Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bogota (Fides Service) - The 14th edition of a four week Course for Missionaries ad gentes promoted by Colombian Bishops’ Conference June 6 - July 2, will be held at the Conference’s offices. The Course is unusual because it is open to priests, religious and lay people chosen by their respective bishops or religious superior to go on mission to those who have never heard the Gospel in Asia, Africa, de-Christianised areas or difficult pastoral situations. The courses are for a maximum number of 40 participants. Of the 23 who took last year’s Course 17 are already on mission most of them in Africa.
The Course focuses on four areas of missionary formation: theology, spirituality, methodology and missionary experience. The following themes will be developed to offer sound preparation to the future missionaries “ad gentes”: Trinitarian Love source of Mission; Mission in the Old and New Testament; Vocation, Discipleship and Mission; Mission Ad gentes as proclamation of the Gospel of Life; Mission, promoter of Universal Communion; Mission and its challenges; Evangelisation of Cultures; Inculturation of the Missionary; Religious Fundamentalism; Spirituality of Mission today; New Evangelisation; Missionary Evangelisation Process; At School with Jesus (PMS); Programme of Sister Churches; Missionary Experience in Asia, Africa and America.
Organised for 14 years by the National Mission Centre of the Colombian Bishops’ Conference, the Course was born in the Department for Missions of CELAM (DEMIS), in response to many calls from Pope John Paul II to form competent and holy evangelisers. (R.Z.) (Agenzia Fides 1/6/2004; Righe 21; Parole 265)
