Missions/spreading The Gospel

[Mickey's_Girl]

I've heard about missionary priests back in the day (100s of years ago), and (being Protestant) I know about Protestant missionaries now. But I was wondering if the Catholic church did "missions", and if so, how? Do lay people do it, or just priests? How do Catholics "evangelize"?

Thanks!

MG

[Pio Nono]

JMJ
5/18 - Pope St. John I

Mickey's_Girl,

Good question. Even from the days of the apostles, the Church has sought to spread the Gospel to all the corners of the world. Some of the men and women we honor most in the Catholic tradition have been missionaries. For instance, St. Thomas the Apostle established the Catholic Church in what is now the state of Kerala in India; St. James the Great (the Apostle) established the Church in Spain; St. Patrick established the Church in Ireland; St. Francis Xavier established the Church in Vietnam, China and Japan; St. Issac Jogues and his companions were all martyred while spreading the Gospel to the Native Americans in the 17th century. These are just a few examples of the profound missionary activity in the Church.

This mission still continues; there are a few missionary orders of priests, religious and lay people. Ultimately, for people like me (a college student in St. Paul, Minnesota) who can't go on the missions, my evangelization occurs within my own environment - my duty is to live the Gospel message and evangelize in that capacity. I hope this helps.

Yours,
Pio Nono