My Vision of Maryknoll and Mission
 

I began OTP in Tanzania less than a year ago. The African Region is still new to me and I feel that I do not know much about the mission of Maryknoll here. However, as a priesthood candidate in Maryknoll, I have some thoughts about the formation program and some hopes for the future.

The number of Maryknoll members is not increasing every year as it was in the 1960s and 70s. In 2004 we had one ordination and one Brother as a permanent member. One Priest Associate became a permanent member last year. We will have two from our formation program to take permanent oath in 2007, God willing. In 2008 one more. After that, we might have one in 2011 and another one in 2011.

Usually, each formator serves a three year term. In his first year he is just beginning. In the second year the formator gets familiar to his work. In the third year he starts planning for his next assignment and gets ready to take off! Maryknollers love being in overseas mission. But if a formator really likes his job that would be a blessing, especially if he remains six years in formation. I wish the whole formation team would remain for at least two terms. From the entry point the vocation ministers could plan together and accompany the formation staff in receiv-ing prospective candidates. Then the formation staff could support, pray, and work with candidates to build up a community life -- fully respecting, caring about, and sharing one another experiences.

I don't know in the future if Maryknoll will work in three continents or not? Overseas I hope we shall participate "in the missionary activity of the Church, whereby God's Kingdom might be everywhere proclaimed and established and the Church might be the universal sacrament of salvation, carried out by means of Christian witness, verbal proclamation of the Gospel, initiation into Christian community, and continuing formation of the Christian community with the intention of withdrawing when the Local Church has attained self-sustaining maturity" (Constitution of CFMSA, #17, p. 5, 2004).

Hung's Ministry             Hung's Biography

Read about Hung's Vocation Story in Maryknoll Magazine

Maryknollers in Nairobi, Kenya