Sharing Christ Across Cultures and Faiths
From the Mission Blog
Fr. Joeven Matugas Shares His Mission Experience in Sierra Leone, West Africa
I am Fr. Joeven Matugas. I am the second Filipino Xaverian. I came from the southern part of the Philippines, Cebu, in the Visayas region. I joined the Xaverian Pre-Novitiate Formation from 2004 to 2007 in St. Conforti Mission Center in Novaliches, Quezon City. After that, I studied Theology from 2007 to 2011 at St. Francis Xavier International Theology of Asia in Project 8, Quezon City, Philippines.
Right after my Theological Studies, I was sent to Sierra Leone to do an Overseas Training Program. It was a real mission experience for me. It was my first time leaving my country and traveling abroad to a far-distant land of West Africa…
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June Opportunities at Fatima Shrine
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More information and Registration for the Mini Retreat
In the Church’s interfaith movement, one of our unique opportunities is our interfaith solidarity, religious and secular dialogue, and collaboration. We began this work in 2013 by gathering secular humanists and spiritual leaders at our conference center in Coatbridge, Scotland. We continued this work in 2015 by convening a similar conference at Rutgers University in New Jersey, with secular and religious voices seeking common ground. For the last eight years, we have gathered a MeetUp group of religious and secular friends once a month. Search here on our website for a recap of these events, church teaching on understanding the culture of unbelief, and blog posts and articles written for further study. Our conversations now take place directly on Zoom without using Meetup. Contact missionmedia@xaverianmissionaries.org for more information.
LISTENING TO THOSE WHO LEFT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
In America the landscape of the Catholic Church is changing dramatically, as is all religious communities and institutions. The new mission of the Xaverian Missionaries seeks to engage with our Catholic tradition to all outside of the church, Christianity, and even religion itself. The departure of those formed in the Catholic faith is felt in every parish. Disaffiliated families make up the majority of Catholic communities throughout the country.
We listen to those who left the church and sacramental practice lovingly and empathetically.
We root ourselves in these departure narratives, learning about their world and how they walk in it.
We gain deeper insight into the needs, longings, and desires of young people and others, and in dialogue with our tradition, we can change our pastoral maps and parish cultures, beginning in Catholic families.
Catholic Interfaith Solidarity
Check out the latest resources and opportunities for Catholics and others to share our lives, faith, and friendship with people of other faiths and traditions. Click here. Other resources for interfaith dialogue may be found here.
