Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Quito (Agenzia Fides) - " Disciples and Missionaries, that all may have life" is the theme of Missionary October in Ecuador, Osvaldo Fierro Terán national secretary of the Pontifical Mission Societies and head of Mission Sunday campaign, told Fides. This year there will be a special commemoration of Bishop Alejandro Labaka, Vicar Apostolic of Agarico and Sr Inés Arango Tertiary Capuchin killed 20 years ago on 21 July 1987 in the Amazon forest by members of the Tagaeri (Patas Rojas) tribe in those years harassed by oil companies. The organisers contacted Fr. Miguel Caobodevilla, a missionary in the area who was a friend of Bishop Labaka and was familiar with his missionary activity. This year's Mission Sunday campaign was discussed and prepared at a series of meetings with pastoral workers and with the Vice postulator of the cause for the beatification of Bishop Labaka.
The PMS national office prepared material for Mission Sunday which was sent all over the country for distribution in parishes, pastoral centres and schools. The material was for priests, young people and children in different suitable language.
The material includes 25.000 leaflets in Spanish; 5.000 Quichua and Shuar; 15.000 leaflets for parish priests on the life and work of Bishop Labaka; 15.000 leaflets for young people with reflections and testimony by Bishop Labaka and Sister Inés Arango, to call young people to be missionaries of life and love; 15.000 leaflets inviting boys and girls to realise the beauty and importance of nature; 1.500.000 leaflets with prayers for the month of Mission; 1.500.000 offering envelops; 400.000 book marks to promote Mission Sunday collection in schools; a Mission Sunday Hymn sent to all Catholic schools in the country. Many magazines for families, young people, catechists, priests, missionaries have mission focused articles this month, recalling also the lives of these two missionaries, informing also about programmes supported by the Church in various mission territories. Audio-visual material includes a Radio advertisement on Mission Sunday, broadcast by more than 80 radio stations which form the national network and three videos on the life of Bishop Labaka.
In this month of October, to intensify preparations for the l Third American Mission Congress CAM 3, the Catholic Bishops of Ecuador will declare a Missionary Holy Year and in a special Missionary Pastoral Letter they urge the faithful to be ever more missionary and involved in the missionary dimension of the universal Church. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 8/10/2007; righe 35, parole 477)
