Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Guatemala City (Fides Service) – Tomorrow 25 November, the 2nd American Mission Congress CAM 2, will be officially inaugurated in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Pope John Paul II has sent as his Special Envoy, Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples. The Cardinal is accompanied by a mission comprising Mgr Giuseppe Cavallotto, Rector of the Pontifical Urban University; Mgr Gustavo Rodolfo Mendoza Hernández, chancellor of Guatemala archdiocese; Rev. Damián Ac Cahuec, of the clergy of the Vicariate Apostolic of Petén. In a Message in Latin addressed to Cardinal Sepe, the Pope says he hopes that Catholics on the continent of America will take this opportunity to strengthen their Christian spirit and commitment to the work of evangelisation.
On Tuesday 25 November some 3.000 participants will be welcomed at the Eucharistic Shrine (Km.15 Calz. Roosevelt, 4-54 Zona 3 di Mixco) where there will be perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament all through the Congress. At 2pm there will be a procession to the John Paul II Auditorium with central America’s holy pilgrim images, Santo Cristo d’Esquipulas and Our Lady of Guadalupe, carried throughout Central America over the past 12 months of this Missionary Year in central America. At 3pm there will be the ceremony of inauguration with a welcoming address to the Papal Legate and the reading of the Pope’s message to CAM2.
Congress work days will start with prayer followed by conferences given by church personalities on themes of mission its needs and challenges. Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe will give the first talk «Mission ad gentes today» on Wednesday 26. Then Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, Archbishop Tegucigalpa, Honduras, will speak on “Mission starting from littleness, poverty and martyrdom”. On Thursday 27, Rev. Joaquin Garcia, OSA, will address the theme of “Mission, testimony of Creation“ followed by “Mission, announcing the Gospel of life for all” by Mrs Adelaida Sueiro and a team of women from Peru. On Friday 28 the talks will be “Mission and present day challenges ” by Bishop Francois Lapierre of Saint-Hyacinthe (Canada) and “Being Missionaries ad gentes in the 21st century” by Bishop Victorino Girardi, of Tilaràn (Costa Rica). After this there will be time for missionary testimony and the afternoon will be devoted to workshops. The day will close with mass celebrated in the cathedral and in parishes, deaneries.
Saturday 29 November presentation of Central American Mission Project, CAM2 conclusions, the reading of various messages and announcement of CAM 3. Cardinal Francisco Javier Errázuriz Ossa, archbishop Santiago del Chile and President of CELAM will preside the Concelebration of Mass. In the afternoon there will be a Marian Song Festival and a closing Marian Liturgy.
Sunday 30 November, closing of CAM2 with Missionary Festivities at the National Sports Stadium after the arrival in procession of the Central American holy images Cristo di Esquipulas and Our Lady of Guadalupe, with thousands of faithful. Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe will preside the solemn Concelebration of the Eucharist with the sending of Missionaries which will close CAM 2.
Other activities of Cardinal Sepe, the Pope’s Special Envoy to the Congress will include: the inauguration of a Missionary Exhibition (Tuesday 25); meeting with the sick who offer their suffering for the Missions (Friday 28); a festive event organised by Pontifical Missionary Childhood Society and the Young Missionaries Society (Saturday 29). (S.L.) (Fides Service 24/11/2003; lines 45; words 569)
