Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Buenos Aires (Agenzia Fides) - “The second week of the Missiology Course has been a time of intence missionary training,” Agenzia Fides was told by Sr. Mariel Robledo, HJ, National Secretary of the Propagation of the Faith. The participants had classes with Fr. Hugo Rafael Safa, Theologian with an expertise in Sacred Scripture from the Theology Department of the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina. His main theme was “The Writings and Pastoral Letters of Saint Paul.” There was also a special session on “Theology of Religions and Interreligious Dialogue,” with Fr. Jose Demetrio Jimenez, who holds a Doctoral Degree in Philosophy from the Pontifical University of Rome and a Masters in Religious Studies from the Pontifical University “Comillas” in Madrid. His talks helped participants to become missionary disciples of Jesus, in a world where diversity makes dialogue, fraternity with other cultures, necessary.
The Bishop also played a role in their participation in the course, the Secretary continued explaining. Bishop Fernando Bargallo of Merlo Moreno presided the Mass on one of the days this week. Participants also received a visit from the President of the Bishops' Missions Commission, Bishop Vicente Conejero Gallego of Formosa, a Fidei Donum missionary. “The presence of both the Bishops shows the importance of the Missiology Course as a service of formation for the mission and the commitment of our pastors with the People of God, trying to form themselves as missionary disciples of Christ.”
The missionary formation took on a special flavor on the weekend. The students visited a chapel of the Diocese of Bargallo and organized a small mission, visiting families in the area and sharing the faith with them. Some of them helped paint the sacristy and parish halls, in preparation for catechism classes. All of them, accompanied by National Director of the Mission Socieities Fr. Osvaldo P. Leone and Missiology Course coordinator Victorina Ramos, did some concrete missionary activity that day. They are now in their third and final week of the Course. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 18/2/2009)
