Missioner speaks Jan. 29

A representative from the Maryknoll lay missioners, Kip Hargrave, will be a guest speaker at 2 p.m. Jan. 29 speaking at St. Mary Catholic Church.

The presentation is in the parish hall and the community is invited.

The Maryknolls are an American Catholic organization founded 100 years ago. Following a mandate from Jesus to carry his message of love to the whole world, they reach out to those most in need, working side by side with the poor to combat poverty, provide health care, build communities and advance peace and social justice.

Their mission work began in China in 1942 and currently continues with projects in Africa, South and Central America and Southeast Asia.

Hargrave, a Notre Dame graduate and Vietnam veteran, early in his career worked in a rural parish in El Salvador.  At that time, the country was enmeshed in civil war. He worked with two Maryknoll priests and five Salvadoran sisters in efforts to bring justice and peace to that country.

Later, after marriage and with a young child, he and his wife served in the missions of rural Bolivia.

In recent years, Hargrave worked in the U.S. as coordinator of refugee services for Catholic Charities.

Hargrave hopes to share the importance of lay people, both families and single adults, becoming involved in overseas mission work.

Currently, Maryknoll lay missioners work in projects in Bolivia, Brazil, El Salvador, Cambodia, Kenya, and the United Republic of Tanzania creating sustainable social, educational, health care and economic change for people in need.

More information about Maryknoll lay missioners can be found at www.MaryknollLayMissioners.org and www.FriendsAcrossBorders.org.