Christians are invited to pronounce the Gospel with others. All baptized Christians are challenged to spread the Gospel, no matter what state of life they are in. It is tempting to think of ‘missionaries’ as only priests or religious taking the Gospel to others. However, it is only one part of the picture; in reality, all baptized Christians are called to become missionaries.
The missionary task of the baptized, in conformity with their vocation, is extensively considered by the Second Vatican Council, which in Lumen Gentium teaches: “Each disciple of Christ has the obligation of spreading the faith to the best of his ability” (No. 17). The Catechism of the Catholic Church confirms this “missionary mandate”: “Reborn as sons of God, the baptized must profess before men the faith they have received from God through the Church” and participate in the apostolic and missionary activity of the People of God (CCC 1270).
What this essentially means is that lay people are never exempted from preaching the Gospel. Being a missionary can take manifold forms, always in harmony with a person’s state of life. It could entail delivering the Good News to people we have never met before. It revolves around living an authentic Christian life. The baptismal hallmark empowers and commits Christians to exercise their baptismal role (CCC 1273). The world should be able to easily identify Christians by their way of life. In this way, all baptized Christians can be missionaries, preaching the Gospel, but most important of all, by their way of life.
ICM’s Fr Tom Mangattuthazhe, who heads North East India Regional Bishops’ Council Secretary for Ecumenism, spoke to Bro. Sebastian Thomas, a lay missionary. Excerpts from the interview:
Tell us about your family and background
I am married to Mini Sebastian and blessed with three children — Daniel, Christina and Paul, all of them are studying.
I have completed my education up to the postgraduate level in India and was fortunate to take my MBA from a US university in Dubai. I have worked for 30 years with a couple of multinational companies in UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
What in your childhood prepared you for missionary service?
I am from a Catholic family in Tellichery Archdiocese in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Thanks to my beloved parents Late K. C. Thomas and Mary Thomas and siblings; spirituality and prayer focus were given and nurtured from the family itself.
How did you receive your missionary call?
My spiritual life evolved and reached a new dimension once I started actively participating in the Catholic charismatic renewal movement of St. Mary’s Church, Dubai. The inspiration and fire to serve the Lord in His vineyard and to get associated with Catholic missionaries were began then. I served my parish Church in Dubai in various capacities as a catechism teacher, prayer group leader, preacher, community leader, leader for the media ministry, parish council member, and coordinator of marriage preparation courses and so on. During this period, I got an opportunity to do my B.Th. and MTh from the Alpha Institute of Theology. By the grace of the Lord, I was able to serve as an Extra-Ordinary Eucharistic minister at St. Mary’s Church, Dubai. While I was involved with charismatic leadership and preaching, I was inclined to serve missions. At the age of 56, I decided to discontinue my job to serve Catholic missions as a full-timer for three years. I had worked for 30 years in Dubai and have been giving tithe of our family income. I decided to give not only the tithe of the income but the tithe of my time, health and skills too. That is how I decided three years of missionary involvement and services. I am associated with the three Catholic rites in India (Latin, Syro Malabar and Syro Malankara). My first entry was to North-East India in the diocese of Diphu, Assam. Thereafter, I served in Orissa (Khandamal and Kalakandy) in Teleganna and in Arunachal Pradesh (Itanagar and Miao).
Based on my 20 months of mission life, I can say that there are plenty of opportunities and huge potential for the laity to get involved for the extension of God’s Kingdom.
Then He said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few” (Matt.9.37).
Are your family members and friends supportive?
The most important thing for a layman to get involved and dedicate his time for the Lord’s work is only after taking care of the family, given by the Lord. In addition, we need to create a spiritual and prayerful atmosphere in the family whereby the father, mother and children are all truly prayerful and lead a sacramental life. Only from this kind of background, the whole family unitedly can take a call for some of the members to commit and dedicate some years of his/her time for the evangelical work. It is great to remember our first and foremost priority is to ensure that the family is well taken care of. The whole family members — husband wife and children — must unanimously agree on this kind of full-time service. Moreover, it is very crucial that the whole family cooperate, support and vehemently prays for the success of such mission and initiatives.
Today, I am able to dedicate some quality time for evangelical work because my wife and children’s support in creating a space for me to be away from home to serve in various mission stations. Without family support and agreement we will not be able to do this work.
