The General Superior of the Mill Hill Missionaries
Rev. Anthony Chantry MHM
ONE FAMILY IN CHRIST
One thing has been made abundantly clear at the recent UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, is that the only way we have any hope of saving the future of our planet, is if we choose to work together as a family of nations. Deep disagreement and stubborn division in the face of crisis renders everyone powerless and distracted. Indeed, this is true of any family facing a crisis.
The Christmas narrative tells us that both Mary and Joseph faced a series of crises: a mysterious pregnancy, an arduous journey to Bethlehem with a heavily pregnant Mary, the unseemly conditions of a stable in which to give birth, and later deadly threats to their lives. By the promptings of the Sprit of God, both Joseph and Mary chose to face all this together, as a family, powerfully aware of God’s guiding presence in their lives.
In November I was fortunate to be able to attend both the Young Members’ Meeting in Nairobi and the end of the Senior Members’ Course in Rome. Both groups could not appear more different with regard to length and breadth of experience, age and energy, background and view of their future, yet what struck me most sharply was the presence of that indefinable Mill Hill spirit that has been successfully passed on from one generation to the next.
We may not be able to define our Mill Hill spirit clearly but we know it when we meet it. It springs from our missionary charism, flourishes in challenging circumstances and bears fruit in unity of purpose. More often than not, it manifests itself as a sense of belonging to a family.
The passion for present and future mission I experienced among the young members was matched by the celebration of past and present mission among our senior members; a sense of healthy continuity that was accompanied by no small measure of mystery.
In the last twenty years, our Missionary Society has undergone an enormous change with our areas of recruitment having moved almost totally from Europe and America to Africa and Asia. This has left some feeling stranded with strong and legitimate questions about the future, and perhaps others feeling somewhat disconnected and unconsulted.
The unity of our Missionary Society is, I believe, of vital importance, not for reasons of efficiency or expediency, but essentially for the sake of the Kingdom, for if we are to have something deeply relevant to say in our broken world, it is that we all belong together as members of God’s family.
The defining issues of the future of our Society are not about structures, models of leadership and general administration, important as these may be, but belong to the heart of our identity as missionaries. We can only embrace the Mission of Christ in a world in crisis if we work together in humility and selflessness.
Some serious questions follow on from this call to unity. How do we help integrate our new and young members into our ageing Society? What can we do together to contribute constructively and wisely to the future of our Society? What do we want to hand on to our new, young members? How can younger members continue to benefit from the wisdom and experience of senior members?
I have no doubt that our Society has an exciting and promising future ahead. Seeing the Spirit of God living and moving and having its being among both young and old is encouraging and inspiring. The task to develop the strength of our unity-in-diversity and acknowledge its inherent weaknesses will hopefully permeate all our Chapter discussions.
As we prepare to celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation, when humanity and divinity were united in the person of Jesus, I invite you to join me in praying that we may work hard and honestly together for the unity of our Society, as we strive to love and to serve a world wounded and broken apart by hatred and selfishness.
Brendan, Michael, Jos and I wish you and the people you serve a very happy Christmas, filled with the God’s blessings of peace and joy.
By the grace of God, may the New Year bring us closer together as a family, in our mission of loving service.
Anthony Chantry MHM
General Superior
December 2009
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