LRMS TODAY

It was also from these three events that carved the new history of the Archdiocese of Manila where it did not only host the first inaugural meeting of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC), the Beatification of Lorenzo Ruiz, but it was also the solidifying evidence of John Paul II's mission vision and dream for Asia. The establishment of the Lorenzo Mission Institute became a clear manifestation of the local church's commitment to mission in Asia. Thus, the underlying motivations of missionary approaches towards the Filipino-Chinese Apostolate as well as the desire to do missions among Chinese communities overseas became an evolving preferential option. The direction of missions of the 21st century is towards a global mission anchoring on the idea that the mission we undertake is God's mission. Understand world mission is to be understood under entire realm of God's mission in the world (Missio Dei). The Lorenzo Ruiz Mission Society begins its inception, its missionary identity and its thrust from the womb of the Filipino-Chinese Apostolate and has evolved into a missionary Society for world missions. Today, the missionary assignments of the members of the Lorenzo Ruiz Mission Society are gradually moving from the center of its inception to the centrifugal direction of missionary work in the world. John Paul II had already observed and articulated the Church's new evolving missionary direction. His Encyclical Letter "Redemptoris Missio" said: "The Second Vatican Council sought to renew the Church's life and activity in the light of the needs of the contemporary world. The Council emphasized the Church's "missionary nature," basing it in a dynamic way on the Trinitarian mission itself." The movement of the Spirit in the mission of the Lorenzo Ruiz Mission Society has become conspicuous in the dynamic missionary work and assignments of the members of the Society today.

John Paul II is the only pope who has visited the Lorenzo Mission Institute. He has not only a memory which will never be forgotten but he also left the imprint of a missionary zeal to focus missions in Asia. China was one of the wonderful places the Roman Pontiff had dreamt of visiting. With the lamp that was lighted by John Paul II in the Philippines, that light and missionary spirit of bringing the Gospel to Asia had grown now into a wider concern of the local church. The Lorenzo Mission Institute is just response to the urgent call of the formation of a local clergy and the evangelization in Asia. Through the years, the Lorenzo Ruiz Mission Society has grown in its number of members and it had not lost its fervor to develop missio ad gentes in spite of challenges and difficulties of missionary work in China and Taiwan. The Second Plenary Council of the Philippines mentions the missionary imperative of the local church in the Philippines for Asia as it looks beyond its shores and takes note of the missionary opportunities (cf 109).  The spirit of mission which was been planted by John Paul II had already grown and hopefully will reap a good harvest in the years to come.

Jaime Cardinal Sin, the former Archbishop of Manila desired to continue the legacy of the former archbishops of Manila with regard to the missions pertinent to the Filipino-Chinese Apostolate. This apostolate was formally begun by Bishop Domingo Salazar who was the first bishop of Manila. It was his vision to evangelize and catechize the Chinese who frequent themselves for trade in the Philippines. The Chinese since the 16th century sailed through their sampans and made frequent trade with the local Filipinos during those times. The Chinese were known to be "sangleys" that originated from the Chinese words "chang lai" which literally means "frequent coming." From the past until today, ethnic Chinese in the Philippines as well as migrants from China remain to be a phenomenon in the Philippine society. With the exigency of priests to pastorally serve and evangelize them remains a constant Church's concern. With the visions of Pope Paul VI that the Philippines should be a "lamp" for the countries in Asia, as well as the vision of Pope John Paul II that the Philippines has to be a "light" to Asia, Jaime Cardinal Sin, enthusiastically began to build a seminary for missio ad gentes with a particular concern for the missions among the ethnic Chinese in the country and abroad. He became the architect and founder of the seminary which is called "Lorenzo Mission Institute" for form seminarians for mission. 6 years after the first ordination to the priesthood in 1991, the Lorenzo Ruiz Mission Society was born with 7 initial members. Both seminary and the Society were initiated and supported by Jaime Cardinal Sin.

Through the years, the Lorenzo Mission Institute did not remain to be a missionary place of priestly formation limited to Filipino-Chinese or Filipino seminarians but it was a formation house that had welcomed Chinese seminarians from Mainland China. This provided the door towards accepting perpetual members who are priests to join the Society. Today, the Lorenzo Ruiz Mission Society joins the local church in the Philippines in expressing gratitude to the Lord for the gift of the Christian faith for more than 500 years by being missionaries for Christ and the Church. Both the Lorenzo Mission Institute and the Lorenzo Ruiz Mission Society remain to be visible and living witnesses of a legacy and mission that were begun by the forebears of the Catholic faith and the missionaries to the Chinese in the Philippines. Jaime Cardinal Sin stands as the founding father of both institutions and his vision linger on until today.