Mission in the context of Community work

Mission is the apostolate of the Community  for social action, to strengthen the parish in  building basic ecclesial communities and  assisting in breaking the yoke of poverty and oppression.

Mission Apostolate Functions

1.      Parochial   - To establish the formation of communities of disciples in parishes  through the conduct of Encounter Programs,  Life in the Spirit Seminars. and  Basic Formation Teachings

2.      Seeding  - To “seed” in parishes within a BLD District at least one (1) couple who have completed the Marriage Encounter, the Life in the Spirit Seminar, and Spiritual Growth programs.

3.      Intercessory - To recruit and equip for coordinated intercession and spiritual warfare,  prayer warriors in parishes within a BLD District

4.      Housing and Livelihood  - To assist families out of poverty towards dignity and productivity as children of God.

Administrative Set Up

Mission Program

A.    The Mission Apostolate has the fundamental responsibility of proclaiming the Good News to others through the Mission Homesteads. Aside from the Homestead’s witnessing in personal and Community life, it shall undertake mission through various “ad extra” objectives of the Community.  In this centrifugal orientation, the Homestead looks outward and directs its attention on its ultimate end of serving the larger Church and Society.

B.     The Mission Homestead’s ability to effectively respond to opportunities for mission requires versatility in approach.  The Community’s Mission Objectives allow the following entry points:

1.      Encounter Weekends (Marriage, Family, Singles, Solo Parent, Youth)

2.      Life in the Spirit

3.      Spiritual Growth

4.      Pastoral Care

5.      Poverty Alleviation (including livelihood and housing)   

Duties and Responsibilities

 A.  Servant Leader – Mission

Function Objectives 

1.      Coordinates the Community’s evangelization and ministry work in parishes.

2.      Advocates legislative and institutional programs for socio-economic justice and peace.

3.      Develops models for the formation of parish –rooted communities of disciples.

4.      Initiates welfare and livelihood projects  for the poor, the homeless and disadvantaged in basic church communities.

5.      Promotes programs for cultivating a renewed culture of Christian worship.

Specific Functions

1.      Develops, maintains and monitors  Mission Policies and Programs.

2.      Develops and monitors the training program for Mission Ambassadors.

        3.   Oversees the implementation of the programs for achieving the Community Mission objectives.

        4.   Develops and maintains a reliable data base.

B.   District Steward – Mission

2.      Submits quarterly progress reports to the CSL through the Mission Servant Leader

3.      Coordinates with Homestead Shepherds to discuss requests from District-in-Process, Diocesan Parishes or Institutions for any of the mission programs, according to the guidelines of the Community.

4.      Seeks approval of the Mission Order from the DCS

5.      Issues Mission Order to the designated Mission Homestead.

6.      Provides Pastoral Care for the coordinators under the Mission Apostolate.

C.  DISTRICT SERVICES

1.      Develops and supports District’s In Process (DIP)  into Full-Term District.

2.      Organizes the seeding program  within the Diocese.    

D.  PARISH  SERVICES

1.        Solicits the endorsement of the Parish Priest of the District for presentation of the       BLD Parish Community Development Program  to other Parish Priests within the Archdiocese.

2.        Develops a proforma outline of  the BLD Parish Community Program for presentation  either to the Bishop or to the Parish Priest.

3.        Maintains good rapport and relationship with the Auxilliary Bishops, their second in command, and other priests, as well as the Vicar Foranes, in order to have wide acceptance in all levels of the church hierarchy.

4.        Maintains a list  of all BLD members and their  respective parishes for possible programs that can be offered to their parishes.  

5.        Familiarizes and equips through the BLD Formation, mission workers with the following basic church teachings and other Community formation:

•  Church of the Poor
• Basic Catechesis
• PCP II
• Basic Ecclesial Communities Formation
• Pastoral Care
• Cooperative Formation
• Value Formation

E.     INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES

1.      Develops strategies for mission activities in institutions and offices including seminaries, convents, prisons, hospitals and various welfare agencies.

2.   Develops fund raising programs for mission activities such as livelihood programs, and building homes for the less privileged.

MISSION HOMESTEAD

What is a Mission Homestead

The Mission Homestead  is the frontline  of the Covenant Community as its mission corps.  It is the blending of pastoral care and evangelical zeal, merging the principles of communion and mission of the Community.  It is also a cluster of Word Sharing Circles where members shepherd one another towards spiritual maturity and work with one another in ministry and mission.

Administrative Structure

The Mission Homestead is headed by a  Homestead Shepherd who reports directly to the District Council of Stewards, but is administered directly by the Mission Steward only during mission work.  Pastorally, the Homestead Shepherd is under the care of the District Pastoral Steward.  Functionally, the Mission Homestead  gets support from all District Apostolates.

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Duties and Responsibilities

A.  Mission Homestead Shepherd

1.      Manages the affairs of the Homestead, guided by the Covenant of Communion,  and the Community Statement on Sound Homestead Management and Guidelines set  by the District Council of Stewards.

2.      Provides pastoral care for the Homestead’s Circle Shepherds and conducts a monthly Living Word Group Session with all Circle Shepherds in the Homestead

3.      Ensures that the Circle Shepherds perform their pastoral duties and responsibilities in their respective Circles.

4.      Exercises direct supervision during mission-related activities over the functional workers serving their Homestead   

5.      Ensures that Program Reports and Recommendations are properly accomplished and deliberated upon by the DCS before rendering final decision at least six (6) weeks before the scheduled mission.

B.  Circle Shepherd

1.      Presides over the Word Sharing Circle sessions.

2.      Aids Circle members in building sound interpersonal relationships in the Lord within the circle, in their respective families and with others, within and outside of the Community.

3.      Motivates the presence of Circle members in the Worship Service,  Word Sharing Circle sessions, official gatherings of the Community and service in the Community’s mission .

4.      Shares in Community governance by communicating and fostering the values, norms and policies of the Community

5.      Assists in discipleship formation and ministry development of Circle members.