Nigerian Vatican Official Calls for Collaboration between Sending and Receiving Churches for Success of Mission

Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, Secretary of the Vatican Dicastery for Evangelization, called for greater cooperation between churches that send missionaries and those that receive them. Speaking on October 22 at a conference for the Church of the Sheaves, a global missionary initiative from the Dicastery, Nwachukwu said the program involves a mutual exchange of gifts rather than just the movement of personnel.

Nwachukwu stated that sending churches must provide missionaries with human, spiritual, cultural, and pastoral formation. He said receiving churches have a responsibility to offer accompaniment and help missionaries integrate into the local language, history, and culture. He noted that missionaries bring their faith and experiences to new communities, but they must also listen and serve with humility.