Mission Matters Live

Megan interviews Fr. Jason Torba, Pastor of St. Ferdinand Parish and Marta Robak, lay leader and parishioner. St. Ferdinand Parish and other communities in the Archdiocese of Chicago have been supporting the work of the Missionaries of the Poor (MOP) Brothers for many years. Fr. Torba and Marta share the story of how this relationship began and how it became a regular commitment. Megan then asks how the pandemic challenged their plans. They explain how the MOP Team, parish leaders and the Brothers worked together to come up with creative and new ways to continue. Fr. Torba and Marta also share stories of hope and generosity. They are proud of all that has been accomplished and how everyone came together to give, and grow in their faith during a pandemic.

Megan talks with Sr. Joanne Bierl, a Medical Missionary of Mary sister and Area Leader for the Americas. In this hour-long interview, Sr Bierl introduces her international congregation of women religious that seeks to share Christ’s healing love by bringing health services to people of different cultures around the world. Megan asks how the Medical Missionaries understand holistic healing, what that looks like in different settings and how that wisdom can help us get through this pandemic.

Megan interviews Fr. Mark Weber, a Divine Word Missionary priest who is currently Rector of the Divine Word Theologate in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. Fr. Weber shares some wonderful stories and memories of the Society of the Divine Word as they are celebrating 125 years of mission in North America. He describes ways that SVDs have ministered right here in the Archdiocese of Chicago and highlights how North American priests and brothers, and Divine Word Missionaries from all over the world, have continued the good work of Christ's Mission to proclaim the Gospel all over the globe.

Megan talks with Josh Goralski Founder and CEO of Unlocking Communities, a non-profit social enterprise working to provide Haitian church communities the tools and resources necessary to be their own catalysts for economic, social and environmental change. Josh explains where the idea this work came from and how community members in Haiti called for sustainable forms of transformation and growth. He connects this work with the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.

Megan talks with Cathy Douglass co-founder of the Guardians of the Visitation, an lay association that collaborates and supports the work of the Sisters Servants of the Visitation (SSV), an international missionary women's congregation. Megan shares recorded messages from Sr. Rubi Arellano, SSV who works with poor and vulnerable children in the Philippines. Cathy describes how she first met Sr. Rubi, got involved and what the Guardians have been able to accomplish so far.

Megan speaks with Jodi Grahl, Director of General and Gynecologic Surgery and Pacemaker Programs, and Rachel McDonnell, Director of Development, for Solidarity Bridge, a medical mission organization that partners with communities in Bolivia and Paraguay to increase access to safe, affordable surgery and other essential health care. They discuss the work of Solidarity Bridge and how the pandemic has affected communities in Bolivia. They also learn about how the medical mission has adjusted their lifesaving work to continue in this challenging time.

Megan talks with Sr. Mary Paul Asoegwu, Daughter of Divine Love and Director of Development Ministry, and Fr. Stan Chu Ilo, Research Professor of World Christianity at DePaul University. They discuss this challenging year with a global pandemic, deep-seated social issues such as racism and now a national election. What is the mission we have been called to in this time? Sr. Mary Paul and Fr. Stan present two ways Catholics can respond: World Mission Sunday and Pope Francis' new encyclical, Fratelli Tutti: On Fraternity and Social Friendship.

Megan speaks with Fr. Colin King, a Franciscan Friar on mission in the Diocese of Montego Bay in Jamaica. Fr. Colin is a pastor of two parishes and recently was named vicar of education for this rural diocese as well. He describes life in the Caribbean, and how COVID-19 has affected the local communities. He shares some of the ongoing ministry and social service needs. Megan inquires about what it means to be a Franciscan missionary. How does the life of St. Francis inform being a missionary disciple?

Megan Mio, Coordinator in the Mission Office, talks with the Rt. Rev. Dr. Trevor Alexander, Senior Pastor of True Vine Church and Protestant Chaplain at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, TX. They discuss two forms of division: the separation of Christian churches and the reality of racism. Bishop Trevor speaks about his ecumenical ministry at the University and his passion for global mission. Noting that racism impacts our faith and daily lives, he also reflects on how to struggle with the sin of racism.

