Columban Mission in Chile. Photo: St Columbans Mission Society.
There has been a lot of talk in the Society in the past few months about “mission priorities”. The phrase is used 25 times in the GA Acts 2024. This has precipitated an avalanche of discussion about “mission priorities”. It was prominent in the online launch of the Society Strategic Plan. There is a clear expectation that individual members and RMUs will engage the “mission priorities”. There is even a hint of “mission priorities” being weaponised - “if you don’t engage the mission priorities, your RMU will be closed down!” Given that priorities are so important and may form criteria for major decision-making, it is necessary to have a clear idea about what “mission priorities” mean.
Naming “mission priorities” does NOT mean that everybody gets involved in that mission apostolate. Priorities means exactly what the word implies, that is one activity among many. It comes first among those activities; it is what we put before all else to ensure that it gets done. In another sense, it comes last; it is the last thing we let go of; that we sacrifice all other apostolates before relinquishing this one.
But the crucial point is that the other activities line up to support the named priority e.g. there has to be mission awareness, fund-raising, administration, and formation if we are to engage in mission priorities. Without those other necessary activities, there will be no funds, no support, and no personnel capable of engaging in the mission priorities. It is a matter of aligning the diverse activities, not of everybody getting on board the priority. In the 1990s, when Pakistan and China were named as geographic priorities, there was no way that these Mission Units could have accommodated 60 or more Columbans being assigned to them. We would have capsized under the influx of appointees - but the handful of Columbans assigned in these countries did benefit from continued assignments of some new personnel and the support and encouragement of the rest of the Society.
It is the same for our current GA-named priorities of biodiversity and migrants and refugees. It is not everybody dropping all other works and being directly involved in biodiversity and refugees and migrants, but ensuring that the Society’s various apostolates align to support those mission priorities, including the few directly engaged in them.
I use the image of an arrow. The priorities are the arrowhead. It gives the arrow focus and weight. But the arrowhead will not hit its target if there is no shaft, no feathers, no string, no bow, no archer. All these other elements are needed and must be in balance if the arrow is to fly straight and true. If there is only an arrowhead—if everybody gets directly involved in the mission priorities—then the arrowhead will be top-heavy; it won’t take flight; it will fall to the ground; it will not reach its target. We need a variety and diversity of mission activities if mission priorities are to work. We all have a part to play. But if we all get on board with priorities only, we are doomed.
May Columbans be archers, bow strings, bows, feathers, shafts, and arrowheads, all playing their part. It’s variously called participation, synodality, diversity, inclusivity – but it’s the only way mission priorities will work!
Fr Patrick McInerney is the Columban Regional Director of Oceania and the Director of the Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations.
Related links
- Read more from the current Columban eBulletin
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