A TESTAMONIAL
2013-01-31

This is the year of faith commemorating the 50^th anniversary of Vatican Council II. Speaking about what motivates my missionary life, is to recall at the same time, what led me to become a missionary and how I changed my way of announcing Jesus Christ.

Setting out for Honduras in 1968 after the conclusion of the Council, with apostolic zeal that was a consequence of this great event in the Church, I wanted, as do all missionaries, to talk of Jesus Christ, to announce the Gospel to a people, though baptized Christians, knew little of their religion.

I left wishing to share my beliefs and my knowledge of religion. But, little by little, I realized the importance of dialoguing, of sharing the Word of God; of mutual revelation as together we grew in faith. The identity of a missionary is closely associated with an experience of faith. With these poor, humble people, who were receptive to the Word, I learned to receive as much as to give. I was being evangelized as I evangelized others.

If I persevere in my mission "ad gentes" (to the people) today, it is because I continue to share my faith, perhaps not so much by word or announcing doctrinal knowledge, but by giving testimony to a humble, attentive presence of tender and loving care. I now see myself more as a prophet than catechist.

I must add that my apostolate in a poor country helps me to live the radicalism of my religious life. Yes, "the poor evangelize us". Their simplicity, acceptance, desire to share who they are, become an incentive for me to accept little of materialism and to live more fully the charism of the Congregation.

To end this brief testimony of my missionary experience, I make mine the words of Father Simon Pierre Arnold, o.s.b. in his book: La foi sauvage, "the poor have no need of me, I need them".

Laurette Brière, R.S.R.