Our History - Maryknoll Lay Missioners
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Early Lay Missioners

Maryknoll’s first lay missioner,
Dr. Harry Blaber

1930

Maryknoll’s first lay missioner, Dr. Harry Blaber of Brooklyn, New York, begins his service in China where he eventually opens a hospital.

1934

Dr. Artemio Bagalawis joins Dr. Blaber in China; he later serves in Korea. He remains a lay missioner for 31 years.

In the ensuing decades, laity in mission remain the exception; missionary sisters,
brothers, and priests are the norm. Other individual lay persons serve overseas with
Maryknoll, but not as part of any organized program.

Maryknoll Acts on the Vision of Vatican ll

In the years following the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), Maryknoll took seriously the
Council’s teaching that “the whole Church is missionary, and the work of evangelization
is a basic duty of the People of God” (Ad Gentes §35).

1969

Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers
undertake studies for the
establishment of a Lay
Missioner Program.

1970

Maryknoll Sisters vote to
facilitate the presence of lay
persons in mission.

1972

Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers
authorize an experimental
program for lay missioners.

The Lay Mission Program is Launched

1974

Four lay people undergo preparation for overseas mission at Maryknoll Sisters’ Mission Institute. They sign formal agreements and are assigned to Hong Kong, Venezuela, and Peru.

1975

Official founding of Maryknoll Lay Missioners as a collaborative effort of Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers and Maryknoll Sisters. The first formal orientation program for lay missioners takes place. The first lay mission family heads overseas.

Jean Donovan

1979

The Bethany Building is designated for the Lay Missioner Program. The first Orientation Program at Bethany is offered that fall.

1980

The first formal return/renewal program for lay missioners is held.

DECEMBER 2

Cleveland Lay Missioner Jean Donovan, who prepared for mission with Maryknoll, is martyred in El Salvador with Maryknoll Sisters Maura Clarke and Ita Ford, and Ursuline Sister Dorothy Kazel.

In the 1980s, Maryknoll begins conversations with the Vatican regarding the canonical
status of the Lay Missioner Program. Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers start to include a
lay missioner option in some of their vocations outreach.

Maryknoll Mission Association

of the Faithful

1992

A core committee consisting of Maryknoll lay missioners, priests, and sisters is formed to investigate founding a new mission association. The Lay Mission Director and Superior General of Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers visit various offices in Rome to explore the process for the founding of an Association of Christ’s Faithful under the auspices of the Pontifical Council for the Laity.

1993

The Lay Missioner Program sponsors its first mission immersion trip (to Oaxaca, Mexico).

Founding Assembly, 1994

1994

The Maryknoll Mission Association of the Faithful (MMAF) officially comes into being on the Feast of the Assumption, August 15th, following the Founding Assembly held August 1-14 with lay missioner delegates from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the United States. MMAF is not a program of other Maryknoll entities, but an independent organization.

1995

MMAF is incorporated under New York State law as a non-profit, tax exempt organization. The first handbook is developed for Lay Missioners.

1996

MMAF initiates its first fundraising efforts. The inaugural meeting of an Advisory Board, consisting of 9 members, takes place.

1997

MMAF’s first General Assembly (of Lay Missioner delegates) is held in May. In collaboration with Maryknoll Sisters and Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers, a Web site (Maryknoll.org) is established. Leadership teams from these three Maryknoll entities begin to meet regularly.

1998

MMAF adopts its first strategic plan.

1999

Returned Maryknoll Lay Missioner Fred Goddard joins Coordinating Team of Maryknoll Affiliates (becoming Executive Coordinator ten years later).

2001

First celebrations of 25-year Lay Missioner jubilees take place. Three missioners: Liz Mach, Bernie Butkiewicz, and Ronald Bosse are honored for each having spent a quarter of a century in mission.

 

Maryknoll Lay Missioners

2004

The popular name “Maryknoll Lay Missioners” and a new logo are adopted.

2005

The acronym for Maryknoll Lay Missioners, “MKLM,” comes into use.

2006

An extraordinary General Assembly approves a new mission statement, a new vision statement, and the formation of a Governing Board (replacing the Advisory Board). Voices of Compassion, MKLM’s newsletter/magazine is launched. In Brazil, Maryknoll Lay Missioner Heidi Cerneka is nationally recognized at the Legislative Assembly of São Paulo with the Santo Dias Award for her human rights work in Brazilian prisons.

2007

First Board of Directors is installed.

MKLM offers the first Maryknoll International Service Orientation (MISO) program for volunteers/missioners from other Catholic mission-sending organizations; 17 people participate.

Maryknoll Lay Missioners’ Leadership Team completes a canonical visit in Rome with the Pontifical Council for the Laity and other offices.

MKLM’s mission priorities are named: health, education, sustainable development, justice & peace and pastoral care.

2010

MKLM celebrates its 35th anniversary! New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan presides at a festive Mass. A dinner with 200 guests follows on the Bethany lawn. MKLM is in 6 Regions: Cambodia, Brazil, El Salvador, Bolivia, Kenya and Tanzania.

2011

In June, MKLM participates in the opening of the centennial of Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers. MKLM items are placed in the time capsule to be opened again in 2061. In December, MKLM participates in the “bridging ceremony” from the Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers’ centennial to the beginning of Maryknoll Sisters’.

2012

MKLM initiates relationship with JustFaith Ministries by arranging immersion trips to our mission regions.

 MKLM participates in the planning and execution of Mission into the Future: A Maryknoll Symposium.

 Returned Maryknoll Lay Missioner and Board Member Marj Humphrey receives Gonzaga University’s DeSmet Medal.

 Returned Maryknoll Lay Missioner Bob Short becomes Executive Coordinator of Maryknoll Affiliates.

 Maryknoll Lay Missioner Dr. Susan Nagele is awarded the Medal of Valor by the American Medical Association.

Director of Missions Marj Humphrey

New Home New Horizons

2012

2013 MKLM offices are moved from the Bethany Building to the Walsh Building.

 

Director Sam Stanton travels
to Haiti and China to
investigate their potential as
future MKLM mission sites.

Returned Maryknoll Lay
Missioner Gerry Lee becomes
director of the Maryknoll
Office of Global Concerns.

August 15th: MKLM launches a new Web site and introduces a new logo on its 38th anniversary. By this date, over 700 U.S. Catholics have served overseas as Maryknoll Lay Missioners.

2014

MKLM prioritizes a new strategic 7-year plan focused on growth:
By 2022, Maryknoll Lay Missioners will have recruited, trained, sent and sustained 85 lay missioners in 7 Regions.

2015

MKLM suffers a deep loss at the start of the year. Joe Regotti (’99 Mexico, US/ Director of Mission Services) passed away on January 3 after a valiant struggle with brain cancer. Joanne Blaney (’90 Brazil, US) returns from Brazil to assume the responsibility of Director of Mission Services.

  MKLM celebrates its 40th Anniversary with special events held at Maryknoll, NY on August 8. The occasion highlighted examples of Maryknoll Lay Missioners’ outreach and aid across our global mission sites and emphasized that all the Faithful are united to God’s mission in the universal Church. The celebration featured a presentation called Leading by Example: Shaping the Future of Mission, for which Dr. Susan Nagele was our keynote speaker.

2016

Elizabeth (Liz) Mach celebrates her 40th year as a Maryknoll Lay Missioner. Liz continues to confront injustices for women with her passionate ministry in Tanzania

  Marjorie Humphrey (’07 Kenya, Sudan, Africa Area Coordinator) is named Director of Missions