Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Fatima (Agenzia Fides) – Yesterday, September 3, saw the opening of Portugal’s National Missionary Congress, which is being held in Fatima, until September 7, in honor of the 10th anniversary of the Missionary Year. The theme for the Congress is “In meeting the Living Christ, called and sent to the mission in Portugal and in the world” and the motto of the event is: “Portugal, live the Mission, Soar Beyond Your Horizons.”
The Congress was organized by the Portuguese Bishops’ Conference, in conjunction with the Bishops’ Commission for the Missions and the Pontifical Mission Societies of Portugal, as well as the Portuguese Conference of Religious Institutes and the Institutes of “Ad gentes” Missionaries.
The event’s objective is to promote and strengthen the missionary dimension of the Church in Portugal and has as specific objectives: spread awareness among the People of God and offer them formation for the mission in Portugal and in the world; share experiences and testimonies from the missions; celebrate the Church’s missionary activity; strengthen the mission in the dioceses and elaborate on several guidelines for activity of the Church in Portugal.
The themes to be addressed are the following: Portugal: an historical, geographic, sociological, and religious vision of Portugal; Live the Mission: a theological overview of the mission; Soaring Beyond Horizons: launching guidelines and suggestions in more missionary active Portugal.
Cardinal Jose Policarpo of Lisboa gave the opening address at the Congress with his speech entitled: “The Mission and the uncertainties of the contemporary world.” The Cardinal highlighted the fact that the world today resists God’s message, that “it is not easy to evangelize, but it is well-worth the effort.”
The Cardinal explained that in this Year of St. Paul, the Saint is presented as a model for evangelizing, as we can find in him the following characteristics: a firm faith in Jesus Christ that perceives the Church’s identification with Jesus Christ; the proclamation of hope in fullness of life, facing both the world’s certainties and uncertainties with realism and giving his life for the Gospel. “The Church is her mission of evangelization must respond to a society very similar to the one that heard Paul’s preaching of the Gospel,” the Cardinal said.
The talks scheduled to take place during the Congress are: “The Situation of the Ad Gentes Mission in the Church in Portugal”; “Portugal: the challenge of transmitting values”; “The new horizons for the Mission Ad Gentes”; “The Mission in the heart of the local Church”; “The Mission we dream: the ‘treasures’ of our sister Churches”; “The universal mission of the local Church.”
The Congress will conclude on Sunday morning with a Mass celebrated in the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima presided by Cardinal Jose Policarpo. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 4/9/2008)