Megan talks with Brother Charles Nuwagaba a member of the Brothers of St. Charles Lwanga, also known as the Bannakaroli Brothers. Bro. Charles is studying at Loyola University to pursue a masters in pastoral counseling. The Brothers of St. Charles minister in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. They offer ministries of education, healthcare, agricultural services, and economic development with children and marginalized communities. Bro. Charles describes how his studies impact his ministries and how COVID-19 has affected communities in East Africa. He also explains about how he has raised awareness for mission through becoming a finalist for the 2019 Opus Prize, an annual faith-based humanitarian award, and participating in the summer Mission Coop.

Megan talks with Dr. Mike Gable, Director of the Mission Office in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and Professor of Theology at Xavier University. Dr. Gable shares how he understands the reality of racism using the works of U.S. Catholic Bishops and drawing from his personal experiences as a lay missionary and as a pastoral minister. He reflects on the Church's social teachings and the life of Jesus Christ as a key way to connect work to combat the sin of racism and our common call to mission.

Megan speaks by phone with Fr. Pius Kokose, Pastor of St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr in Posen. Originally from Ghana, Fr. Pius spent 10 years as a missionary in Paraguay but is now a diocesan priest. In addition, he serves as a part-time hospital chaplain at the University of Illinois at Chicago Hospital. He shares about his experience ministering at the hospital with patients and medical staff. Megan finds connections between this type of pastoral care and global mission. Fr. Pius also tells about the pastoral care he offers his parishioners and community in this time of pandemic.

Megan talks with Sr. Alice Vandenoever, a Maryknoll Sister who was sent to the Philippines to teach and later work with non-profit service organizations in the urban setting of Manila. They discuss how a global health emergency like the current pandemic will likely affect our brothers and sisters in mission areas. Sr. Alice provides a realistic picture of what life is like for many communities struggling with poor sanitation and little access to healthcare.

Megan interviews two Archdiocese of Chicago based co-founders of Microfinance Alliance Africa Partners Foundation: Pete Tantillo and Dcn. Don Grossnickle who are both retired educators. MAAPF is a non-profit foundation based in the U.S. that supports medical missions in Uganda, East Africa. It was founded to offer small grants to support clinics and community development projects in rural Africa. The main goal of the foundation is to protect and support mothers and babies at risk for malaria. Supporting this kind of sustainable microfinancing is one great way to give alms during Lent.

Megan sits down with Deacon Michael Neba of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Chicago. He is also Executive Coordinator for the Fr. John Kolkman Foundation, committed to the early detection, proper management and treatment of sickle cell disorder for rural areas in north-west Cameroon. Dcn. Neba tells his story of calling to the vocation of deacon and to become a missionary who advocates for his home community in Cameroon.

Megan meets a team of missionaries from CORE Uganda, which stands for Creating Opportunities through Reaching Out and Education: Annette Benett, Sandie Bulmann and Fr. Alex Ojacor. CORE Uganda creates opportunities for vulnerable children in the Ongutoi Village community in Uganda through outreach, basic education, skills development and support.

Megan sits down with Fr. Michael Agliardo, Jesuit priest and Executive Director of the U.S.-China Catholic Association (USCCA). Fr. Agliardo and Megan discuss the current state of faith and specifically the Catholic Church in China. Fr. Agliardo presents a brief history of the Catholic Church in China and explains to Megan how the USCCA operates in this context of friendship.

The Mission and Ministry of Reconciliation Megan talks with Don McCrabb and Sr. Nancy Schramm, representatives of the U.S. Catholic Mission Association (USCMA). They discuss how USCMA is the ONLY national association of Catholic mission-sending and mission-minded individuals and organizations. One way to engage during this Extraordinary Mission Month is to attend the USCMA Midwest regional meeting right here in Techny on the theme of The Mission and Ministry of Reconciliation.

Megan sits down with Kevin Foy, Director of the Mission Office. They discuss why Pope Francis has declared October 2019 to be an Extraordinary Mission Month. Kevin describes World Mission Sunday and a new event, the Global Mission Mass and Celebration. Each of these and more resources are offered to help us observe Extraordinary Mission Month.

