Missionaries in Paulsgrove (4)

I have been undertaking visitations of the Neo-Catechumenal Way families who are on mission in Paulsgrove and last Monday, I went to visit the joyful home of Jose and Ana Lorcan and their seven outstanding children. The family came here seven years ago from southern Spain to undertake mission. Marco is a teacher and after working as an assistant in a nursery in Southsea, is now a Teaching Assistant in St. Paul’s, Paulsgrove, a job he loves. After prayers, the visit concluded with some amazing Spanish tapas! The Missio ad gentes is a long-term project centred in Paulsgrove in north Portsmouth and comprises a priest-chaplain – although sadly we do not have one at the moment – a religious sister, single laypersons and four families, all of whom have freely left their homes, jobs and countries in order to begin a new life here in England. The Missio ad Gentes involves a life of prayer for mission, study of the Gospels, celebration of Mass and the sacraments, a pledge to live as a truly Christian family and a plan of intentional outreach to people at work, those living on the same street and to school friends. The whole family is involved. I am making the home visits to listen to their experiences, to support them, to invoke God’s blessing and to assure them of the prayers and support of the clergy and people of our Diocese. Please pray for Jose, Ana and their family and for the mission of the Church in our Diocese. The Missio ad Gentes is a generational effort and it may be many years before the seeds they daily sew germinate and by God’s grace renew and build up the Church in our area.