What is VMM's Spirit and Lifestyle?

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=220 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <IMG SRC="13eb8750.jpg" border=0 width="184" height="117" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>"We, who have received the love of Christ through the Spirit must not contain it..."</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Volunteer Missionary Movement (VMMUSA)"><U>Home Page</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What is VMMs History?"><U>What is VMM's History?</U></A></div> <div> <B>What is VMM's Spirit and Lifestyle?</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id9.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What are VMMs Ministries?"><U>What are VMM's Ministries?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Where does VMM Serve?"><U>Where does VMM Serve?</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.guidestar.org/partners/networkforgood/donate.jsp?ein=36-3153581" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.guidestar.org/partners/networ"><U><IMG SRC="1877e300.gif" border=0 width="126" height="48" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div>  <form method="get" action="http://search.atomz.com/search/"> <input size=15 name="sp-q"><br> <input type=submit value="Search"> <input type=hidden name="sp-a" value="sp10020180"> <input type=hidden name="sp-f" value="iso-8859-1"> </form></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>Volunteer Missionary Movement (VMM-USA)</B></I></FONT>     |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Volunteer Missionary Movement (VMMUSA)"><U>home</U></A></div> <div> back to  <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="All About VMM"><U><B>All About VMM</B></U></A></div> <div> What is VMM's Spirit and Lifestyle?</div> <div> VMM is an independent, Christian, lay, international and ecumenical mission community arising out of the Catholic faith tradition that is open to people of all Christian faiths.  </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="14b91ff0.jpg" border=0 width="401" height="255" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> We are women and men of various denominations and backgrounds, single, married and families. We share a common desire to witness the Gospel — to Jesus' message of love and justice — through our lives of service and commitment to justice in our world. Today, VMM-USA serves areas in need in Central America, in the United States, and in Africa.</div> <bR> <div> VMM is a covenant community, sharing a common history as an organization that extends back 35 years. We share not only the Christian faith but a common ministry, sharing ourselves with each other and with those whom we serve. We commit to following a common spirit and lifestyle, and consider ourselves members of VMM for life, with our involvement varying with life's circumstances.</div> <bR> <div> The guiding principles which underlie VMM are contained in the “<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><I><B>VMM Spirit and Lifestyle</B></I></FONT>” written by our founder, Edwina Gateley. Whether you are discerning a call to mission service as a member of VMM, or are considering us an organization which you may wish to support with your financial gifts, we encourage you to read this document.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> VMM Spirit and Lifestyle</div> <div> <B>by Edwina Gateley</B> </div> <div> First Published 1981</div> <div> Revised Version 2002</div> <bR> <div> At a time in the history of the Church </div> <div> when passive obedience and </div> <div> reception of the sacraments </div> <div> was generally accepted </div> <div> by the laity </div> <div> as what being Church </div> <div> was all about, </div> <div> the VMM emerged as a </div> <div> new and challenging movement </div> <div> calling Christian men and women </div> <div> to respond to Vatican II's call </div> <div> for full and active involvement </div> <div> in the Church's life and mission. </div> <bR> <div> This involvement has a </div> <div> double thrust: </div> <div> to witness to God's action </div> <div> through Jesus Christ </div> <div> in our world today, </div> <div> to respond to the </div> <div> material and human needs of </div> <div> the marginalized and</div> <div> dispossessed of our world. </div> <bR> <div> We are first called and </div> <div> moved by the very Love that </div> <div> lives within us: </div> <div> "The love of Christ overwhelms us..." </div> <div> (2 Cor. 5:14)</div> <bR> <div> We who enjoy </div> <div> the gift of faith, </div> <div> calling us to continual </div> <div> conversion and transformation, </div> <div> are impelled to share </div> <div> the love that springs from faith. </div> <div> We, who have received </div> <div> the love of Christ through </div> <div> the Spirit must not contain it. </div> <div> It must reach out </div> <div> to others, </div> <div> spilling out, touching and </div> <div> transforming the world in which </div> <div> we live. </div> <div> We believe that, </div> <div> as in the Parable of the Talents (Mt 25:14-30), </div> <div> we have an </div> <div> urgent obligation to </div> <div> take Christ seriously enough </div> <div> to share his mission of human liberation,</div> <div> justice and dignity with others. </div> <bR> <div> We are, therefore, </div> <div> sharers of the Good News</div> <div> through witness and service. </div> <div> It is only through </div> <div> the way we live, love and serve </div> <div> that we can truly witness to </div> <div> the Christ who served, </div> <div> and invited us to do likewise. </div> <div> Only in following His way </div> <div> faithfully </div> <div> dare we claim the name Christian. </div> <bR> <div> "If I, the Lord and Master, have </div> <div> washed your feet, you should wash </div> <div> each other's feet. I have given </div> <div> you an example so that you may copy </div> <div> what I have done to you." </div> <div> (Jn 13:14-15) </div> <bR> <div> The spirit and calling </div> <div> of the VMM missionary is, </div> <div> first and foremost, </div> <div> one of love and service </div> <div> in and to the world. </div> <div> As lay people we give a </div> <div> special witness </div> <div> to the reality that all </div> <div> the People of God </div> <div> are called to involvement </div> <div> in Christ's mission. </div> <div> All who hear God's Word </div> <div> are called to respond. </div> <div> Bishops, builders and nurses alike </div> <div> must work together, </div> <div> equally, </div> <div> towards the coming of the Realm of God. </div> <div> Mission is given </div> <div> to us all. </div> <bR> <div> We believe that </div> <div> God calls all People </div> <div> to peace and unity </div> <div> through justice and a sharing </div> <div> of world resources and goods. </div> <div> We wish to challenge and dissolve </div> <div> the barriers that divide </div> <div> people and Church and nations. </div> <div> We stand for oneness in </div> <div> the body of Christ. </div> <div> We commit ourselves </div> <div> to the service of Our God, </div> <div> to work among all people, </div> <div> seeking to break down all forms </div> <div> of injustice and oppression, </div> <div> and all inequalities </div> <div> of sex, status, color, </div> <div> creed or nationality. </div> <bR> <div> "And there are no more distinctions </div> <div> between Jew and Greek, slave and free, </div> <div> male and female, but all of you are </div> <div> one in Christ Jesus." </div> <div> (Gal. 3:38)</div> <bR> <div> Of its very nature </div> <div> this mission cannot be </div> <div> a temporary thing. </div> <div> It is a total commitment </div> <div> to the Gospel, </div> <div> and can be nothing less than </div> <div> a way of life. </div> <bR> <div> We take the Gospel seriously. </div> <div> We must live it. </div> <div> In giving ourselves </div> <div> to each other, </div> <div> we will come </div> <div> to fullness of love </div> <div> and revelation.</div> <div> We pursue our mission  </div> <div> with that same trust and confidence </div> <div> that Christ had, </div> <div> for we know that </div> <div> God is with us </div> <div> and will not leave us alone: </div> <bR> <div> "I shall ask God </div> <div> And He will give you another Advocate </div> <div> to be with you forever; that Spirit </div> <div> of truth whom the world can never</div> <div> receive, since it neither sees nor </div> <div> knows the Spirit, but you know, </div> <div> because the Spirit is with you, and </div> <div> in you. I will not leave you orphans." </div> <div> (Jn. 14:16-18)</div> <bR> <div> Our mission begins with </div> <div> our faith in the Resurrection </div> <div> which sends us out </div> <div> on the path of Jesus </div> <div> in hope and love </div> <div> to all the world. </div> <bR> <div> As