EASTER GREETINGS!

Dear Partner in Mission,

Recently, I recalled a sugar egg I had as a child, not for eating but with a charming little spring scene inside. A few days later I happened to be in the photo center at the drugstore. I noted they had used family photographs inside one of those see-through eggs and people were part of that sweet scene! Indeed, Easter is filled with surprises!

Spiritually that image holds a lot of meaning. Remember there are 50 days to the Easter Season – extending from Easter Sunday (April 24, 2011) and ending on Pentecost (June 12, 2011). Not only do we celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord but also our individual call to new life in Christ. The Easter Season affords us the opportunity to see through new eyes, to take a fresh perspective, to be hope-filled and to live our faith with renewed heart and zeal for the mission.

At the Black and Indian Mission Office we seek to support the bishops of the United States in their Diocesan efforts for evangelization among African American and Native American people. We offer those parish communities and Catholic schools new lenses to deepen their spirituality even as they remain faithful to their culture. “All things work together unto good.” Rom 8:28

Thank you for your interest , prayerful support and financial offerings that are the foundation of this ministry. It is my sincerest desire that this web-site, and our various other means of communication, will give you a “see-through egg experience” of how the Good News of Christ is lived on reservations and in rural and urban areas of the country. You just might be surprised. Yes, ours is an egg-citing ministry of the Church! Alleluia!

In the Risen Christ,
Reverend Wayne C. Paysse
Executive Director


P.S. Please visit our website for information on our upcoming Pilgrimages www.blackandindianmission.org.

Inspirational Travels

“I didn’t know that!” The woman did a double-take to learn that Baptism calls an individual to be an apostle, an evangelizer, a missionary.  I had just handed her our brochure promoting ministry in the Black and Native American communities.  This is my second posting on the blog. I’ve been visiting numerous Native American and African American communities. 

* I was invited by Bishop Curtis Guillory to preach at the feast day Mass of St. Katharine Drexel in the Diocese of Beaumont, TX.  Following Mass, I met with members of the Black Catholic faith community at the banquet. I was touched to receive the gift of song from the children at Mother of Mercy School and to receive warm greetings from people across the Diocese. 

 
* In Little Rock, AR I participated in an insightful  retreat for Black Catholic Leaders at Subicaco Benedictine Abbey as well as visited the children at St. Peter the Apostle School and St Augustine Child Care Center.
 

 * From the South I moved West to participate in the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, Anaheim, CA. In partnership with the Josephites and the Archdiocesan Black Catholic Evangelization Center, our Mission Office staffed a booth. It was exciting to share with people the ministry of the Black and Indian Mission Office following the theme of the Congress, Hold Firm…Trust. Many were surprised to learn that we have been in existence since 1874. As I finished my presentations, I handed the listeners 2 of our flyers with the challenge, “ Be an apostle of good news, give a flyer to a friend.”
 
* On an upper level of the Convention Center  there were tables – the length of two city blocks  -  highlighting the various multi-cultural ministries of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. I’m proud to say the L. A. Kateri Circle was well represented in a beautiful display. Spending time with the Native American women and men there, I learned they had given out over 2,000 prayer cards of Blessed Kateri.

Until next time, may YOU seek ways to be a missionary for Jesus among your family and friends.  Go on… “Be an apostle of the Good News, share this blog with a friend.”

Lenten blessings.

2011, AND THE MISSION CONTINUES. . .

Hello, my name is Father Wayne Paysse and I am the Executive Director of the Black and Indian Mission Office in Washington, D.C.  The office is made up of three separate organizations of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States.  They are: The Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions, established in 1874;  The Black and Indian Mission Collection, established in 1884 and  The Catholic Negro-American Mission Board, established in 1907.  Sometimes in speaking of the office as a whole, we use the term, Black and Indian Mission Office – which is inclusive of all three organizations.

The ministry of the office is to encourage the ongoing diocesan evangelization efforts within the American Indian/indigenous and the African American communities.  We support Black and Indian parishes, missions,  religious education programs, Catholic mission schools, urban ministry, evangelization programs for African Americans and Native Americans and missionaries in these communities.  

I am so pleased that you have joined us as we begin this new cyber adventure of evangelization. The hope is to reach across miles, touch hearts, raise consciousness and stretch to reach down deep within as disciples, friends and missionaries.  I hope we generate a strong sense of faith community in the weeks and months ahead as I share with you my mission travels across the U.S.A. Sometimes you will accompany me to Indian reservations, parishes, urban centers, Alaskan villages and African American and Indian schools.  

The prayerful and financial support of our friends bring people together to worship God in community and to "be there" for one another with their God-given gifts that baptism calls each and every person to discipleship.  Also, by virtue of our baptism, we are missionaries beginning within our families, parishes  and schools.  We worship, serve and love God and community through our religious family, the Roman Catholic Church.  Because Jesus was the first missionary sent from heaven, we follow His example and bear witness to His love.

 

Please be a herald of good news. Help me to spread the word about the Black and Indian Mission Office!  It is 2011 and the Mission continues. . . so come along we'd love to share the experience of the journey with you!