Celebrating the resurrection of Jesus is something we may hold in our hearts every day. We know that His resurrection makes possible our own eternal life. Therefore, Easter is celebrated well beyond Easter Sunday – for a season of 50 days, from Easter to Pentecost, this year from Sunday, April 12 – to Pentecost Sunday, May 31.
As we celebrate and recognize that the One who created the entire universe cares deeply about each of us – we can reach beyond our own selves, our own families and consider that every person has been made in God’s image and is also gifted with this Love.
For our mission doctors they share their professional skills while serving as a living witness to this faith, this Easter joy. Is it always easy? No. It is however, in the light of faith in the resurrection that they serve. They work with and appreciate the efforts of the local medical community and strive to offer what they can, always noting that they continue to receive more than they give.
Dr. Tim Cavanagh wrote from Cameroon ‘You are always humbled to see babies who have been delivered by the light of a kerosene lamp and medical care provided in a clinic with mud brick walls by a nursing assistant which would require several specialists and an ICU at home!’
Wishing you and your families Easter joy today, tomorrow and always! Please keep our doctors and their patients in your prayers. You may be interested in sharing the Mission Rosary this Easter, an opportunity to pray the Rosary with mission images and reflections.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Saturday, April 4, 2009
The Greatest Story Ever Told…
Doctors return from the missions having cared for many children, women and men. Doing so, many have overcome obstacles and may be anxious to share their stories of both success and struggle. Many truly great stories of patients cared for and lives saved.
But on Passion Sunday we rise and join the celebrant, readers and the entire congregation and take our part bringing to life the annual reading of the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Greatest Story Ever Told.
This has happened across history and across the world in; cathedrals in Europe, parishes in suburbs and large cities across the US, chapels in religious cloisters and convents in Asia, small rural churches in Latin America, parishes at mission hospitals in Africa. Together on this day we take part in the telling, we take our part in the story that took place more than 2000 years ago – uniting us to Jesus and to each other.
We, the congregation, are given the part of the crowd as we call for the execution of the One whose death makes eternal life possible for us, our suffering servant… “Crucify him, crucify him.” Might we have been part of the crowd? Might we like Peter deny that we knew Him? How do we deny Him today?
On this, Passion / Palm Sunday of Lent we begin the week we call Holy. We strive to welcome Jesus into our homes and hearts. This week we have opportunities to celebrate the first Eucharist on Holy Thursday, walk the path of Passion on Good Friday and on Holy Saturday confirm the promises of our own Baptism as we glance into tomb, with a stone soon to be rolled away.
What can we do this week to fully enter into the Holy?
Please pray for Mission Doctors, their families and their patients. Your sacrifices can make their good works possible. If you’ve been considering a philanthropic donation for Lent – please consider MDA – you can do so on the web site: http://www.MissionDoctors.org
But on Passion Sunday we rise and join the celebrant, readers and the entire congregation and take our part bringing to life the annual reading of the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Greatest Story Ever Told.
This has happened across history and across the world in; cathedrals in Europe, parishes in suburbs and large cities across the US, chapels in religious cloisters and convents in Asia, small rural churches in Latin America, parishes at mission hospitals in Africa. Together on this day we take part in the telling, we take our part in the story that took place more than 2000 years ago – uniting us to Jesus and to each other.
We, the congregation, are given the part of the crowd as we call for the execution of the One whose death makes eternal life possible for us, our suffering servant… “Crucify him, crucify him.” Might we have been part of the crowd? Might we like Peter deny that we knew Him? How do we deny Him today?
On this, Passion / Palm Sunday of Lent we begin the week we call Holy. We strive to welcome Jesus into our homes and hearts. This week we have opportunities to celebrate the first Eucharist on Holy Thursday, walk the path of Passion on Good Friday and on Holy Saturday confirm the promises of our own Baptism as we glance into tomb, with a stone soon to be rolled away.
What can we do this week to fully enter into the Holy?
Please pray for Mission Doctors, their families and their patients. Your sacrifices can make their good works possible. If you’ve been considering a philanthropic donation for Lent – please consider MDA – you can do so on the web site: http://www.MissionDoctors.org
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