Catholic missionary work and global vocations

Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, the Apostolic Prefect in Mongolia, has shared insights into his approach to missionary work. Having lived in Mongolia since 2003, Marengo oversees a Catholic community of 1,716 believers supported by missionaries from 29 different nationalities. He describes his methodology as “whispering the Gospel,” a process of sharing faith through long-term relationships built on trust, friendship, and humility.

In observance of World Mission Day, the discussion of missionary work expanded to include the evolving nature of ‘ad gentes’ missions. Marengo noted that while global shifts such as migration and national independence movements have redefined borders, the necessity of a traditional missionary presence remains.

In the Diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone, Bishop Ivo Muser conducted a missionary sending rite for two volunteers. One volunteer is assigned to pastoral activities in the Colombian Amazon, while another will work in Uganda and Tanzania focusing on professional training for women and youth. The Bishop noted that these missions facilitate mutual exchange, allowing the home diocese to learn from international experiences.