CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING, PURSUING THE COMMON GOOD
It is the honourable responsibility of Christians to contribute by means of active participation to building a society where the common good is fundamental. As Pope Benedict XVI affirmed: “There is a need for authentically Christian politicians but, even more so, for lay faithful who witness to Christ and the Gospel in the civil and political community.” (Address to the 24th Plenary Session of the Pontifical Council for the Laity).
THE LAST WORD • THE GOOD SAMARITAN
THE SOCIAL TEACHING OF THE CHURCH IN THE VOCATION JOURNEY
BY FR MUSEKETERI MKOTOKOTO
JUSTICE, PEACE, ecology and works of charity for the common good are at the heart of the mission. We, as missionaries, always stand for the Social Teaching of the Church (STC). We cannot neglect it and live only one aspect in our vocation. Pope Benedict XVI, in his Encyclical Caritas in Veritate (2009, §6), says that: “Justice is inseparable from charity, and intrinsic to it. Justice is the primary way of charity…” He also adds that “to desire the common good and strive towards it is a requirement of justice and charity (§7).”
The STC is a content which we offer in our vocation workshops; particularly when we ask Comboni Missionaries to share their missionary experiences, not only their vocation stories, but also how they handle economical, educational, financial, social and even spiritual challenges in the mission. We continuously adhere to the dream of our Father and founder, St Daniel Comboni, especially in working for the common good, extending our acts of charity, not only to material things but also to being moral and offering spiritual support to each other.
We continuously adhere to the dream of our Father and founder, St Daniel Comboni, especially in working for the common good
In our vocation workshops, we don’t promise wealth and material security to attract aspirants, but we share with them the reality of our missionary lives. I think that this methodology captures the heart of our candidates, especially being so aware of our responses to the challenges and the STC. We are not ready-made missionaries; we went through many processes until we became equipped to address the current crisis in society. A sentence in Caritas in Veritate summarizes our missionary life: “the primary capital to be safeguarded and valued is man, the human person in his or her integrity: ‘Man is the source, the focus and the aim of all economic and social life’” (§25).
We will have our “Winter Vocation Workshop” in July or August. We will continue to invite confreres for particular topics, to give personal witness and to share their missionary experiences with our aspirants. In this way, they are presented with a deeper appreciation of our Comboni way of life.
LETTING THE SPIRIT BLOW
ASPIRANCY IS the first step during which an individual reflects, considers, and discerns on dedicating his/her whole being to religious life. During this time, the vocation director or someone delegated to formation, will assist an aspirant to give more meaning to his/her life, routine of prayer, study, faith and knowledge of self. Since our theme in this issue is Religious Life, I would like to share simple steps that we followed last year.