Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) – The sessions of the General Assembly of the Pontifical Mission Societies continued on May 12, with a talk by Monsignor Jan Dumon, Secretary General of the Pontifical Society of Saint Peter the Apostle, who exhorted participants to collaborate in helping the Society carry out its important work of training future evangelizers. Two main objectives were mentioned: give new life to the Society through new ideas for gathering funds and embarking on a serious and profound formative and spiritual path for the youth in our seminaries.
After mentioning the importance of making seminarians more aware of the great gift they receive, Monsignor Dumon pointed out that given the economic support needed for just one seminarian, it would be good that the donations be given to the entire seminary community and not only as an adoption of one single person, to avoid the case that the seminarian who leaves the seminary to return to the state of layman deprives the rest of the community of the much-needed support.
Several proposals were placed in discussion: promoting a collection campaign for formation of seminarians and male and female novices; promote a fruitful exchange of experiences among seminaries; and encourage each one to provide for himself in economic affairs.
The afternoon session began with a talk given by Father Patrick Byrne, SVD, Secretary General of the Pontifical Society of the Holy Childhood, who spoke of his ten year-long experience of working in the Secretariat and the much-appreciated work of his collaborators. He also mentioned the vitality that the Society has maintained (after 165 years) and the continual importance of its presence among the nations. This fact is also confirmed by the economic support and participation in the activities geared towards meeting the various needs of children.
The life of minors is exposed to constant threats: forced labor, prostitution, trafficking of organs...thus, Father Byrne encouraged those present to make the Society known to Bishops, dioceses, and local religious communities. The role of the ecclesial community is important, as it is where the children live out their own role and at the same time come to understand the gift of the faith they have received and to uphold the value of the human person. Thus, they become more aware of their need to be missionaries among their peers and in their own families. (Agenzia Fides 13/5/2009)
