My favorite occasion in the yearly cycle at Maryknoll Lay Missioners (MKLM) is the Covenant Signing Ceremony. Every year (except for last year), the candidates for mission come in for orientation, which currently lasts about 8 weeks. This is a time for discernment and preparation for the time either overseas or at the border with Mexico. Almost every year someone leaves during the orientation period, either because there is a realization that they are not a good fit for MKLM’s type of mission or they decide they’re just not ready yet and plan on returning at a later date. This year, all 13 candidates made it through the orientation and signed their contracts to become missioners.
After they sign their contracts, there is a ceremony soon after where they sign their covenants. The contract is a legal document laying out the terms of agreement for their time in mission. The Covenant, on the other hand, is a spiritual and religious commitment to their time in mission. As I understand it, there is no legal obligation involved, but as a religious mission organization the Covenant is, to my mind anyway, the more important one. I will end this blog post with a copy of the Maryknoll Lay Missioners Covenant.
The best thing about the ceremony is that it takes place during the work week and all staff is invited to observe. The ceremony is created by each orientation class, so every year it is different. One year I remember it was particularly exuberant. Another year, the songs sung were an especially important element. This year’s I would characterize as meditative with a beautiful liturgy. We had a mass, with a Maryknoll priest presiding. I always love the Covenant signing.
This year’s would turn out to be particularly moving and memorable to me. The centerpiece of each ceremony is the actual signing of the Covenant. Each missioner is called up one at a time to sign their personal covenant. There is a person who witnesses each signing by adding their signature to the document. Most years, it is someone the missioner has chosen for personal reasons. It could be a family member, a priest or a sister who was particularly important to them spiritually…anyone they would like. In the past, two or three missioners have called upon me to be their witness, which is an honor I am always thankful for the opportunity to perform.
We had to limit attendance to staff and a handful of representatives from the Fathers and the Sisters this year. Irene, the head of our Mission Services Department, witnessed all but one of the new missioners’ covenants. But I had the tremendous honor of witnessing the Covenant of my friend and former coworker, Laurie.
Let me go back in time a moment. For three years, from 2014 to 2016, Laurie was the major gifts officer in my department and had the office next door to mine. We became good friends. I would usually stop by each morning to check in with her and to share any news of my own. I think Laurie is extremely creative and intelligent. When we would make the department presentation to the candidates each year, I loved to watch Laurie’s presentation. It showed off her talent and experience and was also somehow intensely meditative and spiritual. It seemed to me to be the most suitable and personal offering for her to make as a representative of MKLM.
Then Laurie moved on to another organization, and I lost that daily contact with her. We touched base occasionally through social media, and I knew that she was still involved and interested in MKLM by taking Friends Across Borders trips to visit our mission sites. But we had really lost touch with our daily lives. The day the candidates arrived at Maryknoll to begin orientation, we had a staff luncheon with them. That was the first moment I realized Laurie was one of the candidates. We greeted each other with a big hug. I was so excited that even though she will be going to Tanzania, a lot farther away geographically from me than she was before, this was for me a new part of my journey that I would be able to share with my friend Laurie.
The final gift was a couple of weeks before the ceremony, I was on my lunchtime walk with coworker Eileen and we ran into Laurie on the same path. She asked me if I would be her witness. It was such a blessing. We weren’t even sure at that point that staff would be allowed to attend, but if it was possible, she wanted me to be her witness. I checked with Mission Services, and I guess they didn’t even know for sure then, but two days before the ceremony I found out I could witness Laurie’s signing.
When the time came, I was surprised at how moved I was. Eventually, I figured out that when I witnessed for other missioners in the past, I had really only known them for two to three months. I felt close to each of them, but it was really just a beginning in our relationships. Laurie is the first missioner I have known before he/she arrived for orientation. I have such respect and love for her based on our previous relationship that this was a real honor for me. I am so thankful she asked me, and I am so happy that we will continue to be in touch, at least via email, while she’s in mission.
Here is the Covenant she signed:
“Guided by the Gospel and the Mission Vision of Maryknoll Mission Association of the Faithful, and grounded in the spirit and history of the Maryknoll movement, I pledge:
• To participate in Jesus’ mission, contributing to the construction of God’s reign of justice and peace on earth;
• To work with poor and marginalized peoples in cross-cultural mission, striving to create just structures and relationships;
• To celebrate the holiness of everyday life;
• To weave connections of mutual understanding and solidarity among people worldwide, thus opening my heart and life to ongoing conversion;
• To build and strengthen relations with the people of the U.S. Catholic Church, who send and support me in mission.
In order to live out our mission vocation, we, as members of Maryknoll Mission Association of the Faithful, covenant with each other, before God, that we will:
• Support and challenge each other, creating and living in communities that witness to Jesus’ mandate to love one another;
• Consider and treat each other as equals and support each other’s growth and well-being;
• Welcome the gifts and vocational charisms of each member;
• Reflect, worship and celebrate together;
• Accept the responsibilities and rewards which come with being accountable to one another, our sending communities, the local Church and Maryknoll Lay Missioners Leadership.
Through this covenant we commit ourselves to mission as members of Maryknoll Mission Association of the Faithful, in the firm hope that our faith and actions will transform our lives, our organization, and our world through the power of God’s love. As members, we recognize that, we strive together for justice, peace, and fullness of life, and so our ministries are offered in response to the needs of the people with whom we live and work, and with respect for the integrity of all creation.”
May I add my personal Amen. Each day I try to look out for God’s gifts; this is one I will cherish.
