The Mission is the business of lay people
As for the eleven disciples, they went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had given them a rendezvous. And when they saw him, they prostrated themselves; some, however, doubted. Coming forward, Jesus said these words to them: “All power has been given to me in heaven and on earth, so go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe everything that I have prescribed to you. And know that I am with you forever until the end of the world”.
Matthew 28, 16-20
The founders of the community of Servants of the Living Christ: Maria Sangiovanni, Évaristo Guzman, and Father Émilien Tardif.
Father Émilien always favored the commitment of lay people in the Church, as facilitators in various groups: the association of the friends of the Sacred Heart, the association of Christian families, the Cursillo movement, and as head of the printing house “Amigo del Hogar”. And what of the lay people who accompanied him during the preaching of retreats and congresses throughout the country and the world. The participation in the foundation of the community of the Servants of the Living Christ, on November 28, 1982, with the group of eight, in the service of evangelization, demonstrates the importance he placed on the mission of lay people in the Church. On November 28, 2007, the community celebrated its 25th anniversary of foundation in thanksgiving and hope.
“The Church is not really founded, it does not live fully, it is not a perfect sign of Christ among men if an authentic laity does not exist and does not work with the hierarchy.” P. 460, extract from: “The sixteen conciliar documents” Vatican II.
First group of the community of Servants of the Living Christ with Father Émilien Tardif.
The arrangement of the crypt where the remains of Father Émilien rest, in the church “Jesus Resurrected”, at the Jean-Paul II School of Evangelization, in Santo Domingo, represents through its visual design a symbolism of the call of all to the mission. On the front wall on each side of the tomb, we have 12 numbered plaques that represent the 12 apostles in the mission, and on the back wall there are 8 marble plaques that represent the group of eight, who are the first members of the community.
On the ceiling, we have rays of light that depart from the center of the room of the tomb where the remains of Father Émilien rest, in the direction of the back of the crypt, where the benches for the assembly are, and on the back wall the visual representation of the first members. The Spirit of the resurrected One, the Holy Spirit, animates new apostles, new disciples; he renews his Church. The mission of the Church is addressed to all. “Seek him no longer among the dead, he is among the living”.
The community of the Servants of the Living Christ currently has about thirty communities throughout the world and more than 1000 members; it carries the charism of the founders, Evangelization.
The crypt where the remains of Father Émilien Tardif rest
“Although every disciple of Christ has the charge, for his part, of spreading the faith, the Lord Christ always calls among his disciples those whom he wants to be with him and to send to preach to the pagan peoples (Mk 3, 13ff). Thus by the Holy Spirit, who shares as he pleases the charisms for the good of the Church, the Institutes that take upon themselves, as a proper office, the mission of evangelization that belongs to the whole Church.” P. 463, extract: “The sixteen conciliar documents, Vatican II, the missionary vocation.”
His commitment to prayer groups, as a charismatic leader, in the exercise of the charisms, helped to renew the Church; and also to bring many lay people animated by the Spirit to be witnesses and evangelizers in their parish and diocesan communities. At the heart of his life, he shared with the laity what deeply animated him; his teachings, his writings, his advice, the gifts received, and his travels were all for the greater glory of God.
Today, Father Émilien shares with the people of God his remains in this crypt in the church “Jesus Resurrected”, and still more for us his presence in eternal life in communion with the Saints.
“How unfathomable are your thoughts, O God, how innumerable. More numerous than the grains of sand, and when I finish counting them, there still remains You!” P. 175, extract from the book “Jesus made me a witness”, Father Émilien Tardif and José H. Prado Flores.
Yves Rancourt, priest
February 2, 2008
Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple.