Charles Phukuta, cicm
Superior General
(This is the Homily of the Father General, Charles Phukuta, during the Holy Eucharist in Celebration of the 162nd Foundation Anniversary of the CICM in Rome.)
My brothers, it is beautiful for us to be here together this morning to celebrate our Foundation Day. November 28, 1862 - November 28, 2024. One hundred sixty-two years in the Lord's vineyard. As we know, Verbist was already 37 when he first considered becoming a missionary. Inspired by the work of the Holy Childhood, which cared for abandoned children in the Far East and other parts of the world, he thought he should do more for the needy, especially orphans in China. Thus, he left his native Belgium for China, where he arrived with his first companions in the winter of 1865 and died there 27 months later, on February 23, 1868.
As we read in the Gospel and our Constitutions, Art. 2, Christ commanded his disciples, "Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Gospel to all creation." (Mk. 16:15). Our Founder lived by this precept and continues to inspire and urge us to do the same. We are a missionary congregation whose primary concern is God's mission. Our primary focus has always been the needs of the local church and the people we are sent to.
An anniversary like this one is a festivity and an opportunity to look back with gratitude on the past and renewed enthusiasm for the future. It is a time to discern new ways and gain new strength to bring hope to others. Today, we must remember the purpose for which Theophile Verbist and his first companions started the Congregation. The Congregation was started not so much for its members but for others: to respond to the needs of others. Others were the focus; we are to keep those we are called to serve as the focus of our ministry. So, as an apostolic congregation, the priority was always others – those who had to be served.
Jesus' mission was not to safeguard the religious organization of his time. Last Tuesday's Gospel reminded us that not one stone of the Jerusalem temple would be left standing (cf. Lk 21:6). In fact, Jesus was not ashamed to invite himself into the home of Zacchaeus, who lived by embezzlement to welcome Mary Magdalene and her situation warmly; to stop and chat with Simon, now Peter, whose culture of the time classified him as low-class; to bring down Paul, who saw himself as the most perfect of the perfect Pharisees. He frequented the unfrequented so much that they all murmured against him (cf. Lk 19:7).
Two thousand years later, this lifestyle defines discipleship. Jesus sends us out to express his kindness and compassion, to accompany people whom society rejects. At another time, St John Chrysostom asserted that if we behaved as true Christians, as true missionaries, there would be no more pagans, as if to say that in the CICM missionary, all must find a neighbor.
In his exhortation on holiness, the Pope writes that the criterion for evaluating our lives is, above all, what we have done for others. He adds that if we take more care of ourselves, we will have no time for others (#107). 1
Today, are we taking this path where all find in us neighbors? Do we know how to preserve the treasure that is this way of life, this way of Jesus walking together with us, which embodies the very essence of mission? Since Vatican II, the mission is no longer polarized by conversion at all costs. That's called proselytism. Its purpose is to live Jesus' way of life. Our mission is to be attentive to God's presence in others.
Today, as we celebrate the 162nd Anniversary of our Congregation, we must return to the original spirit for which the Congregation started. Our focus must be on those we serve. We need to move away from self-centeredness and towards other-centeredness. Our Founder once wrote, "Nothing is difficult for those who love."
Here are some of the virtues our much-loved Founder, Théophile Verbist, believes are required for a CICM missionary:
THE GENIUS - "No doubt genius never gets in the way, but you are mistaken if you imagine that we need a man of great talent. No, if there isn't much virtue, this talent could even do harm." 2
THE SPIRIT OF FAITH - "The missionary has only the spirit of faith to sustain him and guard against the natural repugnances, the disgusts, the troubles with which his soul is often obsessed. " 3
THE LOVE OF SACRIFICE - "The love of sacrifice... is the touchstone of the true missionary vocation." 4
SPIRITUAL FORCES - "I would be failing in my duty if I were to conceal from you that, humanly speaking, the terrain is ungrateful and that spiritual forces must far outweigh bodily ones. " 5
REGULARITY - "Let's close ranks and remember that order leads to God; order in rising, in devotional exercises, in mealtimes, in recreation, in their mode, and in going out. " 6
POLITENESS - "We are taking over from the French, whose forms are very polished and whose language is polished; uneducated men with rustic forms are very harmful to us. " 7
GENTLENESS AND PATIENCE - "The virtues most needed here are gentleness and patience. Do not accept, my dear Bax, candidates with a violent character. They are unhappy and make others unhappy." 8 "Make good provision of virtues and above all of self-sacrifice, patience, and resignation; whatever happens, with this armor one is safe from the enemy's blows, and one benefits at least for oneself from one's efforts and goodwill." 9
Finally, our Founder also spoke of the need for courage: "Once again, courage; may difficulties and even misfortunes find us resigned to God's holy will. Let us sanctify ourselves, my dear, and think often of this goal we have set before ourselves by dedicating ourselves to the missions." 10 "Here, we need many more good and true missionaries than many priests. That is why you must give up accepting many subjects but take particular care in your choice." 11
Each of you has contributed to the 162-year history of our Congregation, and today, we are united in one colorful mosaic to celebrate. Yet, the challenge is for the future. Can we maintain and continue to create the agile, selfless sacrifices of our predecessors? Today, we are responsible for keeping the fire of our charism burning and spreading its flames wherever we are.
As birthdays are significant to us, so is our CICM Congregation's birthday for all of us CICMs. As we celebrate our 162nd Anniversary, may Verbist's faith in God, trust in Divine Providence, and missionary passion strengthen us. May God give us the grace to live fully the charism and mission entrusted to us and to do so in new and more meaningful ways for today's reality. CICM has a great past… May it have a promising and brilliant future! Happy and Blessed Foundation Day to each of you. §
1 Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete Et Exsultate by the Holy Father Francis on The Call to Holiness in Today's World, #104.
2 Letter from Suen-Hoa-Fou, to "my dear Friends" of Scheut, August 24, 1866.
3 Letter dated October 20, 1867.
4 Letter of March 16, 1867, to Joseph Wilryckx.
5 Letter dated October 20, 1867.
6 Letter from Si-Wan-Tse, December 16, 1864, to M. Bax.
7 Letter from Si-Wan-Tse, February 24, 1867, to Messrs Bax and Rutjes.
8 Letter from Si-Wan-Tse, April 24, 1867, to M. Bax.
9 Letter from Si-Wan-Tse, January 24, 1868, "to the dear Romans".
10 Letter from Si-Wan-Tse, July 22, 1867, to M. Bax.
11 Letter from Si-Wan-Tse to M. Bax, June 8, 1867.
