Faith & Life Accounts of Missionary Experience
Created By: Fr. Harold Maria Toledano, OAD
A TRIBUTE TO ALL OAD MISSIONARIES
Memory is the power of retaining past
experiences, a commemorative remembrance as well as a particular act of
recollection. Memory is important because with it comes history and we
are children of our history. Making a memory of our missionary roots
will not only edify us but will confirm our identity and dignity as OAD.
Memory would not be such real and meaningful if no one celebrates or
perpetuates it. Let us commemorate with joy the blessed lives of our
venerable missionaries to reawaken in us their zeal and dedication for
the cause of the gospel.
—INTRODUCTION
This is to honor the apostolic heroism
of our confreres. It is just an honest way to thank God for inspiring
our Order and our confreres to show the depth of their understanding on
the command of the Risen Lord: “go to the world and announce the good
news and baptize them all in the name of the Father, and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit” (Mt.27:19) not only by preaching it but by living
it too.
—PRESENTATION
After having read, meditated and in
some way shared their missionary experiences, I am all the more inflamed
by the same spirit of missionary passion of our mission predecessors.
The FLAME is an inspiration and
encouragement to serve the church and glorify God, so that as OAD our
hearts will keep the fire of love for God and neighbor burning, our
lives radiate the peace and the light of Christ, doing our duty like
Jesus; in taking care of the affairs of the FATHER, mirrored in the
lives of our mission mentors.
—MSGR. HILARIO COSTA OF JESUS, OAD
—Born: Pessinetto, Torino,(Italy)
—Died: Mar. 31, 1754. Luc-thuy village, Bui Chu Diocese, Nam dinh Province
—Studies: Philosophy & Theology in the convent of St. Nicholas, Genoa (Italy)
—Profession: Sept.17, 1715
—Personal traits: Intelligent, kind, prudent, had a spirit of sacrifice and selfless
—Mission area: Vietnam
—ASSIGNMENT
—Nominated Prefect of the Mission by
Pope Clement XII, Apostolic Visitor and Vicar in the Vicariate of
Eastern Tonkin (now Hai Phong Diocese) 1737
—Appointed by Pope Benedict XXIV on
Nov. 26 1744, to be Apostolic Delegate in Cocincina- South Vietnam(where
Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City is now located)
—Auxiliary Bishop of Msgr. Tommaso Bottari, assisting the Vicariate of Western Tonkin on Oct.3,1735
—Titular Bishop of Corycus, Cilicia –now is in Mersin province, Turkey (1735-1740)
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—CHURCH CONTRIBUTION
—He convoked the COUNCIL OF TONKIN in Luc-Thuy on 1753
—Published in Annamite language about
philosophy, dogma and morals; Sunday sermons, biography of saints, rites
for the mass and administration of sacraments, courses in spiritual
direction, translation of the Rule and OAD Constitutions.
—Sent the confirmation to Rome
regarding the 4 Jesuits and 2 Domenican martyrs, facilitating their
canonization and were proclaimed saints.
— LUC-THUY CHURCH
—PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
“ regarding my situation in this mission,
the divine goodness delights in giving me continually the abundance of
grace such as a healthy body and keeping me away from countless dangers
in which I am living especially during this time when a civil war broke
out. I just can’t tell how many villages were destroyed and destroyed
by fire, how endless are the killings and cruelty: it almost seems like
a punishment of God for their great sin of idolatry and hate to our
Christian Faith.”
(Letter to his parents)
—KE SAT CHURCH
—MISSIONARY’S PRAYER
“ If God will not give me a special
grace, though I live with all sincerity and truth, being so happy in
coming here, I feel I can’t make it because “ I feel another law within
myself which struggles against the law in my mind” (St. Paul). It is
for this reason that I recommend myself with all my being to your
prayers.”
(Letter to the Provincial of Piemonte, Italy)
—SCRIPTURAL PASSAGE
“Therefore, in the present case I
advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or
activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you
will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves
fighting against God”.
(Acts 5:38-39)
—AUGUSTINIAN QUOTATION
—“If you love Christ, extend your charity to the whole world because in the world are scattered the members of Christ”
—(St. Augustine)
—PRAYER FOR MISSION
Father of all, you sent your Son to carry out your mission of
Redeeming the world. Today, many still have not heard his
message of truth and love. Our world is torn by war and
conflict, by poverty and injustice. Let the light of your
Gospel of love so shine in the world that it may be
transformed into a worthy home for all your children of
every race and country. Bless all missionaries throughout
the world that their work may bear fruit. Together with
them, may we too share in the missionary work of the
whole Church that your Kingdom of justice, love and peace
may come in all hearts and in all nations. We make our
prayer through Christ Our Lord. Amen