Mission Alive

NEWS Update from Lay Mission Union Ireland! Lots of things happening!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ixyzv3RI-Q3dSQ-AfscxGT0zQbLOaHkJ2p5dxjMughw/edit?usp=sharing

As part of the IMU/CORI discussions, the ‘Mission and Dialogue’ committee met with the Consultants L&P on 16 February and did some serious thinking.

Representatives from lay mission groups gather in the IMU on 17 February to spell out what they want to achieve together in the newly-formed Lay Mission Union of Ireland (LMUI).

Guest from the West’ Chapter 1: Jeju
For those who did not have a chance to read it yet, this month I have uploaded the first chapter of my book, ‘Guest from the West’: the question that challenged my motivation –so why was I in Korea?–life as a novice missionary in Jeju– the people who created the Church there– West and East can communicate! Let me know if you can get it. Click on: https://www.dropbox.com/s/3beb6oct…/Ch%201%20for%20web.docx… or get it on www.imu.ie

A program in UCD for volunteers to share their English and computer skills in Tanzania brought UCD students and veteran missionaries together on 4 February. The missionaries were there not only to show support but to give the new 'trainers' practice in sharing their computer skills with others. The returned missionaries admitted their need to upgrade their IT knowledge and in turn shared their experiences in Africa to help prepare the students. The meetings will continue over the next month.

IMU February Think-in

On 2 February, 31 members of the IMU (Executive members and representatives) gathered for the annual ‘Think-in’ at Emmaus.

The main topic was the IMU-CORI talks and Mr Shane Crowley from L&P gave a report on recent discussion. There was general agreement on the progress so far. In the afternoon there were reports on the Lay Mission Program, steps to meet the Refugee Crisis and the course in Kimmage for pastoral workers coming to Ireland.

A meeting on 19 January included Spirasi, the Coordinator of the IMU-CORI Justice Desk and Religious Sisters who had offered their services as therapists, befrienders or pastoral agents to support refugees and their families. The aim of the meeting was to establish a working relationship with Spirasi and to share information on the skills being offered by the participants. The participants expressed a need for training on the effects of trauma, as well as a working knowledge of the Syrian Culture. We will set up these workshops in the near future. Spirasi is hoping to set up satellite support people through out the country. The participants as well as the Justice Desk hope to support this initiative. Anyone interested in this area and who could not be at the meeting please contact Sheila at the Justice Desk.

Happy New Year to all our IMU friends. Facebook asks, 'What 's on your mind?' I wrote most of what was on my mind-- during my years in Korea and China and what I learnt about the people, cultures and religions there. The book is called, 'Guest from the West.' It is available on Amazon but not in your local bookstore so I am thinking of putting it on the web.
Click on to https://www.dropbox.com/s/9o9404x…/Foreword%20for%20DB.docx…
and see if you can find it. If you can, let me know and also whether you would like to read more!

Dropbox - Error Dropbox is a free service that lets you bring your photos, docs, and videos anywhere and share them easily. Never email yourself a file again!

The new cultural challenge for missionaries and others involved in sharing the Good New lies in social media. This was brought home to the 13 participants at the IMU sponsored workshop at the Wheel, led by Gert Ackermann, on 13 January. Social media provide the possibility of reaching out to millions of people with whom we would not otherwise be in contact but the first requirements are to know what you want to talk about and with whom. It would be a fruitful lesson for each missionary group to sit down and discuss what is the essence of what they want to discuss with the people of Ireland, and what age-group in particular.
Today one of the most successful users of social media is Pope Francis

Happy Christmas to All, at Home and Abroad!