Miguel Chavez, senior vice president, mission and ministry for the Sisters of Charity Health System, offered his perspective on “Theology: Called to Mission” when he addressed the First Friday Club of Cleveland on Jan. 8 at the Center for Pastoral Leadership.
Chavez told the group theology becomes like a lens to give us a deeper, closer perspective as we celebrate God’s presence.
“Faith is like putting a puzzle together. We’re not sure if we have all the pieces,” he said. But as things fit together, we are motivated to keep looking for the missing pieces.
Chavez said he experiences this daily through his work with the health system. “I am inspired to use my gifts to make life better for the vulnerable,” he said, adding the sisters provide daily examples of how to do this.
He cited three key things that assist him: theology helps us make sense of God's presence in our lived experiences; through baptism and ongoing conversion we are immersed in God’s sanctifying presence and gradually transformed in grace to become more fully human and more Christ-like and to become more Christ-like is to live in the paschal mystery and to be sent out as missionary disciples to proclaim Jesus in word and deed.
There are three dimensions in a Christ-centered way of life, Chavez explained, kerygma, witness and relationship.
Kerygma is proclamation of the Gospel, which is at the heart of evangelization.
Witness is when faith is lived with integrity, compassion, humility and perseverance – especially in times of suffering.
Relationship refers to encounter, because evangelization is always personal, Chavez said.
“These three pieces belong together. They hold up the bigger platform because they are all interconnected … they mirror the life and vision of Jesus Christ,” he added.
Living in holiness means living in a way shown to us through the paschal mystery. “We are called to become holy so Christ can be seen in the world,” Chavez said.
He also addressed the diocesan lay ecclesial ministry program the following day, discussion “Proclaiming our Hope: Forming Disciples and Enhancing Missionary Vitality.” The purpose of that workshop was to help leaders form missionary disciples through kerygmatic storytelling, spiritual renewal and practical strategies for evangelization. Chavez reminded both groups that evangelization is something each of us is called to by virtue of baptism.
The next First Friday Club of Cleveland program will be at 11 a.m. Feb. 5 at Windows on the River. Speaker will be Bishop Edward Malesic, who will discuss the state of the diocese. Click here for more information or to reserve a seat.