My spiritual, charismatic, professional and family friends help me and support me through their prayers and financial support for various genuine mission services like the construction of village churches, sponsoring students for education, farming support for villagers, sponsoring catechists for village ministry, health care support for sick and needy and so on. “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?….(James. 2.14-16). Whenever I come across a genuine humanitarian cause or a crucial sacramental need I always go to my friends and they are always willing and happy to support me wholeheartedly.
Misconceptions that had to overcome
There is a misconception among the laity that the missionary work is for the priests and religious and we consider laity are not trained and unable to serve in mission areas. There is a lot that can be done by the laity in association with priests, nuns and catechists to evangelise the world. “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation (Mk.16.15). In order to evangelise the world, the laity has to play a predominant role through his life witness, prayer and dedicated work in mission areas. All the mission dioceses in India wholeheartedly welcome, encourage and facilitate the voluntary lay missionaries to serve in His vineyard.
What do you perceive are your strengths in lay ministry?
I collaborate with my good friends and relatives to support the mission centres accordingly. My business management education and my years of corporate leadership role give me ample experience and skillsets to coordinate the required tasks in different mission engagements. The organisational capability I have developed during my professional career is helping me a lot to collaborate with like-minded people to support the mission. I take all these skills and calibre and my fire within me as gifts of my Lord to serve Him.
What part of missionary work do you enjoy most or find the most rewarding?
The most pleasant experience I get through mission service is the little smile and happiness on the face of the poor villagers when we support them to build a place of worship, feed them, support their education and healthcare and so on. This is an unexplainable experience that one cannot express but can only be experienced. “And having seen the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were wearied and cast away, as sheep not having a shepherd” (Mt.9.36).
A most treasured memory of your mission life?
One of the touching experiences in the mission life is the village preaching and community development in different parts of Assam and Orissa. The joy and the happiness of the villagers when we work with them is truly a memorable experience. Facilitating education for the poor students in the villages is a joyful experience.
Specific ways life has been richer because of your choice
Though I have held C-level corporate leadership positions, I find more satisfaction and feel content when I am with the poorest of the poor in the villagers.
Favourite scripture passages that relate to your experience
Jesus gave several mission statements and endorsements throughout his life. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10 is one that has fascinated me all the time. And the second one is “I came that they might have life and might have it abundantly.” John 10:10. Although Jesus described His mission in several ways, depending upon the situation and the audience, they invoke similar responses. He came to save people and to serve them by giving His life for them and by preaching the truth to them.
In Acts 26, Paul described his conversion experience to King Agrippa. In that account, he reports how Jesus gave him a mission. “But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this reason, to designate you in advance as a servant and witness to the things you have seen and to the things in which I will appear to you” Acts 26:15-18. St. Paul kept this mission in mind throughout his life. In his last letter written shortly before he was martyred, he told St. Timothy that he had completed his mission. “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come” 2 Tim. 4:6-8. Paul finished the course. There was a lot that Paul didn’t do, but he focused on teaching and preaching the Gospel just as Jesus commissioned him to do. The example of Jesus is the best and St. Paul did carry out this in his life. When we focus on our missions as Jesus and Paul did, we have to let go some other opportunities and activities.
Your missionary hero or model?
For me, Jesus is the perfect missionary model.
The advice you would give to people who wish as lay missionaries
There are several opportunities for people who would like to be part of the missions like teachers, speakers, health care workers, mentors, motivators, counsellors, intercessors. This can be done for a short duration of weeks and months/year.
What is your opinion about North East India?
North East India is a beautiful place with unique cultures and peoples. It is very inspiring and interesting to know the missionary heritage and the multiple community lifestyles and vibrant Christian faith of this region.
Can you share one of the biggest challenges of missionaries in India?
Some of the challenges can be termed as dealing with multiple languages and cultures, extreme weather conditions and transportation to remote villages and mountains. However, there are many opportunities to carry on with our work.
Can you share something that you learned from your life as a missionary?
We must realise as believers that our mission is for God. Together we work towards the establishment of His kingdom. We each are responsible for our part in that mission. When we discover what that personal mission is, we must give it our focus to maximize our influence and to accomplish the task.