A Mission for Generations to Come
After more than 30 years, the work of CCO has outgrown the language of our original mission statement. Through prayer and repeated opportunities, it has become evident that God is calling us to continue our mission on college and university campuses and embrace the needs for our apostolate elsewhere. This work of articulating this growth and refreshing the way we express our mission is not one that we have taken lightly.
We first began discerning an expanded mission more than twenty years ago. At the time, there was a conversation about renaming our movement “Catholic Campus Outreach” for a more narrow application of our mission. After careful reflection, that proposed change was turned down because we asserted that the movement had always been called to reach the world beyond the campus, by starting on the campus and going wherever the Spirit would lead us. Shortly after, opportunities to do just that began to present themselves.
Our Impact Halifax mission (a 2004 project) was the first initiative that saw serious collaboration between CCO students and parishioners (not just college-aged adults) thanks to the openness of Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, SJ. A few years later, Archbishop Michael Miller, CSB made an explicit request that CCO do something to help the parishes and the Archdiocese of Vancouver in their evangelization efforts. It was becoming apparent that CCO’s methods and materials were needed and helpful in a variety of contexts.
CCO began making small, measured investments in personnel and programs to support CCO’s work with parishes, Catholic schools, CCO alumni, and more. However, the 2019 pandemic changed the landscape of parish life throughout a large portion of the planet. CCO was prepared to step in and support dioceses in the urgent need to address falling Church participation.
Diligent discernment in prayer, the fruit of these initiatives to help the Church, and adherence to the radical spirit of CCO’s founding mission drew CCO leaders to see that God’s will for CCO was undeniably to the campus and beyond.
Furthermore, it became evident that the wording of the original mission statement was no longer fully communicating the variety of mission fields God was entrusting to CCO. CCO leaders began on a fresh canvas to try to articulate the mission based on the what of CCO rather than the where. It was also helpful to remember that the full expression of CCO’s full identity also includes the vision, tenets, core values, and spirituality.
The discernment, consultation and discussion finally found a clear and simple articulation:
CCO is a Catholic movement raising up Christ-centered, Spirit-filled leaders to evangelize the world one person at a time.
CCO’s mission, rooted on university campuses, includes alumni, parishes, dioceses, and other key church and global partners.
This refreshed mission statement encompasses a number of key points:
Catholic—The first element of the mission is Catholic. Just as the original mission statement boldly emphasized CCO’s Catholic identity, this statement begins with first things first –– the Church.
Movement—From the very beginning, it has always been important to clarify that CCO is a movement. It is not an organization or a ministry. It is not a youth group or fellowship. It is a movement focused on the world outside of itself.
Christ-centred, Spirit-filled—The spirituality of CCO is centred on Christ and led by the Holy Spirit.
Leaders—Again, like the original statement, the focus is on empowering leadership and equipping individuals to proclaim Jesus.
Evangelize—The original mission statement said that the movement was “dedicated to evangelization.” This statement clarifies that dedication a step further. For CCO, evangelizing is an action. The movement is pouring into faith leaders who will do the work of evangelization.
The world—As in the original statement, there are no boundaries on those who can benefit from the movement. CCO leaders seek the salvation of Christ for the whole world.
One person at a time—This addition to the mission statement is inspired by the wisdom of experience and the Holy Father’s own emphasis on accompaniment. The movement provides encouragement and mentorship that fosters spiritual growth, which CCO calls “intentional accompaniment”.
This mission statement preserves the values of the original mission while also expanding to include all that CCO has come to mean for a wider demographic for generations to come.
CLICK HERE to read about the history of our original mission statement