lay persons we wish </div> <div> to demonstrate </div> <div> the ability of all </div> <div> men and women to be </div> <div> fully committed Christians </div> <div> whilst pursuing </div> <div> our own lifestyles </div> <div> and work in the world. </div> <div> We do not separate </div> <div> our mission as Christians </div> <div> from our day to day life. </div> <bR> <div> We wish rather, </div> <div> to ground our own </div> <div> personal and spiritual growth </div> <div> in striving </div> <div> to become fully human </div> <div> within the context of </div> <div> our work and service in the world. </div> <bR> <div> We represent a wide variety </div> <div> of charisms and lifestyles </div> <div> and may be distinctive only </div> <div> by our commitment and openness </div> <div> to the Spirit of God. </div> <bR> <div> Each VMM missionary </div> <div> takes personal responsibility </div> <div> to seek and pursue </div> <div> fullness of Christian faith </div> <div> in his or her own situation </div> <div> and lifestyle. </div> <div> And, aware of the </div> <div> support and prayer </div> <div> of the whole VMM, </div> <div> our task </div> <div> is to be true Christian witnesses </div> <div> in the world, </div> <div> with that freedom and flexibility </div> <div> that invites and embraces all. </div> <bR> <div> We recognize that </div> <div> we need each other. </div> <div> We are a community-based movement </div> <div> that stresses and encourages </div> <div> the value of </div> <div> praying together, </div> <div> working together, </div> <div> and sharing our Christian journey. </div> <div> We believe that it is through </div> <div> our shared and reflected experience </div> <div> in family and community </div> <div> that we will truly </div> <div> grow together </div> <div> deepening our spirituality and making</div> <div> a difference in our World. </div> <bR> <div> "Above all the Gospel must be </div> <div> proclaimed by witness. Take a </div> <div> Christian or a handful of Christians </div> <div> who, in the midst of their own community, </div> <div> show their capacity for </div> <div> understanding and acceptance, their </div> <div> sharing of rite and destiny with </div> <div> other people, their solidarity with </div> <div> the efforts of all for whatever is </div> <div> noble and good. Let us suppose that, </div> <div> in addition, they radiate in an </div> <div> altogether simple and unaffected way </div> <div> their faith in values that go beyond </div> <div> current values, and their hope in </div> <div> something that is not seen and that </div> <div> one would not dare to imagine. </div> <div> Through this wordless witness these </div> <div> Christians stir up irresistible </div> <div> questions in the hearts of those who </div> <div> see how they live: Why are they </div> <div> like this? Why do they live this </div> <div> way? What or who is it that inspires </div> <div> them? Why are they in our midst? </div> <div> Such a witness is already a silent </div> <div> proclamation of the Good News, and </div> <div> a very powerful and effective one. </div> <div> Here we have an Initial act of </div> <div> evangelization."</div> <div> (Evangelization in the Modern World - Para: 21) </div> <bR> <div> Whenever possible, therefore, </div> <div> VMM missionaries </div> <div> live together in small groups, </div> <div> or renew and strengthen each other </div> <div> through visits, correspondence or </div> <div> regular shared activities. </div> <bR> <div> And so the VMM missionaries </div> <div> say Yes to Christ, </div> <div> and Yes to our mission of</div> <div> transformation. </div> <div> We say Yes to the Christian Community </div> <div> of which we are part, </div> <div> and we offer to the Church </div> <div> our service, our commitment </div> <div> and the vision and the vigor </div> <div> that we bring. </div> <bR> <div> We must be men and women </div> <div> whose action </div> <div> is motivated and strengthened </div> <div> through prayer. </div> <div> We gather together </div> <div> to share our worship and prayer, </div> <div> recognizing that Christ is </div> <div> at the center of our lives, </div> <div> and that as People of God, </div> <div> celebration and worship </div> <div> means sharing and gathering. </div> <bR> <div> Our prayers, as well as being </div> <div> shared and public, </div> <div> also involve personal and silent encounters </div> <div> with