully, I just misunderstood.
Click to expand...
This question came up in our RCIA class a couple of weeks ago. We had handbooks, outlines and Catechisms all over the place but our teacher never did just pick one up and read what it said. We’ve spent about an hour and a half on it so far. And the whole time I was holding a copy of Mission of the Redeemer, the encyclical by JPII. (I hesitated to mention it since the last time I mentioned a document like that, I was told that it was “just an encyclical”. Oy.) The other teacher finally mentioned that the Church teaches that all can be saved. But he didn’t look it up either and he didn’t go very far with it. How did they fill up all that time, you ask? By speculating on what the Church teaches and not by teaching what the Church teaches. Lord, help us.

The Church does indeed teach that salvation is open to all and God desires that all men be saved. Does that mean that all men will be saved? Nope. But it does mean that if they aren’t, it isn’t God’s fault because He offered salvation to all and offers to all the grace necessary to attain salvation.

But He doesn’t make us take it. We are free to reject Him and His gift. And lots of people do reject Him. There are no second chances in Purgatory, which is only for those who are on their way into Heaven. They’re just wiping the mud off their shoes before stepping through the door and onto all those clean floors, don’t you know. There is no possibility of the souls in Purgatory being sent to Hell.

Those in Purgatory already made their choice but are undergoing final purification because they didn’t, for whatever reason, take care of all that before they died. Not everyone dies a saint. And God, in His mercy, has provided for us by giving us the chance, not to decide whether we are for God or not, but rather to be further purified after death. The time to decide is before death.
 
The only time I have heard of “universal salvation” is in opposition to “predestination”…meaning that salvation is open to absolutely everyone who wishes to accept it by using free will. So, not just a few are chosen, everyone is chosen!:yup: However, since we have free will [which predestination limits to a degree] some may choose not to accept.
Click to expand...
I don’t know what you mean by "‘universal salvation’ in opposition to “predestination”’. It could be that you are still thinking of the Protestant idea of predestination which is different from the Catholic one. I don’t know which denomination you were in, but most Protestants I’ve known who have used the term meant “predestined to heaven or hell” which is not what the Catholic Church means by it at all. In Catholic teaching, God has created us all with heaven as our destiny, as in the goal He has in mind for us according to His plan. But He has never predestined anyone to Hell. That is a matter of our free will and our bad choices. So salvation is open to all but each one accepts salvation or rejects it.

Catholics and Protestants use the same words with different meanings and sometimes use different words with the same meanings. It takes a certain amount of time to get used to that and to acquire the Catholic worldview, frame of mind and the terminology to go with it.

God bless you on your journey. I’ll pray for you and your apostolate. 🙂
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top