By Gwen Manickam
MELAKA-born Fr Francis Teo, MCSPA, pic, recently returned to his hometown and took the opportunity to reconnect with family, friends, and members of the local Catholic community.
As part of his visit, Fr Francis delivered an inspiring two-hour talk at Cahayasuara. The event was attended by approximately 60 participants, comprising members of the Landings programme and their guests.
The talk, titled Being a Missionary Where We Are, focused on how every Christian is called to live out a missionary identity —not necessarily in far-off lands, but in their everyday circumstances. Drawing from his personal experiences as a missionary priest with the Missionary Community of St Paul the Apostle (MCSPA), Fr Francis encouraged attendees to embrace their role in sharing the Gospel through simple, daily acts of witness and love.
Long before his priestly vocation, Fr Francis was a law student at the National University of Singapore. At the age of 21, driven by deep curiosity and an adventurous spirit, he began to question his chosen path. After failing his second-year finals, he made the difficult decision to leave law school — much to his parents’ dismay — and eventually found himself in Africa. In 1987, he joined the Missionary Community of St Paul the Apostle (MCSPA) in Kenya. A decade later, he was ordained a priest and served as a missionary in the Diocese of Lodwar.
In 2012, Fr Francis established the MCSPA’s Theological House of Formation in Manila, Philippines. Since 2023, he has been leading efforts to launch a new MCSPA mission in eastern Indonesia.
Fr Francis reflected on how the Second Vatican Council revolutionised the Church’s understanding of mission. Key documents such as Lumen Gentium, Gaudium et Spes, and Ad Gentes affirmed that the Church is, by its very nature, missionary. This mission is not reserved for clergy or those sent to distant lands; it is a responsibility shared by all the baptised. St John Paul II, in Redemptoris Missio (1990), reinforced this idea, reminding us that every Christian has a role in the Church’s mission of evangelisation.
So, how can those of us rooted in our local parishes and communities respond to this call? Fr Francis outlined several practical ways:
Prayer: The foundation of all mission work. Personal and communal prayer for missionaries strengthens their efforts and unites us spiritually in the Church’s global mission.
Personal Witness: We become missionaries through our way of life. Acts of Christian charity, kindness, and integrity in our homes, workplaces, and communities proclaim the Gospel more powerfully than words.
Promoting Awareness: By organising talks, sharing missionary publications, or forming parish outreach groups, we cultivate a missionary spirit and inspire others to get involved.
Encouraging Vocations: Supporting and encouraging young people who express an interest in mission work is vital. A simple word of affirmation can inspire a lifetime of service.
Economic Support: Missions often depend on financial aid. Through fundraising, collections, or direct contributions, we can materially support the Church’s work in mission territories.
Sacrifice: Offering our daily trials — especially the suffering of the sick or lonely — for the intentions of missionaries is a profound form of spiritual solidarity.
Short-Term Mission Trips: Brief visits to mission territories, especially for youth or lay professionals, can foster a deeper understanding and commitment to evangelisation.
Welcoming Migrants and Refugees: In an increasingly globalised world, our own cities are becoming mission fields.
Encounters with people of different cultures and faiths offer daily opportunities for dialogue, service, and witness.
While sharing his faith story, Fr Francis noted that in his 28 years as a priest, he has never questioned or regretted his choice to embrace religious life. He reminded listeners that missionary work is not something distant or abstract; it is a shared calling rooted in our baptism. As Ad Gentes beautifully expresses, missionary activity is an “epiphany” of God’s love. Saints like Thérèse of Lisieux, who never left her convent yet became the Patroness of the Missions, demonstrate that holiness and mission go hand in hand.
May each of us respond to this missionary call with generosity, courage, and love — wherever we are — so that together we may build the Kingdom of God. – Herald Malaysia