God </div> <div> for which there can be </div> <div> no substitute. </div> <div> We learn to be still and to listen </div> <div> in all types of prayer, </div> <div> not only to the needs </div> <div> of our brothers and sisters </div> <div> in the noise and action </div> <div> of today's world, </div> <div> but also to that silent movement </div> <div> of God's action within us </div> <div> which leads us to a deeper </div> <div> awareness of God's love for each of us</div> <div> and a greater sensitivity and caring </div> <div> for all God's People. </div> <div> We bring together in harmony </div> <div> the voice of the people and </div> <div> the voice of the Spirit, </div> <div> and we strive </div> <div> to respond to both. </div> <bR> <div> VMM missionaries </div> <div> are therefore listeners. </div> <div> Our witness will be seen </div> <div> when God's Spirit </div> <div> is so strong within us </div> <div> that it is visible </div> <div> in our lives and actions. </div> <bR> <div> Christ was available to all, </div> <div> and reached out </div> <div> to the poor, the sick </div> <div> and the rejected. </div> <bR> <div> His mission is now ours. </div> <div> It is a call to be wherever </div> <div> there is injustice </div> <div> of any kind. </div> <bR> <div> "Wherever there are people in need </div> <div> of food and drink, clothing, housing, </div> <div> medicine, employment, education; </div> <div> wherever people lack the facilities </div> <div> necessary for living a truly human </div> <div> life, are afflicted with serious </div> <div> distress or illness, or suffer exile </div> <div> or imprisonment, there Christian love </div> <div> should seek them out and find them."</div> <div> (Apostolate of the Laity -Para. 8:4) </div> <bR> <div> The majority of our world </div> <div> lives in hunger and want </div> <div> deprived of the most basic necessities</div> <div> to live a decent human life. </div> <div> Impelled and driven by </div> <div> the Spirit of Christ, </div> <div> we do not stand by unresponsive </div> <div> to the needs </div> <div> of our brother and sisters. </div> <div> They must have the tools </div> <div> to enable them to develop </div> <div> and be free. </div> <div> They need the skills and the expertise </div> <div> to bring out </div> <div> their own resources and gifts. </div> <bR> <div> It is not simply a matter </div> <div> of handing out money, </div> <div> food or equipment. </div> <div> It calls </div> <div> for more than that. </div> <div> Our response </div> <div> is to share who we are </div> <div> as well as what we have. </div> <bR> <div> We work and live </div> <div> side by side with the people </div> <div> sharing our talents, friendship and love. </div> <div> This pre-supposes an openness </div> <div> to the needs of others </div> <div> and the humility to meet them </div> <div> wherever they are at.  </div> <div> It calls for a spirit  </div> <div> of confidence and poverty </div> <div> which is ever ready </div> <div> to listen and respond to others. </div> <div> This spirit of poverty </div> <div> makes itself available </div> <div> as fertile ground open </div> <div> to whatever fruit the Lord </div> <div> wishes to plant. </div> <div> We may never see </div> <div> the results of our work. </div> <div> If we truly follow </div> <div> the way of Christ, </div> <div> we will find the Cross </div> <div> as well as the Resurrection. </div> <div> The Path of Jesus, </div> <div> which we freely choose to follow, </div> <div> has no trace </div> <div> of glory or honor or pomp. </div> <div> It calls for a confidence and faith, </div> <div> beyond that. </div> <bR> <div> We are invited </div> <div> to be fully and actively involved </div> <div> in all areas </div> <div> of human activity and development: </div> <div> education, medicine, agriculture, </div> <div> craftwork and building. </div> <div> We are the carpenters, </div> <div> the catechists, the nurses, </div> <div> the community builders, the doctors </div> <div> and the farmers. </div> <div> These are the skills </div> <div> with which we have been blessed, </div> <div> the talents </div> <div> which we have received. </div> <div> We are not to bury them, </div> <div> but to freely share them, </div> <div> so that people might live with dignity</div> <div> and be helped to reach </div> <div> their full human potential. </div> <bR> <div> It is not a matter </div> <div> of charity or