Missio Cordis

Go to the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to all of Creation (Mk 16:15)

Between the Porte of Orléans and the Porte of Gentilly is our Church, Sacré Coeur de Gentilly, which brings together one of the largest Portuguese communities on the Ile de France. In September 2018, Sister Carla belonging to the Congregation of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Our Lady, comes to offer her help for the part of the catechesis (we have more than 500 children registered for catechesis).

During the year, she gives us training, shares her knowledge with us and shares her good humor and kindness. In September 2019, Father Leandro, priest of our parish and Sister Carla, proposed to us, to five people and myself, TO BE MISSIONARY. At the time, we did not understand this proposal very well because, being catechists, we already felt ourselves missionaries in our parish. We participate in the life of our Church with catechesis, the youth group, retreats and World Young Journeys. Sister Carla then tells us about the mission because she herself lived in São Tomé during    (...?)   And therefore suggests that we go to Sao Tome to transmit our faith and also our respective skills (doctor, lawyer, cabinetmaker, pastry chef , building specialist) in this country where we have never been, but where people speak the same language, Portuguese. We are all enthusiastic about this project and decide to set up the project for a departure for July / August 2021. From November 2019, with Sister Carla, we are setting up a meeting schedule, in order to fully prepare for the mission. But how to prepare it? Because, as Pope Francis said, we must not separate the two missionary branches: those who are at the service of the poorest and those who proclaim Christ. We must neither act like a simple NGO nor forget to take concrete Christian acts.

Despite the Covid, we met (video during confinement and now face-to-face) every month with different themes for reflection in order to be ready for departure. We also chose together a name for our group - MISSIO CORDIS - and a logo that represents us. Unfortunately our departure was not made this summer, but we hope to leave the summer of 2022. We will continue to meet this year, to collect funds and to communicate with the country, so that our mission be beneficial for all:

• for us, who go to meet new people and a different culture;
• for those who receive us, so that our passage among them may mark them.