At the moment our parish is supporting one mission base:

• in Guatemala, in the Patzun area with the commitment
  of the building of a Church in Xepatan.

The establishment of St. Frances Cabrini Mission Council was approved in March 2001 by Fr. Juan Rivero at the suggestion of the parish's Pastoral Council.

It was felt that St. Frances Cabrini, following the church's and diocesan policy, was in an unusually favorable position to build a laity based mission group due to the existence of parishioners with mission experience and a formal structure in place in Guatemala through which a mission group could work. 

The Guatemala base is under the direction of Mother Ana Maria Chavajay, a Carmelite nun who works in the Patzun area of the highlands of that country. The Granbury base is in the process of being formed. Fr. Juan is looking at this moment for possible volunteers for this project.

Initial response to the idea was enthusiastically endorsed St. Frances Cabrini Pastoral Council and subsequently we expect the same response by the parish at large: we will have pulpit announcements and a major presentation to the Parish on June 9/10, 2001.

The core concept of the Mission Council is to offer mission experience to members of the parish of St. Frances Cabrini, promoting and allowing opportunity to make first-hand testimony and witness for the people of Granbury, Texas as well as Patzun, Guatemala. 

The Mission Council is to assist parishioners in involving themselves in mission, following the mandate of the Church to foster solidarity among all members of the Body of Christ.

Our Holy Father is convinced of the "urgency of missionary activity." In his encyclical, Redemptoris Missio (Mission of the Redeemer) , he states: "missionary activity specifically directed 'to the nations' (ad gentes) appears to be waning... a fact which must arouse concern among all who believe in Christ. For in the Church's history, missionary drive has always been a sign of vitality, just as its lessening is a sign of a crisis of faith."

"I wish to invite the Church to renew her missionary commitment... For missionary activity renews the Church, revitalizes faith and Christian identity... Faith is strengthened when it is given to others!... God is opening before the Church the horizons of a humanity more fully prepared for the sowing of the Gospel... No believer in Christ, no institution of the Church can avoid this supreme duty: To proclaim Christ to all peoples