Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Tegucigalpa (Agenzia Fides) - "I am a disciple who listens and a missionary in action" is the theme chosen by the Catholic Church in Honduras for World Mission Sunday 21 October, national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Honduras Fr. Raúl Corriveau reported to Fides.
Material prepared by the national office to encourage participation includes a “Handbook on Mission Animation” for mission animators, pastoral workers and catechists. In the introduction Fr. Raúl writes "in evangelising activity the local Church cannot be content to keep to herself", on the contrary "every baptised Catholic is called to participate in missionary dynamism with prayer, activity and cooperation with brothers and sisters around the world". Catholics in Honduras are in fact increasingly aware that mission is an essential quality of the Church, its true nature, identity and life. This is clearly seen in concrete events in Honduras and at the Central American level: the 5th General Conference of the Council of Bishops' Conferences of Latin America and the Caribbean in Aparecida on the theme "Disciples and Missionaries of Jesus Christ that our countries may have life in Him "; Honduras 2007 evangelisation campaign: "That in Him the Poor may have Life "; the "Month of Marriage and the Family" celebrated in August for some years now on the theme "Disciples and Missionaries of Jesus Christ that our families may have life in Him"; The Third American Mission Congress CAM 3 in Quito, Ecuador, 12 17 August 2008 on the theme "The Church and Missionary Discipleship ".
The National Director rallies Honduras Catholics: “We cannot be content to sit passively inside our churches, we must go out to tell everyone that evil and death never have the last word, love is stronger, that we have been freed and saved by the paschal victory of the Lord of History who He calls us to multiply the number of His disciples and missionaries to build his Kingdom on our continent".
The Mission Handbook contains: the Mission Sunday Message of Pope Benedict XVI; suggestions for liturgical celebrations on Mission Sunday, Mass, Holy Hour; catechesis for children, families and the sick. Children's catechesis themes focus on: respect nature, a gift of God; migration and the family; Children Missionaries of Peace; Being disciples to be missionaries; and the titles are: “God loves you and calls you to be his disciple”; “Like a disciple I know the Master”; “Being detached to be a Missionary Disciple”; “the Holy Spirit, breath of mission”. Themes for families include: Family: listening disciple and missionary in action; Family: school of prayer for missionary disciples; the Family which listens to the voice of the Master is transformed and transforms society; a missionary Family transmits Christian values. Catechesis for the sick focus on: illness a special time to experience an encounter with God; you can be a missionary in your illness; a Family is missionary when it encourages sick persons; Disciples and missionaries among the sick. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 16/10/2007; righe 39, parole 542)
