Missioning
by Fr. Gaspar Fernández Pérez scj, superior general, to all Betharramite religious
The closure of this jubilee year for the 150th anniversary of the death of our Father, Saint Michael Garicoits, is not an end in itself but the opportunity to renew the “missioning” of the early days so that Betharram can continue carrying out the mission entrusted to her by the Church. The project wished for by Michael Garicoits still has its raison d’etre. Ever since 1835 the little community, a few Basques and a few Bearnais, has spread its branches throughout the whole world. Today, it is an international family present in 15 countries on four continents.
Ever since 1856 when Saint Michael sent the first community to Argentina, the religious of Betharram have always responded to the missionary calls of the universal Church and local churches.
Religious of Betharram, religious of all the Betharramite communities, spread throughout the world, I am renewing this mission.
Full of joy be faithful to the charism of Michael Garicoits in community. Do all in your power to obtain that same joy for all the men and women, through your service, the witness and the announcing of Jesus Christ .... in Europe..., in Latin America..., in the Holy Land..., in Africa..., in Asia even as far as Vietnam,
...to be the messengers of the new evangelisation,
...to bring to all Jesus Christ who is the source and cause of our joy!
“Let us go forth, then, let us go forth to offer everyone the life of Jesus Christ. If something should rightly disturb us and trouble our consciences, it is the fact that so many of our brothers and sisters are living without the strength, light and consolation born of friendship with Jesus, without a community of faith to support them, without meaning and a goal in life..... people (who) are starving and Jesus Christ does not tire of saying to us: ‘Give them something to eat’. (Mk 6,37)” (EG 49)
To express our desire to pursue the mission of Michael Garicoits, with the little group which he had assembled, with all those who have continued down the history of the Congregation and today, let us say this prayer:
Oh my God, you have loved me so much
And it has pleased you to be loved by me;
You created me,
You have kept me in being
And you continue to keep me constantly in being.
You gave me your Son
And you saved me by delivering your beloved Son
to a most cruel death.
My God, you have done so much to earn my love!
You longed for,
and you continue to long for my love!
My heart is ready; I want to hold nothing back
To prove my love for you.
What would you have me do?
Here I am.
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