Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bombay (Agenzia Fides) - “The Indian Missionary Congress is, on the one hand, the celebration of the 2,000th anniversary of Christianity in India, as well as call to renew our faith,” said Cardinal Oswald Gracias, President of the Indian Bishops' Conference, in a note sent to Agenzia Fides on the upcoming inauguration of the Indian Missionary Congress, which will be held in Bombay, October 14-18, 2009.
As the date of the event approaches, the hymn for the Congress, entitled “Let your light shine,” has also been debuted. In addition, a new website: www.indianmissioncongress.com has been launched, where people will be able to follow the Congress events and find all the information they need.
Cardinal Gracias also recalls that “it was always the desire of Pope John Paul II, and later confirmed by Pope Benedict XVI, that the Continental Missionary Congresses and later national ones, be organized as an opportunity to renew the missionary commitment on all levels. The goal is to contribute to the growth of every person in their faith, making them aware of their duty as missionaries, on the need for the missions, and the need to proclaim Christ to the entire world.”
The Congress has been in the process of organization for several months, by a team of people from all the dioceses who have also been working on a preparatory document for the Congress, which would innumerate the challenges and proposals for the missions in the vast Indian nation.
The event has been organized in the wake of the Asian Missionary Congress and will be an effort to reflect on the new challenges in the world, in light of the event that was celebrated by the Asian churches in Thailand 2006.
“Evangelization is not one of the Church's tasks; it is her only task,” organizers affirmed, highlighting how the Congress will work to spread missionary awareness in the Church in India.
The Congress will be attended by Bishops, delegates, theologians, etc. from the three rites present in India: Latin, Syro-Malabar, and Syro-Malankara. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 10/9/2009)
