Mission References:
S. Bevans, R.Schroeder Constants in Context: A Theology of Mission for Today (2004) New York: Orbis Books
R.Schroeder What is the Mission of the Church: A Guide for Catholics (2008) New York: Orbis Books
CST References:
Pope Leo XIII Rerum Novarum May 15 1891
Pope Paul VI Evangelii Nuntiandi Dec 8 1975
St John Paul II Redemptoris Missio Dec 7 1990
Pope Francis Evangelii Gaudium Nov 24 2013
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples:
We acknowledge the first peoples of this land, our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, who have cared for, nurtured and have had continuous deep spiritual connection to the land for many thousands of years.
We pay our respects to elders of the past, elders today and those emerging leaders who will continue to tell the sacred stories of this great south land. We walk with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in a spirit of reconciliation, truth telling and recognition of their spirituality, culture, generosity and resilience.
References:
https://www.reconciliation.org.au/
See, Judge, Act References:
For two explanations and examples of this process please see following references:
Charles Rue ssc Let the Son Shine: An Australian Catholic response to climate change....
ACSJC For those Who’ve Come across the Seas: Justice for asylum seekers and refugees
Sustainable Development Goals:
For more information please click here
A Mission Education Pedagogy
Because the aim of Mission Education is to move the participant to carry out mission, it requires a pedagogy which affects the whole person, their empathy, imagination, will, creativity, initiative and responsibility.
It is not sufficient for Mission Education to simply inform about Mission. That would leave the participant only a passive observer of mission. It must implicate the participant in the reality of others who are in need, as mission is the response in love to those who are in need.1 A pedagogy which most effectively implicates the participant in this way is that of Paulo Freire as detailed in his work “Pedagogy of the Oppressed.”
The aim of this process is to immerse the participant in a real problematic situation. Although the participant may not at first feel implicated, by appealing through empathy the participant recognises their common humanity and by use of imagination can experience to a certain extent the dilemma and pain of the one in need.
The process does not end with a simple feeling of pity for the other. Via a process of critical questioning the causes of suffering are analysed to the most basic of causes. It is at this point that the participant recognises their implication in the suffering of another, as the causes of which in today’s globalised reality are far reaching and interconnected through to the local level.
This also empowers the participant as it helps them realise that the causes of another’s suffering may in fact begin in their local community.
The participant is challenged to propose solutions to the problem. The creation and selection of solutions stem from the experience of sharing in a common humanity with the one suffering. It may also stem from the example of actions taken by Jesus as a model, or the participant may even be moved by the experience of the God of love and Jesus’ preferential love for the poor and suffering.
In recognising that some causes of suffering are interconnected from the local through to the global the participant discovers that they are capable of making structural changes that have repercussions around the globe, actions that place the participant in a stance of solidarity with all sufferers around the world.
The participant is then challenged to organise for action, connecting with other like-minded and concerned individuals, discovering the greater power of acting in concert and harnessing resources, energies and forces.
The participant is moved to act out of empathy, not pity, and from a stand of empowerment in responsibility for their human sisters and brothers without distinctions of race or geography.
Summary of the pedagogical process: