Compassionate Voices: Celebrating Maryknoll Lay Missioners’ Golden Jubilee

Golden Jubilee

The Maryknoll Mission Archives continues to wish the Maryknoll Lay Missioners a joyous Golden Jubilee! A 50th anniversary marks a special time in an organization’s life, and leads us to reflect on its rich history. Archives is home to the Maryknoll Lay Missioners’ historic collections, and we enjoy showcasing former lay missioners and their unique missions in our blog. We couldn’t let this important anniversary pass without getting involved! Archives is excited to announce its latest digital exhibit, Compassionate Voices.

Compassionate Voices

“To honor Maryknoll Lay Missioners’ 50 years of mission impact around the world, the Maryknoll Mission Archives invited some current and former lay missioners to reflect on what affect becoming a lay missioner had on their lives. Ten lay missioners, representative of mission work in six countries at various points in time over four decades, graciously accepted our invitation.

Along with an invitation to reflect, we provided them with a recording they made years ago when appearing on the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers former radio program, Voices of Our World. This award-winning, weekly public affairs program featured stories on human rights, social justice, peace activism, globalization, the environment and the plight of marginalized people around the world. We hoped this soundbite from the past would add an interesting layer to their reflections on their life and mission.

While each lay missioner’s experience is unique, we heard a theme resonating in each of their responses – the power of the voice. This voice takes on many forms throughout the interviews; the voice calling them to mission; the voices of the people they served telling their stories; and the voices of advocacy, accompaniment, and action in the face of injustice.

May this celebration of Maryknoll Lay Missioners’ voices, past and present, challenge you to answer your call.”