The Valley Catholic
in the diocese
‘Catholic on Purpose’ convenes session on being
‘disciples today’
By Roberta Ward
“Called to be Sent: Co-Missioned as
Disciples Today” set the theme for the
March 27 Training on Forming Disciples, part of the “Catholic on Purpose”
initiative in the Diocese of San Jose.
The session was presented by Father
Anthony Gittens, CSSp., missionary,
research scholar at Oxford University,
professor and author, and currently
Professor Emeritus of Theology and
Culture at the Catholic Theological
Union in Chicago where he taught for
30 years.
A native of England, he entered
the Congregation of the Holy Spirit
(Spiritans) and served as a missionary
mostly in western Africa, and spent 27
years working with homeless women.
His advanced degrees include Social
Anthropology.
Utilizing many Scriptural references, Father Gittens moved through Mission, Evangelization and Discipleship
noting that “mission is God’s mission
first and foremost,” helping people to
evangelize based on a more personal
sharing of faith.
“Evangelization is a job description
for Jesus,” he said, “which involves
Proclamation, Witness, Dialogue and
Liberation. Baptism is the basis of our
co-missioning–participation in God’s
mission by following Jesus.”
Father Gittens stressed that evangelization is “anything that Jesus does”
and should “not be reduced to a ‘program’ –certainly not a parish program.
Jesus brings his mission down to earth,
with people.”
Father Gittens also made it clear
that “Jesus is the teacher” and that “the
Church doesn’t have the mission, but
God’s mission has the Church. Parishes
don’t have the mission; God’s mission
has parishes. You don’t have the mission