Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Buenos Aires (Agenzia Fides) – After four days of prayer and hard work, the National Assembly of Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) Diocesan Directors of Argentina has finally come to a close, with a Mass held in the chapel of the National Headquarters. This is what Agenzia Fides learned in a report from Juan Carlos Repik, Secretary General of the PMS. In the encounter, which was celebrated March 10-13, there were 48 dioceses represented.
The Closing Mass was presided by Monsignor Horacio Suarez, member of the Bishops' Commission for the Missions, who in his homily said he was glad he could “share this time with those who have a responsibility of working in the vineyard, perhaps not in collecting the fruits, but in the arduous work of preparing the ground and planting.” He concluded by recalling that God wishes all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth, and therefore, “we should work on cultivating the vine, so that it bears fruit and not be satisfied with doing any less...There is an urgent need to evangelize through an open proclamation of Christ: there is no evangelization without an explicit proclamation of the Gospel.”
The Assembly was also attended by Fr. Walter Von Holsen, SVD, National Director in Paraguay, who talked on the theme: “Charism and Mission of the Pontifical Mission Societies.”
Among the various activities during the Assembly, on the 12th there was a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lujan, Patroness of Argentina, where the Diocesan Directors and Secretaries, and the National Director met with the Shrine's Rector, Fr. Jose Daniel Blanchoud. The celebration began with an entrance procession led by the four National Secretaries of PMS, who carried the Triptych presented at CAM3, for the Continental Mission. The Mass was presided by National Director Fr. Osvaldo Leone, who recalled in his homily that “participating in Jesus' mission, no one like His mother committed herself so much in the lives of people and nations.” Therefore, she is “here in her Home, and she invites us to go and commit ourselves, too, with our lives.”
“As Directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies, gathered in Assembly,” Fr. Osvaldo said, “in close communion and service to each of our dioceses, we are sent from Lujan, from this capital of faith, whose greatest joy is the love of God.” He concluded by asking all to make the commitment of “continuing to implore with her a stronger love and audacity from the Holy Spirit, to remain united and share our joy of being Jesus' missionaries with all those who have a thirst for life, thirst for brotherhood, and thirst for God.”
At the end of the Mass, the Shrine's Rector presented an image of Our Lady of Lujan to the National Director of the PMS, to be enthroned in their chapel.
The delegation then went in procession to the tomb where the remains of Cardinal Pironio are laid to rest. There they prayed for his intercession for the fruits of the assembly.
“May God grant each one of us and our community the missionary zeal to transmit the joy and enthusiasm of knowing Jesus to others...” Fr. Osvaldo Leone said at the close of the Assembly. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 17/3/2009)
