Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Quito (Agenzia Fides) - During the celebration of the Third American Missionary Congress (CAM 3) which will take place in Quito (Ecuador) on August 12-17 of this year, 3,000 families will be hosting participants. According to the head of the Accommodations Committee, Sr. Alba Luz Espinoza, the collaboration of the families of Quito, Chillos, and Tumbaco has been amazing, which is a confirmation of the Catholic spirit and support of the people of Quito and of Ecuador who live in the nation’s capital.
For the families that will be hosting missionaries, there is a planned presentation of a Preparatory Brochure with the CAM 3 Prayer of the Holy Father Benedict XVI, as well as reflections on the missions in today’s world and the situations in each continent. There will also be information on the political and religious situation, a commitment to later live CAM and some questions for reflection that will help people to integrate into the reality of being missionaries in the world. These 3,000 families will participate in the 3 formation encounters which will take place in various geographic locations and that will conclude with a Mass with the presentation of the symbol (five candles) of the five continents, so that each day of the Congress, the family along with their guest participant can pray for each continent. Each continent has its own color: America - red; Africa - green; Oceania - blue; Asia - yellow; Europe - white.
There has also been an official music CD published with the title: “We are all Missionaries,” featuring the Congress’ theme song and which has been used in complimenting and accompanying the study of the Workbook, encounters, seminars, and National and Diocesan Missionary Congresses. According to Osvaldo Fierro, Executive Secretary for CAM 3, “ ‘We are all Missionaries’ is a musical production that reflects on the missionary dimension of the Church and invites the entire People of God to be missionary of life and hope, in word and testimony. Listen, learn, and announce are tasks of the disciple and missionary, which is emphasized in all the songs. That is why the themes focus on discipleship, Pentecost, and the evangelization of today’s world.”
There has also been an official hymn written entitled, “America With Christ: Listen, Learn, and Announce,” that is closely tied to the Congress’ objective “to spread awareness among the local Churches of the arrival of Pentecost in this day and age, that from the experience of discipleship they place themselves in a “missionary status” and are driving force for the New Evangelization and the ad gentes mission.” Various artists from the country have made renditions of the hymn which will be aired on all the radio stations that depend from the Catholic Church in Ecuador and on a continental level, through the mass media network of the Latin American Bishops’ Conference (CELAM). There is also a scheduled airing on public stations as well. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 20/05/2008 righe 38, parole 479)
