Mission Matters Live

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.

Megan sits down with Kevin Foy of the Maryknoll Mission Education Team to discuss their new education initiative, Discover Your Neighbor. This mission engagement resource is meant to help Catholic educators transform students into globally-minded missionary disciples. It is designed to integrate Maryknoll’s extensive experience in mission all over the world. Listen and consider enrolling your child or classroom in this FREE resource.

Megan meets religious sisters from Nigeria who are ministering in the Chicagoland area. The Daughters of Divine Love is an order of religious women founded in Nigeria. The community is inspired by the love of God to serve those in need wherever they may be- even Chicago! Megan learns about the different ministries and experiences of five sisters who have offered medical care, education, pastoral care, social services and built community. Each sister has a story to tell and will challenge our image of a missionary.

Megan is joined by a group of parishioners from Infant Jesus of Prague Parish in Flossmoor. Christine, Amy, Robert, Patrick and Fr. Edmond, the Associate Pastor, share their experience being involved in a mission relationship with Los Palis, in central Haiti. Today, due to the collaboration between IJP and the people of Los Palis, there have been two houses and over 50 latrines built and many, many students who have received assistance with tuition costs. The parishioners of Infant Jesus of Prague who have seen Los Palis in person will attempt to put their profound experience of hope and solidarity into words.

This month Megan and her guests discuss mission here at home in light of the presidential inauguration. Megan welcomes Kevin Foy of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, and Carolina Perez, an active member of the Parish Peace Project. The two organizations are co-sponsoring an event called, Living Into the Election, a morning of dialogue and reflection after the inauguration. They discuss how God's mission is for all of us, even here at home. We live our faith in the public realm by bringing the Gospel to bear on the social challenges of our time.

Megan sits down with Kate Macan the newest Mission Educator and Promoter with the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers. Kate shares a little of her own journey and how it all led her to the work of mission education today. She is now focused on building communities of missionary disciples among young adults as well as Hispanic communities here in the Midwest. Megan asks Kate about upcoming events in the new year. Find out more about mission education and promotion by clicking below!

This month Megan sits down with Mr. Nick Costello, President of HEAL, which stands for the Home to Enhance African Life. HEAL's mission is to form servant leaders among Africans through subsistence care, education, and entrepreneurship in the Self-Emptying Spirit of Jesus Christ. The work of HEAL focuses on poor and marginalized widows and orphans in southern Nigeria. During our show, Megan and Nick reflect on two short audio clips from Deacon Leo Okonkwo, co-founder of HEAL along with Nick. We learn of Dcn. Leo's inspiring journey from servitude to leadership in Nigeria. Nick shares with Megan the story of how HEAL came to life and how it has organically grown to serve the most oppressed communities, and empowered them to become servant leaders as well.

World Mission Sunday is THIS Sunday, October 23! This is why Megan sat down with Bishop John Manz, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago and member of the Mission Office board, to talk about his passion for mission. Bishop Manz is devoted to mission in the Archdiocese, with migrants and refugees as well as the Church in Latin America. He shares his own reflections on world mission and his extensive experience in pastoral ministry.

October is Mission Month, so Megan sits down with three parish leaders who are truly living out Christ's call to mission: Fr. Zdzisław "Jason" Torba, pastor of St. Ferdinand Parish in Chicago, Marta Robak and Daiva Piscikaite, lay leaders among the St. Ferdinand missionary group. They discuss how St. Ferdinand has become a magnet parish for missionary work. The men's religious congregation, the Missionaries of the Poor, have formed a relationship with the community at St. Ferdinand. The entire parish has become involved by making trips abroad, but also by donating money, goods and time.

This month Megan talks with three people who are involved in planning the local World Youth Day celebration. Jennifer Delvaux is Director of Faith Formation at Holy Name Cathedral, David Heimann is Pastoral Associate at St. Andrew Parish in Chicago and Dr. timone davis is an Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology at Loyola University's Institute of Pastoral Studies. Megan, Jennifer and David are on the planning committee, and Dr. davis is the keynote speaker for the Chicago celebration scheduled July 30-31. Find out more of the details at www.WYDChicago.org.

