New Trends in Mission

Overview

“[H]ow do we bring the gospel of Fratelli Tutti and how Jesus embraces every human being [to] our generation, which is so fearful, so suspicious, so self-defensive, and yet so lonely? . . . [P]art of our evangelizing mission is for the Church to really walk with the poor, showing them our closeness, our empathy, our genuine words of justice and charity . . . . And I include here the Gospel of reconciliation and forgiveness . . . so that the cycle of violence, the cycle of division would be stopped—but not by ignoring the past [but by] refusing to be bearers of a hatred that might dehumanize other people.”–from the Inaugural Address of His Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle

“This “mission encyclopedia” deserves to be on the shelves of every theological library, seminary, and convent, as well as in the bibliography of all courses of ecclesiology and mission.  Friends, consider obtaining an individual copy for your personal use and enrichment—truly a wise investment!  We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who had a hand in bringing this project to fruition!  In the words addressed to Saint Augustine, I say: “Tolle, lege.”  Take and read!  You will be richly rewarded; your missionary spirit will be strengthened.  Indeed, “Tolle, lege”!” – James H. Kroeger, MM

SEDOS has published yet another useful reference book on present-day missiology, which marks the significant sign posts of mission work in the years to come. Its authors look into the emerging future with a sense of optimism and hope. They do not surrender to apocalyptic cries about the end of the world, although the symposium and the book’s publication happened during the COVID pandemic. Change is inevitable and the ways of doing mission have to change for the better even if the world changes for the worse (p. 153), so it is also with the spirit and content of this book. With a spirit of courage and openness towards the emerging challenges, this book is an invitation to deeply reflect on the incarnational presence of God working in people’s lives and histories, their struggles and sufferings, and to actively participate in His continuing mission of salvation towards the future."- Simon Boiser, SVD, Steyler Missionswissenschaftliches Institut

Drawn from the 2021 Mission Symposium of SEDOS (Service of Documentation and Studies on Global Mission) in Rome, New Trends in Mission: The Emerging Future offers a comprehensive overview of new trends in Catholic mission. Scholars from across the globe explore key issues including the role of missionary religious institutes; the missionary vision of Pope Francis; mission with migrants and refugees; proclamation; secularization; interfaith dialogue; interculturality; laity in mission; and many more.

Peter Baekelmans, CICM, is a Belgian Catholic theologian and member of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He was a missionary in Japan for twenty years, and he holds an MA in comparative religions, an MA in Buddhist studies, and a PhD in theology of religions. He is director of SEDOS in Rome, Italy, and guest professor at the Faculty of Theology and Religious Sciences of Catholic University of Louvain.

Marie-Hélène Robert, OLA, is a missiologist, full professor of dogmatic theology at the Faculty of Theology of Lyon Catholic University, and a member of the Sciences and Humanities Confluence Research Center. She has published numerous books and articles, and presents papers at various national and international conferences. She is a sister of the Missionary Institute of Our Lady of the Apostles.