Let us witness to the newness, hope, and joy that the Lord brings to life. Let us feel within us“the delightful and comforting joy of evangelizing” (Evangelii Nuntiandi,80). Because evangelizing, proclaiming Jesus, gives us joy. Instead, egoism makes us bitter, sad and depresses us, Evangelizing uplifts us
“Pope Francis”
By virtue of our sacred vocation, Jesus so lovingly called us to him, He consecrated us and has sent us into the world to proclaim His Good news. Therefore, the main objective of our religious life and ministry is evangelization. So Evangelization is a ministry of every sister of JMJ, Every Community and every apostolate. Pastoral care and evangelization go hand in hand. Evangelization is an important and major aspect of pastoral care and every pastoral activity leads to evangelization. The image of Christ the Teacher was stamped on the spirit of the apostles and the first disciples, “Go and make disciples of all nations: baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Remember, I will be with you till the end of Life.
Our Dutch pioneers who landed in India more than a century ago started this ministry straight away through their life of sacrifice and their life example. They cooperated with the Bishops and Priests in every type of pastoral and Catechetical work in the local Church. They regularly visited and instructed the Christian and non – Christian communities in the far off villages even in urban areas. They usually stayed overnight with the poor in the villages, adjusted themselves wonderfully to the very many inconveniences like travel, culture, food, shelter, language, climate and weather. Their presence was a blessing to the people and in particular, they found in the sisters loving mothers who had genuine interest and concern for the people and shared in their struggles and problems. Through their endeavour, the Christian communities have increased, from one single parish, they developed into five to six sub – parishes at one large centre. The educational Institutions and the Health Care( Hospital ) centres, depict Christian values in their day to day labour and selfless service and thus spread the Good News to their beneficiaries. Catechetical instructions and pastoral care are given in these apostolates too.
The mandate of Jesus, accepted and lived literally by our venerable founder Fr. Mathias Wolff, was passed on to our elderly sisters. It has come so powerfully and seriously in the heart of every JMJ Sister that for most JMJ’s in their motivation for becoming a JMJ, is to involve in Catechetical and Evangelical works. Even in Holland, Pastoral Care preceded the education apostolate.