On the 26th of May Bishop David Tencer, OFMCap, of the Diocese of Reykjavik, addressed the General Assembly of the National Directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Rome. Speaking from the unique pastoral context of Iceland, he offered a powerful reflection on the future of missionary work and the evolving identity of the Church.
In Iceland, where Catholics make up a small but vibrant community, the Church is composed of faithful from over 172 countries, speaking more than 50 languages. “We have no shared culture, language, or tradition — only the Catholic faith,” Bishop Tencer said, emphasizing the universal nature of the Church in his diocese.
He outlined five key proposals for the Church’s missionary future:
- Continuous Evangelization – Not short-term efforts, but long-term presence rooted in daily life. “Come and live with us,” he said. “Like Jesus, who spent thirty years in silence, and three years among his people before the Cross.”
- Embrace Contemporary Culture – The Church must not fear the digital world. In Iceland, preaching often includes images and digital tools to reach multilingual congregations effectively.
- Empower the Laity – Laypeople are not just helpers but essential evangelizers. “Even with enough priests, we must not take away the laity’s role.”
- Foster Local Volunteering – While international volunteers help, local engagement is more impactful and credible, as people can see whether life and words truly match.
- Dialogue Without Fear – Real ecumenical and interreligious dialogue must address differences as well as common ground. “We cannot be true brothers if we never touch what divides us,” he noted.
His testimony offered a compelling example of how the Church can thrive in new ways, especially in places where traditional structures are absent — a reminder that mission today must be both visionary and rooted in lived reality.
