Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Buenos Aires (Agenzia Fides) - Encouragement, formation and sending of lay missionaries at the service of the universal Mission was the focus of the 2nd Meeting of Southern Horn lay Missionaries held in Buenos Aires (Argentina), 27 to 30 September, the national office of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Argentina reported to Fides. Participants, lay missionaries and the respective national directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies, came from the five Southern Horn region countries Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile and Argentina to discuss "Vocation, formation and sending of lay missionaries ad gentes".
The aims were to: discuss the present situation of the promotion and formation of lay missionaries; define concrete ways to encourage, support and form lay missionaries; plan to send Latin America lay missionaries ad gentes during the celebration of the 3rd American Mission Congress CAM 3, in Ecuador next year 2008.
The participants also reflected on what it means for a lay missionary ad gentes to be a disciple and missionary of Christ in the light of Sacred Scripture, the Magisterium of the Pope and the teaching of the Latin American bishops and what should be the profile of the lay missionary today. Recognising in the light of the 50th anniversary of the encyclical by Pius XII the necessity to encourage more involvement of lay people in Fidei donum missionary work, the participants resolved to work to encourage, form and accompany Fidei donum mission for both priests and lay people in their respective countries and in the Southern Horn region as a whole. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 4/10/2007; righe 22, parole 295)
