What does it mean to be a Missionary of Joy?
As you may know, we have recently launched a new lay formation program for the archdiocese called Missionaries of Joy. It involves some theology courses and some in-person trainings on evangelization … but what is it really about?
To be a Missionary of Joy is to respond personally and wholeheartedly to Jesus’ primary call; it is a call rooted not in mere duty but in desire. In the Gospel of Mark, we read that Jesus “called to Him those whom He wanted, and they came to Him. And He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out” (Mark 3:13–14). This short passage reveals the heart of Christian discipleship and the very foundation of the Missionaries of Joy initiative.
Jesus begins by calling “those whom He wanted.” This is not a call issued to the worthy or the already-prepared but to those whom He desires. The initiative to follow Jesus begins in His heart, not ours. He does not merely need workers for His mission — He wants you. Before mission, before training or teaching or action, there is a look of love. To be a Missionary of Joy is to hear that personal call again and again: “I choose you.” It is a vocation born from being seen, known and loved by Christ.
But the next step in the passage is just as vital: “that they might be with Him.” The first mission of every disciple is intimacy. Christ does not send out servants who do not know His voice; He sends friends who have sat at His feet. Being a Missionary of Joy is not primarily about doing more, fixing parishes or running programs — it is about spending time with the One who is joy Himself. It is about dwelling in His word, living in the sacraments, learning to recognize His presence in the silence and in the chaos. It is from this closeness that joy flows — not a surface-level cheerfulness but the deep, Spirit-given joy that no suffering can steal.
Then, and only then, does Jesus “send them out.” A Missionary of Joy is not simply sent into the world — they are sent from Christ. Their mission is not their own. They go as His hands, His voice, His heart. They do not go alone. Their joy is not self-generated — it is the overflow of communion with Jesus. And their mission is not isolated activity — it is a participation in the very sending of the Son by the Father.
In this sense, being a Missionary of Joy is not a new program or title. It is a renewal of the Church’s deepest identity. Every baptized Christian is chosen, called to communion and sent on mission. But in a time when joy is scarce and many hearts are discouraged or distracted, we need visible witnesses — men and women in every parish who radiate the joy of the Gospel, who carry Christ into homes and conversations, who draw others into relationship with Him.
To be a Missionary of Joy is to say yes to the One who still calls, still gathers and still sends. It is to be with Him — and then to go with Him. Jesus is calling you. Will you respond?