Megan sits down with Christina Bax from St. Clement Parish in Chicago. Christina returns for her second visit to the studio, as she was interviewed back in June 2014 after her first mission immersion experience in Nairobi, Kenya. Now she returns after a second visit to Kenya. She describes to Megan how her eyes were opened during the first trip, and that this led to her heart opening as well. She was able to share her experience of mission with her parish while also keeping up communication with a friend back in Nairobi. It was this friendship that led to her second visit to Kenya. She has also become an advocate for the St. Clare Umoja Academy in rural Kitale, Kenya. The experience has deepened her love for the people of Africa and her call to mission.

Megan meets with Fr. Gerald Gunderson, Pastor of Mary Seat of Wisdom Parish and School in Park Ridge. His community got actively involved in mission this past Lent as they supported transportation needs for the Diocese of Chipata, Zambia in southern Africa. Fr. Gunderson describes how he first become interested in mission work in Zambia through a friend, Fr. Wilfred Piri. From this initial friendship came a visit to Zambia during Holy Week! Fr. Gunderson was impressed by what he saw, especially how the people used bicycles. Upon his return, the Parish and School developed the theme of "Mercy in Motion" and during this past Lent they raised awareness and funds to purchase and send bicycles to Zambia.

This month Megan meets with Becca Muder, a Program and Recruitment Coordinator at Amate House. Later this year, Becca will start the formation process to become a Maryknoll Lay Missioner. Becca recognizes that God has called her to this point and while it is scary, she is excited to take the next step in her spiritual life. The Maryknolls are working hard to make sure she is ready. Becca notes that the lay missioner program will likely present challenges, but she is confident that God is leading her to a grateful life of mission!

This month Megan is honored to sit down with Fr. Ronald Hicks, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Chicago. In addition to his many years of ministry here in the Archdiocese, he has a passion for mission! Fr. Hicks has spent a significant part of his ministry working with the children of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos, Spanish for Our Little Brothers and Sisters. This missionary organization provides homes and communities of care for orphaned and abandoned children in nine different Latin American countries. Fr. Hicks shares his amazing journey on mission and how this experience changed his life.

This month Megan sits down with two of Chicago's three winners of the Missionary Childhood Association annual Christmas Artwork Contest: Anahi Lopez and Jackie Ostiguin, students at Bridgeport Catholic Academy in Chicago. They are also joined by three members of the faculty and Marilyn Santos, Director of Mission Education in the office of the Pontifical Mission Societies of the United States. The two girls, along with Lukasz Ratulowski a student at St. Blase Polish Catholic School in Summit, were three winners among 24 total chosen by the national office to be honored this past December. They discuss the contest, how the girls made their artwork and traveled to Washington DC to receive special awards.

This month Megan sits down with Fr. Tim Tiscornia, a Maryknoll priest who has served in Tanzania, Sudan and South Sudan, and Kevin Foy, a Catholic educator who has worked in schools, parishes and on mission trips around the US. Both Fr. Tim and Kevin now work with the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers of the Midwest doing mission education and promotion work. Each shares about how collaboration is essential to the work they have done and will be doing. Megan also identifies ways that the Mission Office of the Archdiocese of Chicago can collaborate with the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers in an effort to develop missionary disciples. How can YOU collaborate in this mission? Click below to find out!

Megan sits down with Fr. Alfred Tumwesigye, diocesan priest from southern Uganda, and Ms. Juanita Martinez, resident of Chicago and parishioner at St. Frances of Rome Parish in Cicero. They discuss the community medical and volunteer center, Shalom for Uganda, in which they are both involved. Shalom for Uganda, and the U.S. not-for-profit Friends of Shalom for Uganda, is primarily focused on meeting the medical and health-related needs, still, as the name suggests, there is a faith component to the work. They discuss the twin Christian responsibilities of serving the poor and being on mission.

