Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
London (Agenzia Fides) – On Wednesday, September 9, at the Westminster Cathedral, Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster, President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, will preside a Mass in honor of the Pontifical Mission Societies' official adoption of their new name: “Missio” (see Fides 9/6/2009).
According to information sent to Fides from the National Office of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in England and Wales, the event will be attended by representatives of the hundreds of thousands of people who have given so generously to the PMS over the course of several lifetimes. There are many occasions when the generosity of the Catholics of England and Wales, through the PMS, now Missio, touches the lives of people they will never see.
Across the world and especially in the rapidly-expanding Church in Africa and Asia, young churches, which often face extreme difficulties, urgently need support. Through priests, religious and laity, Missio helps support 194,855 schools, 5,246 hospitals, 17,530 dispensaries, 577 leprosy centers and 80,560 social and pastoral projects. It is the only Church organization that supports all of the 1,069 Mission dioceses throughout the world to grow and develop.
Monsignor John Dale, the National Director of Missio in England & Wales, commented on the name change: “Missio, from the Latin ‘sending out’, is a simple, easily recognizable word that expresses commitment to the God-given mission of the Church. This change of name...has been welcomed by the Bishops of England and Wales. Its logo shows the Cross at the center of its service to the Gospel. The new motto - Sharing faith, giving life - expresses Missio’s vital commitment to serving the Church, especially where that Church is young or poor.” (AR) (Agenzia Fides 4/9/2009)