Megan talks with Fr. Maciej Zielinski, a Comboni priest originally from Poland but who is currently on mission among the Pokot People of Kenya, and Fr. Kuol Dut, a diocesan priest who is originally from South Sudan, came to the U.S. as a refugee and has since returned to South Sudan as a priest of the Diocese of Wau. Each guest shares about his love for mission and God’s people in each context.

Megan sits down with Fr. George Omwando, Pastor of St. Catherine of Siena - St. Lucy Parish in Oak Park, originally born in Kenya and the founder of Time, Talent and Treasure International Foundation, a missionary organization that supports the educational, health, spiritual and basic human needs of the residents of Bogesumwa Village in Kisii County, Kenya. He and Megan discuss the meaning behind "time, talent and treasure" and what these can mean for mission.

Megan talks with Fr. Joseph Mulcrone, Director of the archdiocesan Office of the Deaf and one of the founders of the Deaf Catholic Youth Initiative of the Americas (DCYIA). He describes young people of faith who are deaf living in Mexico, Central and South America. He has encountered people who feel isolated and lost, even in the church. DCYIA trains pastoral workers and encourages deaf young people to be leaders in their communities.

Megan talks with Franciscan Sister of the Sacred Heart, Sr. Nancy Schramm. Sr. Nancy is the Director of Mission Formation for the Diocese of Joliet. She has 32 years of experience of being on mission in the State of Para, which is in the Amazon region of Brazil. They also discuss Sr. Nancy's research into the life of Sr. Dorothy Stang, SNDdeN who was martyred in 2005 for her ministry with rural workers and peasants in the Amazon Region of Brazil.

Megan sits down with Mr. Jorge Rivera, new Mission Educator and Promoter with the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers. Jorge has extensive experience of ministry with Hispanic/Latino communities, and especially with young adults. They discuss how Jorge's ministry experience has led him to his current work with Maryknoll. Jorge describes how he has built connections in his ministries and in mission.

Megan interviews two colleagues about their journey of discerning the missionary life. Adrian Badillo currently works for the Office of Lifelong Formation and Jose Coronel works for the Office of Evangelization and Missionary Discipleship. They both discerned earlier in life to become priests. They share their stories of a desire to serve and share the love of Christ. Today they are lay leaders in the Church- missionaries in Chicago!

Megan sits down with Sr. Perpetua Chime, who is a Dominican Sister of St. Catherine of Siena of Gusau, Nigeria. Sr. Perpetua teaches at St. Angela School in Chicago. Her sisters serve as missionaries all over Nigeria and in Ghana, and she has made mission appeals for them. Sr. Perpetua tells the story of her discernment to become a Dominican Sister and describes the charism and work of the Dominicans with communities in need.

Megan interviews Fr. Carmelo Mendez, current Pastor of Holy Cross-Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Chicago. He recently returned after five years serving in the Diocese of San Cristobal de las Casas in southeast Mexico from 2013-2018. Fr. Carmelo shares what pastoral ministry looks like in this rural, mountainous region of Mexico. The indigenous people's deep faith in a personal God, which is shaped by their traditions and environment, has left an impression and taught him much about pastoral ministry.

Megan meets with three representatives of the Evanston mission-sending organization, Solidarity Bridge, which works to build a healthier future for the people of Bolivia and Paraguay through domestic and international partnerships. Megan interviews Ann Rhomberg, Executive Director of Solidarity Bridge, as well as Dr. Dan Lum, pediatrician, and Dr. Robert LaPata, a retired obstetrician and gynecologist, who have both participated in many mission trips. They reflect on how this work of mutuality and justice in the medical field has impacted their faith lives. Learn more about being in solidarity with those who suffer from a lack of access to health care.

Solidarity Bridge Executive Director, Ann, along with Dr. Lum and Dr. LaPata continue the conversation. The doctors talk in depth about getting involved in medical mission trips. Ann tells us more about the Mission Team Chaplains and partner Catholic parishes, such as St. Nicholas in Evanston.