This Mission Month Megan interviews Bishop Christopher Glancy, Viatorian and Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Belize City and Belmopan, which makes up the entire nation of Belize in Central America. Bishop Glancy discusses his process of discernment to religious life as a member of the Viatorian Community and as a missionary priest/bishop in Central America. The people of Belize are rich in faith but face the same kind of violence that many Central American nations do. Let us keep them in our prayers this Mission Month!

This month Megan meets Fr. Guido Gutierrez and Fr. Felipe Amenero, both from the rural Diocese of Puno, Peru and Fr. Robert Perez, local Chicago priest who works at Catholic Charities. The three of them have been working together for many years to build connections between Chicago and Peru. Fr. Guido is Pastor and Fr. Felipe is Associate Pastor at St. Simeon Parish on a remote, mountainous island. They have been trying to connect the faithful there with Catholics here. No person is an island, and no missionary is either! Learn more about what it is like to serve with the indigenous Peruvian community in the Andes Mountains and recognize the power of mission to connect and bring hope to people who live in remote parts of the world.

This month Megan speaks with Fr. Joseph Ekpo originally from Nigeria, today a resident at St. Simeon Parish in Bellwood and teacher at Fenwick High School in Oak Park. Fr. Ekpo brings his experience from the Diocese of Ikot Ekpene in Nigeria and a local Catholic organization called Children's Welfare and Development. He has been asked to speak as a missionary representative in the Summer Mission Appeal for the Archdiocese of Chicago. He also shares his experience as a theology and comparative religions teacher at Fenwick. He has recently developed a new course called "Missiology and the Mission of Jesus Christ." He has found a creative way to help teenagers understand their role in the mission of Jesus and the Church. Educate yourself about mission by clicking below!

Megan interviews three compañeras from the community resource center Taller de José, which is located in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago. The work of Taller de José is an excellent example of mission at home! Interim Director, Lisa Monnot, Interim Associate Director, Anna Mayer and Compañera, Joan Stopka describe what they offer clients who are looking a for a variety of services. But the key to their work is: ACCOMPANIMENT! A "compañera/o" is a companion, who walks with someone. The staff of Taller de José walk with their clients as they find what they need. This is a perfect example of missionary work, right here in Chicago. Learn what you can do to become a companion to Taller de José by clicking below!

This month Megan interviews two recently recruited lay missionaries who are preparing to leave for their first extended mission experience in Trujillo, Peru. Both Yessenia de la O and Melissa White are lay women who have been dreaming of the missionary life for many years. The Comboni Lay Missionary Program answered their prayers! The conversation centers around their commitment to a missionary experience. How did Melissa and Yessenia make the decision to become missionaries? What preparations have they undertaken? We also hear how they will share their talents and gifts while on mission in Peru. Is there is a particular personality or type of person who is best suited to the missionary vocation? Click below to hear the surprising answer!

This is the motto of the Missionary Childhood Association, one of the four Pontifical Mission Societies that the Mission Office represents. Its work is exclusively about the mission vocation of children. Not only are children encouraged to learn about other kids in the missions (and the missionaries who serve them) but they pray and sacrifice for each other. In this way children are empowered to share their gifts! This month we hear from Ms. Mary Coban, DRE at Divine Savior Parish in Norridge, and Fr. Avitus Kiiguta, pastor at St. John De LaSalle Parish in Chicago. Mary shares how her Religious Ed Program encourages the students to participate in the Missionary Childhood. Fr. Kiiguta shares his experience teaching children in Tanzania and Kenya who are also members. Click below to learn how you can encourage the children in your life to be powerful missionaries!

