Paul and Barnabas began their missionary journey in what is now the country of Turkiye. The cities they visited such as Iconium, Lystra and Derbe became the early home for a nascent Christianity. Despite their apostolic foundations, there are no Christians to speak of in those cities. Pope Leo XIV is a member of the Augustinian order, named after the fifth century bishop of Hippo, St. Augustine, in what is now Algeria. Despite this illustrious ancestry, there are no Christians in Hippo and Christians are fewer than 1% of the population the whole country of Algeria. Paul and Augustine would doubtless be shocked. This tells us that the faith cannot be taken for granted. It needs to be preserved, nurtured, cared for, preached, maintained, practiced. The recent spate of Church closings and mergers should serve as a wake up call for each of us to step into our vocation as “missionary disciples,” as the late Pope Francis reminded us to encourage a living faith.
MAY192025
By Church Staff
