Bridge Building:Mission in Our Midst by Deacon Mickey Frisen

Sr. Jean Thuerauf is a Mercy Missionary who has given over 30 years of her life and mission work to serving the people of North Minneapolis. Some people know Sr. Jean as the “Cookie Cart nun” because for many years she worked with children to help them develop life long skills as they made cookies to be served in churches and other groups. Now she is dedicating herself to building community in one neighborhood by rehabilitating houses to be occupied by folks who could never own a home before.

She is also hosting what she calls “dialogue groups” among some of the residents of the neighborhood who include newer immigrants and gang members. By living amongst the people she serves, Sr. Jean shares in their daily joys and struggles. She is missionary by her presence and daily witness to Christ. When I recently had a chance to visit with Sr. Jean she made it very clear to me that mission doesn’t just happen overseas.

She told me that the need to proclaim the Gospel and witness to Gospel values is just as urgent here in our own cities and towns. She reminded me that mission is rooted in our Baptism and that we are called to share faith at home as well as abroad.

Sometimes in the Church’s history average Catholics have deferred their own missionary call to the efforts of priests and nuns who were specially trained as missionaries as a life choice. And yet, when we remember the earliest mission expansion of the Church it is clear that it was through the witness of average Christians that made the biggest difference.

People witnessed to Jesus in their normal daily relationships among family members, their business dealings, their involvement in civic life and in their reaching out in acts of generosity and compassion to people in need who they did not know or usually associate with.

During every age of the church reform and renewal, it was Christian witness of life that was the heart of it. Since Vatican II and in the writings of popes we see again and again the call of Baptismal faith to be authentic witnesses to the person and mission of Jesus.

We are reminded that the Church is missionary by her nature. Pope Paul VI wrote: “Those who would be teachers of the faith must first be witnesses of that faith.” The other common thread that weaves its way through our Catholic tradition of mission is that our Baptism will call us to reach beyond our comfort zones and cross many borders so that the Gospel is proclaimed.

Sometimes Christians will cross borders to reach other countries and cultures. Sometimes the challenge is to cross the border to the other side of the street or neighborhood. Whether we are called to Madagascar or North Minneapolis there will never be a more essential mission than that of a Christian witness of the life and love of Jesus Christ.