The Missionary Movement Servants of the Word (MMSP) is made up of young lay men and women. Having experienced the power of the Word of God, these young faithful feel a special call to preach the Gospel. This call is carried out by making a promise to live for one year, the evangelical counsels of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. Thereby, the lay Missionaries Servants of the Word also want to enrich others with the power of the Word, and therefore live a ministry experience that will accompany them throughout life when their promise is complete.
The MMSP depend on the Religious Institutes: Missionaries Servants of the Word and Missionary Sisters Servants of the Word for guidance and formation.
The lay Missionaries Servants of the Word’s objective is to carry out evangelization in the places where those who are responsible for them send them. At the same time, they collaborate with the task of the Church, which is missionary essentially.
That is why, they strive to evangelize all people and inspire many lay evangelists for the local and universal Church remembering Christ’s mandate:“As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (John 20, 23).
Whoever has experienced the desire for a missionary life is invited to participate in a Vocational Retreat led by the religious of the Servants of the Word.
All you need is:
a) To be at least 18 years old and no more than 30 years of age.
b) To have taken the first four courses taught by the Missionaries Servants of the Word.
c) To have a desire to devote a year of your life to evangelization, on a full time basis, and receiving no financial compensation.
d) To be healthy.
e) Submit a letter of recommendation from a Catholic priest.
Once you are accepted into the formation, which lasts at least six months, and complete it successfully, you formally become part of the MMSP. This is accomplished by a promise that you make to God, before the community. This commitment consists in serving in evangelization according to the method of the Missionaries Servants of the Word, for one year. This promise may be renewed, in conformity to the advice of those in charge.
Prayer
An integral formation of prayer and community life. The team trains the future missionary intellectually to give Bible courses through daily lessons. They prepare the candidate spiritually through daily, one hour-meditations in the morning, prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours, one- hour adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, participation in the Eucharist, the reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, manual labor and the practice of charity toward his/her brethren. It is also very important to cultivate a spirit of sacrifice for the development of virtues.
Study
Studies are very important for the spiritual and intellectual growth of the Servant of the Word. During this formation period, the faithful studies at least the first six biblical courses of Fr. Luis Butera, founder of the Servants of the Word, so that they can then teach others. In addition to the courses, they also study the council documents and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, among other texts that help to appreciate the doctrine of the Church.
Apostolate
The future missionaries carry out several apostolates during their time of formation, such as home visits, distribution of good news publications in all possible ways, especially the New Mission Magazine, the New Meditated Biblical Rosary and promotion of biblical weekend retreats.
Work