Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Dubrovnik (Agenzia Fides) - The 6th Missionary Childhood Congress in Mediterranean and East European countries was held 12 to 15 November in Dubrovnik. These events, held every two years, have always produced increased interest for the Society and given new impulse to the missionary animation among children and adolescents. The previous meetings were held as follows: Rome (1995, present only 4 countries), Madrid (1997), Warsaw (1999), Rome (2001), Malta (2003), Corfu (2005).
This year the meeting was especially rich for the place and the hospitality of the local Church in Croatia which worked hard to make the event a success with regard to contents of the interventions and discussion, dense in missionary ideas and ever lively activity of the Pontifical Mission Society Holy Childhood or Missionary Childhood.
The Congress opened with a Mass presided by Bishop Slobodan Stambuk, President of the Croatian Bishops' Missions Commission, who mentioned Saint Josephat, known as the “captor of souls”, alluding to the missionary power which must capture souls for Christ. Holy Childhood general secretary Fr. Patrizio Byrne SVD, offered the assembly a global vision of mission underlining Pope Benedict XVI 's Letter to missionary children of Austria. Sr Mariateresa Crescini, of the International Holy Childhood Secretariat, presented the new Pontifical Mission Societies Statutes, articles 13 to 18, describing the theoretical part with practical emphasis.
Jean Lazarus reported on the “Song of the Three Kings” the model of Missionary Childhood in Belgium. Fr Anastasio Garcia treated the fundamental theme of missionary dimension in catechesis. He gave a clear illustration of children's path of faith, presenting the pastoral dynamics of mission at three levels: 0-8 years: initiation ; 8-10 years: sacraments ;10-14 years: vocation. He explained the missionary activity among children is not a special path, instead it is the young Church on its way, and underlined that missionary animation must be part of every child's faith journey.
The second part of the Congress consisted of reports on experience. The Czech Republic presented Children's Day and included all Missionary Childhood activities which involve the whole Christian community: children, leaders, priests, bishops. A slow movement of evangelisation which goes from the children to adults. He underlined the Enrichment of relations with other National Offices.
The 'Children of Jaffa' amazed everyone with the vivacity of their activity which brings children out of situations of isolation and opens them to the world. Most appreciated, their creativity and dedication to educational work, sustained by the National Director. Malta, with the presence of the new Director, underlined the systematic nature of Missionary Childhood work in schools and parishes, with children and teachers. Malta produced excellent material for animation with modern ways of communicating the faith.
Poland distinguished itself for the activity of religious in missionary animation to accompany children in all the different manifestations of the faith, from the sacraments to leisure time. Well made, interesting handbooks were presented. Lebanon, with an excellent presentation demonstrated the effort made to reach the different religious confessions and to be above the tragic situation of the country helping to spread hope in a difficult context. Excellent work to open to other experiences enriches the pastoral contents of missionary animation. Slovakia presented various missionary animation handbooks for children and the family and stressed the importance of missionary animation in schools, where all children can be reached.
The Congress participants listened to the interventions with deep interest, posing topical questions and sharing the same educational mission each in a diverse reality in the name of the Church. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 20/11/2007; righe 48; parole 640)