good deeds. </div> <div> It is a basic Christian obligation </div> <div> to justice. </div> <div> What we have to offer </div> <div> is what we have been freely given. </div> <div> We live with the people. </div> <div> We work with the people. </div> <div> We rejoice with the people. </div> <div> We become part of the people. </div> <div> Our sharing becomes </div> <div> a journey we walk together </div> <div> towards liberation, community</div> <div> and a reaching out together for </div> <div> growth and fulfillment. </div> <bR> <div> But we do not impose ourselves </div> <div> or our way of doing things. </div> <div> We are available, rather, </div> <div> to go wherever we are invited </div> <div> in the world, </div> <div> Aware, at the same time, </div> <div> that we ourselves are challenged to grow</div> <div> through receiving and learning from those </div> <div> to whom we serve. </div> <div> Our work </div> <div> entails human relationship, </div> <div> working and growing together </div> <div> to build a more </div> <div> humane and loving world, </div> <div> filled with the Spirit of God </div> <div> Who sends us. </div> <bR> <div> We are aware that </div> <div> through our service, </div> <div> we receive far more than </div> <div> we are ever able to give. </div> <div> We realize that </div> <div> we are enriched </div> <div> by our encounter </div> <div> with people of other cultures </div> <div> and beliefs. </div> <div> We come to discover that </div> <div> we too are poor in many ways. </div> <bR> <div> We go as representatives </div> <div> of our local churches </div> <div> to share the gifts we have. </div> <div> We are in solidarity </div> <div> with the church that sends us </div> <div> and have a commitment </div> <div> to return </div> <div> and share the gifts and riches </div> <div> which we have received. </div> <div> We see that we are part </div> <div> of a church which </div> <div> is a human institution, </div> <div> struggling to respond </div> <div> to its mission, </div> <div> and ever in need </div> <div> of growth and renewal. </div> <div> Our task is then, </div> <div> to continue our works as missionaries </div> <div> in our own home countries. </div> <div> Our mission is a life long commitment to justice and transformation.</div> <div> It is a prophetic task. </div> <div> We help renew and invigorate </div> <div> our own church, </div> <div> for we recognize </div> <div> our own needs, inadequacies and hunger. </div> <div> And we acknowledge that </div> <div> we too, in the rich and stronger nations </div> <div> are in need of evangelization </div> <div> and renewal and an on-going awareness of our call to justice. </div> <bR> <div> We see, therefore, that mission </div> <div> is not a one-way process, </div> <div> and the monopoly of one church or religion.</div> <div> But it is a cyclical process, </div> <div> going from one church </div> <div> to another church </div> <div> in continuous, mutual sharing. </div> <div> This is the dynamic of mission. </div> <div> It is never static, </div> <div> it is ever moving, </div> <div> ever growing and </div> <div> ever calling forth </div> <div> the gifts and life in the other. </div> <div> We recognize </div> <div> the fire and dynamic power </div> <div> of the Holy Spirit in mission </div> <div> which cannot be contained by, </div> <div> or monopolized within, </div> <div> any human institution, </div> <div> but which is at work </div> <div> wherever God wills. </div> <bR> <div> We see the Spirit at work </div> <div> in those to whom we go, </div> <div> as well as within ourselves; </div> <div> We are channels of the spirit, </div> <div> called forth to renew and strengthen, </div> <div> and be renewed and strengthened </div> <div> in return. </div> <div> VMM missionaries are open </div> <div> to this dynamic and free action </div> <div> of the Spirit </div> <div> who first inspired and called us </div> <div> to the services of God and all God's people. </div> <bR> <div> VMM missionaries are </div> <div> followers of Jesus, </div> <div> engaged fully in sharing the Good News of the Gospel.</div> <div>  </div> <div> We praise and bless God </div> <div> Who calls us to live and to be </div> <div> in the world, </div> <div> and to share this mission </div> <div> of love and peace </div> <div> with all men and women </div> <div> of every color, race and belief.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>