Seeking to better understand mission as relationship, host Megan Mio interviews Ms. Teresita Gonzalez, who serves as Director of both the Mission Office of the Archdiocese of Miami and the lay missionary community, Amor en Acción. Teresita describes the bridge-building work of Amor en Acción and sister dioceses in both Haiti and the Dominican Republic. They seek to build solidarity between communities, using pastoral ministry as the common link. Our attitudes for mission color the way we do the work of mission. Click below to consider your own attitude for mission!

"We must reach out!" With these words Pope Francis describes his missionary spirit and how he expects the whole Catholic Church to approach the world. This month Megan Mio speaks with Msgr. Rich Hynes, Director of the Office of Parish Life and Formation. Together they discuss the 20 new Cardinals that Pope Francis recently named, many from developing nations, that more fully represent the universal Church. They also comment on the Pope's visit to Sri Lanka and his interview with a Latin American newspaper. Click below to reflect on the Pope's missionary spirit and your own!

Host, Edwin Rondán, is honored to interview our former host and Director of the Mission Office, Sr. Madge Karecki, SSJ-TOSF. The big news is that Sr. Madge, originally from Chicago, was named Assistant National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies of the United States. She previously served as President of the only Catholic school of higher learning in South Africa: St. Augustine College. Edwin will ask her to share her experience and passion for mission. To hear more about the exciting life of a Chicago missionary, click below!

This month Edwin speaks with two missionaries who have heard Pope Francis' call to "go forth to everyone without exception." Sr. Miriam Therese Ezike is a Daughter of Divine Love who was born and raised in Nigeria. Fr. Damian Kuukole is a priest from the Damongo Diocese of Ghana.

This month host, Edwin Rondan, speaks with two inspiring women who seek to build lasting peace in Kenya. The Mission Office took six young adult women to Nairobi, Kenya this past June for a mission immersion experience. While there they met Monica Kinyua and Jane Wanjiru, two sisters who co-founded Children's Peace Initiative- Kenya. They seek to empower children, the future of our world, to engage in the peace process. They instill values such as respect, integrity, and team work; and they utilize a variety of strategies to encourage the children in active peace-building. To learn more about how YOU can build peace in your own neighborhood, click below!

It is our mission to communicate life to others. Missionaries do this by immersing themselves in the culture and context of the local community. They leave security on the shore and give their very lives away! This month Edwin interviews Fr. Daniel Moschetti MCCJ, a Comboni missionary priest. He has served in both Kenya and South Sudan. He will tell us more about the Comboni Missionary community and the work he has done in the slums. How has he immersed himself in the communities he has served? What signs of hope are there for the suffering communities? Click below and reflect on your own experience of immersion.

Tune in to hear Edwin and his guests discuss the vocation to consecrated missionary life. Sr. Margaret Nyangireki is a Sister of Good Counsel Mbarara Uganda and now serving at a parish in Chicago. Fr. Bill Donnelly is a Maryknoll Missioner who serves both in Chicago and Guatemala. They will share their experience of call and their challenges. What is the missionary life like? What kinds of skills do missionaries need? What are the blessings they receive? And could you see yourself serving in this manner? Click below and find out!

Greg Darr, Regional Director of Mission Education for the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, and Christina Aranda, coordinator of the Missionary Cooperation Plan (MCP) for the Archdiocesan Office of Mission Education, share their experiences of working with missionaries and the Summer Mission Appeals, with host Edwin Rondan. From depicting the daily challenges faced by foreign missionaries to explaining our own call to missionary discipleship, this discussion will leave you with a better understanding of the importance of the summer appeals in our parishes.

Join Edwin Rondan, Director of the Office of Mission Education for the New Evangelization, and his guests Emily Brabham, Christina Bax, and Kate Floros as they discuss their recent mission immersion trip to Nairobi, Kenya. Hear first hand how mission impacts people in the world and the missionaries themselves.

Join Megan Mio, Associate Director of the Office of Mission Education for the New Evangelization, and her very special guest, Aleksandra Gacek, from St. Ferdinand School, as they discuss Aleksandra's First Communion experience, including preparation, events of the day and a new relationship to Jesus.