Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Guadalajara (Agenzia Fides) - "Young people disciples and missionary of Jesus Christ" is the theme of Mexico's 9th national Youth Mission Congress 26 to 29 July in Guadalajara, organised jointly by the national Pontifical Mission Societies Office and the Mexican Bishops' Commission for Missions. These congresses are held every three years. Some 12,000 young Catholics from all over the country are expected to attend accompanied by their respective local bishops, and men and women religious involved in mission awareness activities with and for young people.
The event will be a "youth mission festival" during which the young people will pray, reflect and discuss, and also express in public their faith and convictions as believers. The Congress will include conferences, special Masses, concerts, discussion, exchange of experience in mission lands. To prepare for the Congress and encourage participation during the month of June the archdiocese of Guadalajara held a series of pro-congress meetings with young people.
The Congress will open on 26 July with a Mission Festival at the end of which Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iñiguez, Archbishop of Guadalajara will open a Mission Exhibition. Then there will be the opening ceremony in the presence of the Cardinal, Fr. Guillermo Alberto Morales, national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Mexico and Fr. Carlos Navarrete, in charge of the Youth Mission League and advisor to the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith. The day will close with Mass presided by the Papal Nuncio Archbishop Pierre Christophe.
The closing ceremony will start with a pilgrimage with the Image of Our Lady of Zapopan, on 29 July from the Basilica to the Benito Juárez Auditorium for Mass presided by the Cardinal. During the Mass young missionaries will be sent on mission.
Themes for reflection during the congress will include: "At the Beginning of the Third Millennium", "Living our faith with gratitude", "Disciples and Missionaries of Jesus Christ", "That our Peoples may have life in Him".
In a letter inviting seminarians to take part in the Congress the Bishops of Mexico encourage participation so that all the Church's missionary forces will help increase mission awareness and lead many young people to undertake to carry Christ to the ends of the earth. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 17/7/2007; righe 34, parole 441)
