EUROPE/FRANCE - In 50 years 1,300 France sends Fidei Donum priests: initiatives for the 50th anniversary of the Encyclical to culminate with October 1st National Meeting in Lisieux

Tuesday, 17 July 2007

Paris (Agenzia Fides) - “The Fidei Donum Call: 50 years on” is the slogan for initiatives promoted by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of France and the national office of the Pontifical Mission Societies to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Encyclical Fide Donum by Pope Pius XII (published on 21 April 1957). “Fifty years of commitment in parishes, dioceses, communities for missionary activity and north/south cooperation: this is what we are celebrating!” says the PMS France statement sent to Fides. In 1957 Pope Pius said there was a great need for priests and lay volunteers in Africa. In these 50 years no less than 1,300 French priests have set out for mission, 182 French religious congregations have become international. Today co-operation north/south and especially south/south is reciprocal. Today 1,060 foreign priests are offering pastoral service in France. Each particular or local Church is on mission. Mission is everywhere.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the publication of the encyclical many initiatives have been promoted. For example this Summer many of France's Fidei Donum priests will be at home and will take part in their respective dioceses in events such as inter-ecclesial Days with the Délégation Catholique pour la Coopération-DCC .
On Monday 1 October, feast-day of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus patron saint of the missions, there will be a National Meeting for Fidei Donum Priests in Lisieux: over 300 representatives of ecclesial families of the Mission will take part in a day of study, dialogue and celebration. The participants will be welcomed by Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, President of the French Bishops' Conference. To follow, two conferences on the Fidei Donum experience past and present. In the afternoon there will be encounter and dialogue between French Fidei Donum priests and Fidei Donum priests who have been serving in France for some time. Th day will conclude with a concelebration of the Eucharist presided by Cardinal Ivan Dias prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples. Present at the Day Bishop Pierre Pican, of Bayeux and Lisieux, and Bishop Olivier de Berranger of the diocese of Saint Denis, president of the French Bishops' Commission for Missions.
During the week leading to Mission Sunday 21 October talks on mission will be given in dioceses and parishes by people involved in mission in Africa, in Asia and Latin America, who will share their experience of witness and evangelisation. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 17/7/2007; righe 30, parole 399)


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