Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Abuja (Agenzia Fides)- “We have just held our first National Mission Congress to mark the 50th anniversary of the famous encyclical by Pope Pius XII Fidei Donum” Mgr. Hypolite Adigwe, national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Nigeria told Fides. The 5 day Congress, which took place at Madonna Renewal Centre in Nkpor, in the archdiocese of Onitsha 26 to 30 September was organised jointly by the national PMS office and the Nigeria's National Missionary Council under the auspices of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria. The Congress theme was, “You will be my witnesses”.
Fides received a copy of the Final Resolutions formulated at the end of the Congress. "The mandate of Christ to evangelise the whole world (cf. Mt. 28:19-20) - the resolutions affirm - is not something contingent on or external to, but something that is at the very heart of the Church’s being. In other words, the mandate truly involves all of us as individuals, and members of the Body of Christ, the Church."
The Congress recommends that the words of the Holy Father, Benedict XVI in his message for the 2007 World Mission Sunday, be taken seriously, namely, that “missionary endeavour is the first service which the Church owes to humanity today, to orient and evangelise cultural and ethnic changes and to offer Christ’s salvation to the men and women of our day humiliated and oppressed in many parts of the world because of endemic poverty, violence and systematic denial of human rights” (no.4).
The document recalls that in Nigeria“ The early missionaries suffered and died in numbers. At the grave of one of their members the early missionaries said a great prayer, “that out of these bones, may a great Church arise”. They made great sacrifices, built schools, hospitals, bought slaves to set them free. Their only motivation is found in 2 Corinthians 5:14: “the love of Christ urges us on”. ”.
“We resolve in the same vein to offer prayers and make great sacrifices for the continuous growth of faith in Nigeria and in the missions, despite the obstacles that could arise in our missionary endeavour” the Congress participants affirm. “ We resolve that missionaries of today imbibe the spirit of the early missionaries, spirit of evangelisation, foresight, detachment, and apostolic courage. We resolve to share the true Christian values with our neighbours and be more committed to the universal mission of the Church ”.
to strengthen missionary vigour, the Congress strongly recommends the establishment of a structure for the formation of lay people both for programmed giving and for mission animation in their respective localities, since the Church is essentially missionary. Our Lay missionaries need to be continually well informed and prepared to be effective instrument of the mission, especially in difficult hostile regions of the world. In spite of cultural practices, both women and men should be given equal educational and empowerment opportunities” the document underlines. In this prospective the Congress decided to promote other mission groups similar to the existing Young Missionary Movement. “We resolve that along with YOMM, the following movements be also established and encouraged: Adult Missionary Movement (ADUMM), Family Missionary Movement (FAMM), and the Missionary Movement of the Sick and the Aged (MMOSA)” and "We seriously recommend that CBCN establish a Special Mission Endowment Fund (SMEF) and a Mission Procure Office (MPO) to facilitate missionary initiatives both locally and beyond.
To increase mission awareness in the Church in Nigeria the participants recommended the celebration of a National Mission Congress every four years, preceded by the diocesan and provincial congresses and also that the Congress Acts should be used in the preparation of the Second Special Synod of Bishops Assembly for Africa. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 4/10/2007 righe 45 parole 566)
