Recently, I was reflecting upon my transformative journey as a neighborhood missionary, dedicating several months to the missionary work of the Legion of Mary as a volunteer. My apostolate was not overseas but right here in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. My assignment was to aid the pastor in visiting homebound parishioners in the local nursing homes.
The Legion of Mary is a Catholic organization, first begun by Servant of God, Frank Duff. The Legion of Mary strives to honor God by fostering the holiness of its members through prayer and active participation in the work of Mary and the Church. Its members carry out various activities to help the pastor serve the people of the parish. The mission calls to mind a quote by St. Francis Xavier:
Love is what gives value to all our works; it’s not thanks to the greatness and multitude of our works that we please God, but thanks to the love at which we do them.
Each day started with morning Mass at the Cathedral-Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul. Our afternoons were spent in the heart of the city at a local senior residence, participating in a small Rosary group. The joy on the faces of the men and women as we entered their community room is something I will never forget. It was a profound experience to join the Legion of Mary in an endeavor that might seem small but held immense spiritual significance.
Arriving early allowed us to form meaningful connections with the Catholic residents who gathered once a month to pray the Rosary with us. One of the most rewarding aspects of being a neighborhood missionary was getting to know these individuals not just by name, but on a deeper, personal level. Each person we encountered was a reminder of the inherent value and dignity of every human soul, created in the image and likeness of God.
Building relationships is crucial in any apostolate, whether as part of the Legion of Mary, or in roles such as teachers, nurses, caretakers, or social workers. Through these relationships, we can lead others to Christ. Our Catholic Faith is not merely a religion; it is about forming a deep, personal relationship with Christ. This relationship, in turn, draws us closer to God the Father as we strive for holiness and union with the Triune God.
Before beginning our daily mission, we understood the importance of spiritual nourishment from the Holy Eucharist. Receiving the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist was essential for sustaining our mission for the salvation of souls.
This practice of starting my day with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass continues even now, in my role as a Catholic school teacher. This vocation is not just a job; it is a mission to bring young people closer to Christ. My current mission involves helping my students encounter our Lord, starting with the Eucharist.
If possible, I encourage every Catholic who is in a state of grace, or without the stain of mortal sin on his or her soul, to begin their day by receiving Christ in the Eucharist. One does not need to be in a seminary or convent to start the day with Christ. He calls all of us, in every vocation, whether married or single, to receive Him in the Blessed Sacrament and let this divine encounter shape our daily lives.
Photo by Dominik Lange on Unsplash