This month Megan interviews Celeste Flores, the Lake County Outreach Director for Faith in Place, an organization that partners with faith communities and provides resources to educate, connect and advocate for care of the earth. Celeste shares about the mission experiences that led her to this vocation. She explains why she believes her Catholic faith compels her to protect the environment and to see this as a work of global justice. Learn more about the connections between mission and care of creation on this month's show!

Megan meets with representatives of the Arlington Heights based Catholic mission organization, Foundation for Children in Need (FCN), which provides educational help to children, college students and the physically challenged, and serves the elderly in rural villages of India. FCN also provides medical care, training, and organizes free surgeries for children born with cleft lip or cleft palate. Her guests, Mr. Tom and Dr. Geetha Chitta are the co-founders. They bring with them Fr. Bill Zavaski, Pastor Emeritus of St. James in Arlington Heights, Mrs. Midge Sheehan, also of St. James, and Deacon Ron Pilarski of St. Mother Theodore Guerin Parish in Elmwood Park.

This month Megan sits down with Falasiko Matovu and Peter Walusimbi, second year students from Mundelein Seminary who are originally from the Diocese of Kiyinda-Mityana in Uganda. They are also joined by Fr. Dennis Kasule, Associate Dean of Formation and Assistant Professor at Mundelein Seminary, and also originally from the Archdiocese of Kampala in Uganda. Megan asks them about their missionary experience traveling to the U.S. for study and adjusting to life and ministry here.

This month Megan meets with Fr. Brian Kerr of the Missionaries of the Poor, Mother Josefina "Joy" Surtida and Sr. Myrna Velasco of the Compassionate Franciscan Sisters of the Poor and Mrs. Marta Robak, a volunteer coordinator at St. Ferdinand Parish in Chicago and an assistant in Family Faith at Holy Family Parish in Inverness. They discuss the unique charism of these interconnected communities to glorify God by working for and with the poorest of the poor in many countries. Marta speaks about her work to coordinate support for their ministries.

The group spends more time discussing the relationship of the Mission of Jesus with the poor, and how that informs the spiritualities of their interconnected religious communities. We also learn more about how a network of supporters developed here in Chicago.

This month Megan sits down with Chris Landfried, a fourth year seminarian at the University of St. Mary of the Lake, also known as Mundelein Seminary. She asks him about his process of discernment to join the seminary. In fact, two experiences of mission immersion were key! Megan will ask him about the role of diocesan priests as missionary disciple leaders.

Megan sits down with Fr. Benjamin Chinnappan, full-time chaplain at Hines Veteran's Administration Hospital. Fr. Ben was born in southern India. Missionaries supported his vocation to be ordained a diocesan priest. He obtained permission to leave India for studies and he has served as a chaplain at the VA Hospital for about 14 years. He is also the founder of Dalit Solidarity, a charitable organization that works to provide access, opportunity and empowerment to the Dalit community still struggling in India. Fr. Ben shares about his own vocation story, his journey to give back to the Dalit community and his calling to serve as minister to veterans at the VA hospital.

This month Megan talks with Fr. Pius Kokose, Pastor of St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr in Posen. Fr. Pius was born in Ghana and discerned a vocation with the Congregation of the Holy Spirt (Spiritans). He served for 10 years in the Diocese of San Pedro, Paraguay, before again discerning a new call to serve the parish communities here in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

This month Megan sits down with Fr. Stan Chu Ilo, Research Professor of Catholic Studies and World Christianity at DePaul University. Fr. Stan shares about the Society for Hope and Solidarity for the Women of Central Africa, a project for which he has served as the US representative. He also reflects on his work founding and sustaining the charity, Canadian Samaritans for Africa. This work focuses on small projects that have big results. Megan asks about DePaul University's Center for World Catholicism. Fr. Stan explains why the Center was founded and gives a sneak preview of the upcoming World Catholicism Week conference to be held April 6-8 on campus. The title this year is "Daughters of Wisdom: Women and Leadership in the Global Church."

This month Megan discusses what it means to be a family on mission with Pete and Joy Newburn who along with their 3 young children lived in Cameroon, West Africa from 2012-2015. Their mission immersion experience was organized by the Lay Mission-Helpers. They reminisce about the decision to go on mission, and how they lived in their new community.

