A few weeks ago, Fr. Michael told us of our upcoming retrofit of the main entrance of the Church.  You can review his Pastor’s Corner here. Thank you for helping us make St. Dominic’s a generous and amazing home for so many.

In this Advent Season, I would like to invite you to another opportunity to give to the Church that has given us so much.

One of my favorite causes is the St. Francis Xavier Lay Missionary Society (XLMS for short).  (By the way, December 3rd, today, is Xavier’s feast day – so happy feast!) This society is a group of lay men and women dedicated to promote the Gospel in greater Asia.  So far, they have ministered in parts of China, Hong Kong, and India, with long term goals to serve in Japan and other parts of the Pacific Rim.

What makes XLMS unique is within its very name.  This is a lay organization.  Simply and only.  Stereotypically, when Catholics think of missionaries, we think of priest, sisters, or Protestants. Yet this Society is composed of Catholic lay men and women who promote the Gospel to others through the lens of the lay vocation.  Currently, they focus on forming the Catholic faith of young adults in Asia.

President and founder Tricia Bølle, will visit our community on Sunday, December 7^th.  She will visit us at the 9:30, 11:30 and 5:30 Sunday Masses, Coffee Minute and Practical Faith.

According to her, XLMS needs about $180,000 a year to operate at its optimal capacity for the next three years.  As of November 1st, they have around $20,000.  Being a member of the board, I would like to invite you to be a part this mission.  I invite you to give to this cause through your time, treasure and talent.

What can you do?

In terms of treasure, beyond the high cost of airfare, the majority of the costs of XLMS are the training of the lay missionaries.  This includes, but is not exclusive to, theological training, spiritual enrichment, housing, transportation, and learning counseling skills, approaches to social justice issues and Asian culture and language.  Within a year, the Society has developed a sophisticated curriculum teaching the theology of mission, spiritual counseling and evangelical skills, thanks to the efforts of the Western Dominican Province. You are invited to give in these ways:

• You can give financially via Paypal on the XLMS site, giving a monthly or one-time gift of $50 or more
• Donate gas cards for domestic travels, which aids in promoting the Society within the United States
• Donate frequent flyer miles for international travel for our missionaries
• Donate Amazon or similar gift cards to purchase books and other materials used for ministry

In terms of time, XLMS is in need of an Administrative Assistant. Such a position is very much needed; whether it’s one person who can commit to 10-15 hours/week or 2-3 reliable persons who are willing to give at least 5 hours a week for at least one month to handle administrative tasks of the Society. This enables our missionaries to promote the work of the Society without the hassle of mundane, yet necessary, tasks.

In terms of talent, I invite you to invite Tricia’s talents to parishes here and throughout the country.  When not serving in Asia, Tricia spends much of her time in the United States spreading the news of her initiative and the universal call to mission to Young Adults throughout the West Coast and in other major faith communities, simultaneously inspiring them to live their Catholic faith more intentionally and authentically.  You are encouraged to contact parishes and groups that may aid Tricia to book speaking engagements all over the country.  She has already spoken to our Young Adults twice, and she has been invited to give presentations on a regular basis from now on.  It is beautiful that we have this relationship with Tricia, and we pray for many more of these types of relationships in the near future.

And of course…

…you can always, always, always, pray for vocations.  Surely, we can pray for vocations to the religious life and the Dominicans, and I hope you do.  But join me in this prayer for XLMS:

Lord of All Nations,
We thank you for giving us this opportunity
to proclaim your message of compassion and love to all people.
Bless all missionaries,
called to this unique work of proclaiming your name to foreign lands.
May your Spirit of Providence be with the St. Francis Xavier Lay Missionary Society.
Bring them holy men and women dedicated to spreading your new good news,
the opportunity to do your work and the fortitude and grace to bring your Name to all.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen. 

For any information about the St. Francis Xavier Lay Missionary Society, you are invited to contact Tricia directly at: tricia@laymissionary.org and “like” of Society on Facebook here.

St. Francis Xavier, pray for us!

Holy Father Dominic, pray for us!