AMERICA/PERU - “Increase efforts to guarantee ongoing, systematic missionary formation designed to meet the needs of mission today”: one of several commitments taken by diocesan and regional directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Peru.

Lima (Fides Service) - “Increase efforts to guarantee ongoing, systematic missionary formation designed to meet the needs of mission today”: this was one of the conclusions reached by a national meeting for diocesan and regional directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Peru in the capital Lima organised recently by the National Pontifical Mission Societies PMS Office and attended by 62 participants from all over Peru.
The purpose of the meeting was to “animate, plan and coordinate missionary animation and activity in 2004”. Reflection and work were led and animated by a valid and precious contribution of Mgr Julio Daniele Botía who gave various addresses on the following themes: “Our mission with Jesus today”, “the missionary dynamism of the evangelising process”, “missionary pastoral in the diocese ”, “the PMS in diocesan missionary pastoral”, “towards a missionary parish”, “missionary formation in dioceses”, “communion and missionary organisation”, “projects of missionary pastoral ”.
At the end of their work the participants presented a list of Conclusions and Commitments indicating four areas of activity: animation, formation, communion, organisation and cooperation.
The first aim of animation the text says is to revive in everyone “the missionary spirit, since only those who open their heart to Jesus are ready to open their heart to others. Life witness will reawaken and kindle the fire of the Spirit in the hearts of brothers and sisters who do not know or love him”.
Special importance is given to “promoting universal communion at all levels and stages of the life of ecclesial and missionary communities starting with commitment of faith, opening and suitable organisation ”. In this regard “missionary bodies must be reinforced and integrated in the missionary pastoral of the diocese ”.
With regard to cooperation, emphasis was laid on the need to “encourage exchange of missionaries between sister Churches sending missionaries beyond the frontiers ad gentes”. The participants underlined the importance and value of spiritual cooperation given by means of witness of Christian life, prayer and sacrifices. In the face of the needs of the brothers and the missionaries who need more help to carry forward their projects for the poor, the participants underlined the need to reinforce strategies to promote greater cooperation also at the material level.
Priorities and needs identified by the participants included: organise and form missionary animators-leaders to give foster missionary pastoral; integrate mission contents into religious education; promote regular meetings and communications among missionary animators for an exchange of experience and reflection on the new challenges posed by mission ad gentes; encourage the insertion in the liturgy of elements of missionary animation; revive the missionary spirit in our countries by means of sincere and humble approach to offer the service of evangelisers.
(RZ) (Agenzia Fides 17/2/2004 lines 51 words 510)