'The Mission' in Westminster

The Slovak Catholic Mission in London (SCM) organised a multicultural event entitled ‘The Mission’ at Westminster Cathedral Hall on Saturday 5 October. Its aim was to explore what the meaning of the word ‘mission’ is and how each of us can become a missionary in the world of today. During the day SCM introduced Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius, the missionaries to the Slavs, and their legacy to the members of Catholic Ethnic Chaplaincies in London.

More than 150 participants had an opportunity to listen to the inspiring talks of representatives of English, Irish, Italian, French, Chinese, Brazilian and African Catholic Missions. The speakers presented the work of their own missionaries and how they can inspire us. They also pointed to various approaches to evangelisation and shared their own missionary experience and their views on how to be a Christian amongst different religions and cultures.

Father Liam Cummins, an Irish Mill Hill missionary, used his 20-year missionary experience in Cameroon and Kenya to offer his "recipe" for a successful mission: "A good missionary needs three bones: a backbone to stand and speak firmly for Christ; a wish bone to desire and make the ideals of the God’s Kingdom happen on this earth; and a funny bone to be able to laugh at all stakes; to get up and to continue when a failure comes."

Keith Almeida de Brito Reis, a native Brazilian, shared her personal mission by teaching the children of Portuguese- speaking migrants through artistic, educational and leasure activities. Veronika Fencikova, a Slovak teaching assistant in one of secular schools in London, shows her faith, for example, by praying before the meal or by not being afraid to express her Christian views which are not always welcome.

The Right Reverend Jozef Halko, who is in charge of the Slovak Catholic Missions around the world, was one of the main speakers of the day. "The Slovaks, who are on their mission among other nations, show their living faith not only by teaching the others about their national heritage and culture; and but mostly by listening and learning to understand the others," he said after the event.

The fact that the faith can be expressed by art was demonstrated by a dancing performance "A Chinese man for the Chinese" by Pavol Danko, a Slovak dancer, and a theatrical performce about Saint Cyril and Saint Methodius "Martyrs of the Word" by Juliana Sersenova, a Slovak director and playwright.

The event organisers hope that their efforts will bear some fruit: "We believe that this event will inspire people to explore how each of us can become a missionary by being who we are and where we are; and by learning to listen to God’s voice. The mission starts in our hearts. When we have a close and sincere relationship with God, there will always be an occassion in which we will be able to witness by our words and in our deeds that God is alive in us."

About SCM

Back in 1949 Father Jan Lang SJ founded the first Czech-Moravian-Slovak Mission in London following a decision of the Bishops’ Conference in Slovakia. In 2007 the Slovak Catholic Mission (SCM) in London became a new and independent entity under the Archdiocese of Westminster. SCM is based in London but there is also a new centre in Peterborough. SCM offers spiritual and pastoral care for Slovaks and Czechs living in the UK. It also organises social, cultural and sporting events welcoming the talents of individuals. Last year SCM launched a series of events linked to the Olympic Games such as Family-Sport Picnic, Olympic Torch Day, 24-hour Prayer Marathon, visits of olympians and paraolympians to SCM and sport quiz afternoons.