“The conversion of the missionary: A journey of the heart” pastoral reflection

Abstract

In his plenary talk “The Conversion of the Missionary: A Journey of the Heart,” Frank J. Caggiano, Bishop of Bridgeport, identifies ways by which the church can engage in missionary outreach that will help transform the lives of those whom it serves. In a cogent analysis of our post-Christian secularized culture, Caggiano teaches that the worldview characterized by relativism about truth and morality often leads to the pursuit of power, possessions, and pleasure that do not bring fulfillment. In this context, the word “missionary” refers to every baptized disciple of Jesus Christ proclaiming the offer of salvation in Jesus Christ in a spirit of accompaniment. Faith is a lifetime journey of the heart toward Christ as defined by Saint Augustine, in his autobiography: “for Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.” Caggiano cautions that we cannot be a transformative presence in the world until we ourselves are transformed in Christ, which demands more than an intellectual assent, but a conversion of mind, heart, and will. He identifies the three spiritual qualities for ongoing personal conversion as a willingness to surrender to the Lord and his will each day, to be humble of heart, and to strive to be a joyful person and herald of the good news of the salvation that comes only in Jesus Christ.