By Sister Leticia Bartolome ICM

This is Sister Letty’s reply to a letter from a student who reads Misyon.

Sister Leticia Bartolome

Dear Camille Margaret,

Peace and joy to you!

Thank you for your letter of 11 October 2004 which came in time for the celebration of World Mission Sunday. I hope that you prayed for all missionaries that day, not only for priests, brothers and religious sisters but also for lay missionaries.

Before I try to answer some of your questions perhaps I have to say to you that the word ‘missionaries’ refers not only to those who go to foreign countries and live and work with people of other cultures, races and beliefs. The ‘modern missionaries’ you refer to are Christ’s messengers of His Good News, wherever they may be. This can be done by words and by deeds whether one is in the Philippines or in other countries. Depending on the situations where we are, we try to do what we can to be witnesses of God’s love for everyone, to show that all peoples belong to the one family of God.

In these times of violence, fighting, wars, materialism and competition we see that we are living in a wounded world. What does a follower of Christ have to do? Each can answer according to their conscience and then move on to witness to and share the values of peace, understanding, service and hope, especially with the most needy.

You ask how I started to be a missionary Sister. I can answer that very simply:  I heard Christ’s call to ‘come and follow me’ and with God’s grace I am where I am now. All of us who are on this same road in following Christ are sustained and strengthened by believing in His promise, ‘I will be with you till the end of time.’ Sometimes we encounter difficulties. In some places more serious problems arise but missionaries keep on because Christ also said, ‘Fear not, I am with you.’ So missionaries are called to be messengers of hope, peace and love.

Some missionaries directly proclaim the Good News and some just ‘preach’ without preaching but by word and example, depending on the country’s political and religious environment. Missionaries do not force their message on people but live with them with full respect for them and their culture. Missionaries take the ‘background’ while they encourage and teach people to help themselves. When the time is ripe and the harvest is assured - Christ is the Divine Harvester - it is also the time for the foreign missionary to be uprooted and be ready to go to another mission area and start all over again. In short, missionaries do not work to build monuments to themselves.

Regarding my own life here in Hong Kong, I am involved in ministries that do not require direct evangelization. I am involved with persons who have mental and learning disabilities, also in ministry for migrant workers, for child immigrants from Mainland China, and in a regular school setting. I am aware of the heavy demands and mission needs in a place such as Hong Kong where wealth, injustice and extreme poverty exist side by side. Yes, there are many poor and deprived people here. But Christ does not occupy a big place in the people’s lives. Many do not know him. ‘Don’t talk Jesus’ (a literal translation from the Cantonese language) has become a colloquial way of saying ‘I’m not interested in what you’re saying.’ It’s also used to abruptly end any unwanted remarks or topic.

In such a setting, how do I help ‘make disciples of all nations’ … ‘to proclaim the Message … whether the time is favorable or unfavorable?’ There is the constant challenge to devise different ways of spreading the Gospel, whether it be with a smile, friendship, a simple service, or just by witnessing through our own life. The life of a missionary here has to be prophetic and counter-cultural. If the culture is money, competition and drive for more wealth even at the expense of other people’s well-being, then the missionary’s life should go against these forces.

After 31 years of life here in Hong Kong (you can guess that I am no longer young) I can say gratefully that I have many Chinese friends now.  They have opened their homes and their hearts to me. Most of my co-workers are not believers and don’t have any religion at all. Those who have are mostly Buddhists, with a few Christians. We respect one another’s beliefs and are united in friendship and love. Is this not coming from Christ?

I don’t know if this letter satisfies you, Camille. I hope I’ve answered your questions. Thanks again for writing. Thanks also to your teacher in CLE for encouraging you to reach out to missionaries and be our friends, even from many miles across the sea. Greetings also to your classmates and God bless you and your family.

Sincerely,

Sr Leticia Bartolome ICM

You may also contact Sister Letty at icmsisters@yahoo.com