Mission Focused

Mission-Focused

To be on mission is to know oneself as sent. The Solidarity Family is sent by Christ and his Church to mediate God’s presence to humankind, in response to what God has done for us in Christ. Our mission focus is (1) a response to the call from God to go forth from ourselves, (2) directed first toward the needs of those who suffer and are most vulnerable, (3) rooted in relationships of encounter and communion, and (4) transformational of people and structures.

In the words of Pope Francis, “the drive to go forth and give, to go out from ourselves, to keep pressing forward in our sowing of the good seed, remains ever present.” (EG, 21) The Solidarity Family listens for and carefully discerns God’s call. In response, we go forth from our places of home and familiarity to concretely address critical health needs. A clear example is seen in our mission trips and campaigns. Our medical teams travel from the US to Bolivia or from Bolivian cities to hospitals in surrounding and rural areas, bringing medical equipment, training, and healing care. We are “sowing the good seed” of increased access to safe, affordable surgery—a right that ought to be equitably shared by the whole human family.

The church teaches that the missionary impulse must be oriented toward “everyone without exception,” yet its teaching also makes clear where missionary efforts should be directed first. “When we read the Gospel, we find a clear indication: not so much our friends and wealthy neighbours, but above all the poor and the sick, those who are usually despised and overlooked, ‘those who cannot repay you.’ ” (EG, 48) The Solidarity Family’s year-round medical programs give priority to doctors, patients, and public hospitals with the greatest health and/or financial need. Our Fair Trade Program recognizes the direct connection between poverty and poor health and provides opportunities for economic development.

The Solidarity Family’s mission focus fosters our culture of encounter and communion. We believe that all are called to heal and all are in need of healing. Our mission is rooted in mutual relationships of co-responsibility, best exemplified in the partnership model that anchors both ends of our bridge. As administrative colleagues and medical peers, we foster community, build relationships of support, and learn from one another. The accompaniment ministry offered by our social workers and chaplains who care for patients and their families, including through patient home visits, is another way we live out our mission of encounter and communion.

Ultimately, the Solidarity Family’s mission focus is about transformation—for individuals and systems. We share Pope Francis’s dream of “a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything.” (EG, 27) Staff and board members’ hearts are transformed by ever-deepening commitments to our mission. Campaigns, mission trips, and year-round surgeries transform the lives of patients, families, and communities. Encounters and reflections experienced on mission trips transform the spiritual and vocational lives of US and Bolivian missioners. Our partnerships, training, equipping, and advocacy transform health systems by focusing on long-term and sustainable structures that increase access to safe, affordable surgery and other essential healthcare. In the last analysis, what we do is create the means or channels for all of those involved in our endeavors, acting in solidarity, to contribute to a more just and equitable world. This primary mission is fulfilled by our staffs, boards and volunteer leaders.