Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Warsaw (Agenzia Fides) - The Pontifical Mission Societies in Poland prepared material for animation and celebration of World Mission Sunday on the theme “Love, the source of the missionary vocation” which PMS national director Mgr. Jan Piotrowski, told Fides, is in keeping with the pastoral programme of the Church in Poland for 2006/2007 which comes to a close in Advent. Mission Sunday material includes Pope Benedict XVI's Mission Sunday Message 2007, and then for Mission Week: the Mission Sunday poster, examples of homilies, meditations on the Rosary, suggestions for catechesis, mission statistics, a DVD on Senegal and the life of children in Africa.
Among various initiatives organised by the PMS national office, in preparation for Mission Sunday, the 5th National Youth Congress in Poznan, 28-29 September on the theme "Every nation praise the Lord". Some 1,200 delegates from all over Poland took part and the congress was coordinated by Fr. Eugeniusz Szyszka, national secretary of the Pontifical Societies for the Propagation of the Faith and St Peter Apostle, with Fr. Robert Krobik and Fr. Waldemar Babicz, from Poznan. Fr Dariusz Madejczyk, chief writer for Przewodnik Katolicki, gave a talk on youth missionary apostolate. Participants took part in Meetings of animation and formation in four different churches, attended conference on the nature and mission of the Pontifical Mission Societies and on the Youth for Mission Mlodzi dla Misji movement and other meetings with missionaries. On 29 September there was torchlight walk to the Cathedral for a concert by the Stróze Poranka group. During the night there was the recitation of the rosary in the cathedral, and after several missionary testimonies the Congress ended with a special closing Mass. The Congress commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Mission Congress in 1927, celebrated here and the translation of the earthly remains of Cardinal Mieczyslaw Halka Ledóchowski - prefect of Propaganda Fide (1892-1902) from Rome to Poznan.
For the missionary month of October, the Pontifical Mission Societies in Poland have suggested a special prayer intention for each of the four weeks, presenting the figure of a saintly missionary: in the first week the intention was to pray with Blessed Paolo Manna for greater missionary zeal for bishops and priests; week two , to pray with Saint Daniele Comboni for vocations; week three to pray with Saint Rosa of Lima for America and the Third American Mission Congress CAM 3; week four to pray with Blessed Maria Teresa Ledóchowska that every baptised person may be more aware of the mission duty.
Mgr Jan Piotrowski said there will a press conference on 15 October to offer more information on Mission Sunday and the Holy Father 's Mission Sunday Message. As in previous years, the PMS National Director will celebrate Mass which national radio will broadcast live. The Catholic media are offering ample information on the Church's universal missionary activity. Moreover initiatives of mission animation are also being held at the diocesan level all over the country. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 12/10/2007; righe 39, parole 541)