Pete, Joy and Megan recorded additional in-depth discussion of the formation process for overseas mission with the Lay Mission-Helpers; more details about life in Cameroon and some heartfelt reflections on what this experience has meant for the Newburn family.

Megan interviews Mr. David Heimann, Pastoral Associate of St. Andrew Parish in Chicago. David has served as a US contact for a priest friend in Rwanda. David also describes his experience of making a yearlong pilgrimage to attend Mass in a different church every day. He traveled through 38 different countries on 5 continents

Megan sits down with two religious sisters from the missionary congregation, Servants of the Plan of God, founded in Peru in 1998. Sr. Jessica Wong was born in Hong Kong but grew up in Canada. Sr. Ximena Perez is from Ecuador. Both women were inspired by the mission and power of this missionary community- and they serve in places they NEVER expected to go! Servants of the Plan of God are ministering in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the US, and Europe. The Servants provide education, medical care, basic human services and of course spiritual support.

This month Megan sits down with Fr. Chris Aleti MCCJ, Director of the Comboni Mission Center in La Grange Park, and Mr. Paul Wheeler, Director of the Comboni Lay Missionary Program also out of La Grange Park. These two knew and worked with the late Fr. Angelo Biancalana, Comboni missionary priest who gave his entire life for Christ's Mission and who passed away in June 2017. They discuss what it was like to meet and work with Fr. Angelo, the story of how he came to become a Comboni priest and his many accomplishments in the U.S. and Uganda.

Megan meets with the two other women who attended the national MISSIO Congress with her back in September. Mayra Gualoto and Marta Robak share their experience in mission and why they were interested in attending this national gathering of Catholic leaders involved in international mission hosted by the Pontifical Mission Societies of the USA. They review the impact the MISSIO Congress had on their understanding of mission and why it is important in their lives. They conclude their discussion with reflection on World Mission Sunday, which is October 22 this year.

This month Megan meets with two representatives of the missionary organization, Friends of Shalom for Uganda, which supports a community medical and volunteer center in Uganda, East Africa. Mr. Tom Mayer lives in Glen Ellyn and has worked for many years in the construction business. Fr. Alfred Tumwesigye is a priest of the Archdiocese of Mbararra in Uganda, and (among other ministries) is a hospital chaplain. Tom reveals that he never saw himself getting involved in mission overseas, and Fr. Alfred shares how proud and humbled he is to see the dedication of the community in Uganda to "build" more than just a clinic... but a community of Hope, Faith and Love!

Megan asks her guests, Tom and Fr. Alfred, to stay on a little longer and record an additional interview. Tom and Fr. Alfred have more to say about their experience in the summer Missionary Co-Op as well as sharing about the many lives saved as a result of the work of Friends of Shalom for Uganda.

Continuing the discussion of Mission in East Asia, Megan interviews Fr. John Cuff, MM. Fr. Cuff is a Maryknoll missionary priest, who has been serving as a pastoral minister in Hong Kong for most of his life. Fr. Cuff shares about the history of amazing work that Maryknoll, the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America, has done in China since 1911. He also describes how his present ministry has taught him much about the complex political and social situation in Hong Kong.

For the first time, Megan and Mary also record an extended interview, continuing on from the radio show! Given how complex the discussion of Mission in China is, listen here for the second half to the interview!

This month Megan interviews Mary Sluka, lay catechist and a recent participant in a China Study Tour organized by the U.S. Catholic China Bureau. Mary shares her knowledge and wisdom about the Chinese peoples as well as how her own deep faith inspired her to get involved in supporting the Catholic Church in China. She describes the study trip, its participants and the different communities who served as their hosts.

This month Megan interviews Mr. Nick Costello, Co-Founder of HEAL, Home to Enhance African Life, for a second time! HEAL exists to support the material, spiritual and educational needs of marginalized orphans, widows and rural villagers. Nick recently returned from a visit to Nigeria where he was able to see the work of HEAL first-hand. He shares inspiring stories of courage and generosity as HEAL takes on a medical mission outreach project. There is a great need for better medical care in rural areas of Nigeria, and there is a disconnect between the villages and hospital services.