Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Buenos Aires (Agenzia Fides) – On Monday, September 21, at the headquarters of the Christian and Missionary Movement of Buenos Aires, an interreligious and ecumenical peace celebration was held. The initiative, along with many others, enters to form a part of the celebrations for “Bible Month,” which for some years has been held in September in Latin American countries, as an occasion to spread greater awareness of the sacred text.
September 21-30, at the Library and Archive Complex of the Province of Salta, will be the 12th Exposition “The Bible in Salta,” on the theme “The Word Dwelt Among Us...to Unite Us as a People.” The exposition is being organized by Saint Paul Editions, the Christian Ecumenical Movement of Salta (MECSA), the International Catholic Biblical Society (SOBICAIN) and the Institute for the Integration of Knowledge in the Catholic University of Salta (UCASAL). Among the other activities organized in Argentina, on September 23, at the Evangelical Methodist Church of Buenos Aires, there will be an ecumenical celebration as part of National Bible Day, called by the Ecumenical Commission of the Christian Churches of Argentina (CEICA) and the patronage of the Argentinean Bible Society (SBA) and the Argentinean Federation of Evangelical Churches (FAIE). “Your Word, Lord, Unites Us” was the theme of the ecumenical celebration held on September 18, which was held in the Baptist Church in Flores. The event was organized by the neighborhood Group of Christian Churches and was attended by representatives of the Evangelical Baptist, Methodist, and Anglican Churches, the Armenian Congregation, and the parishes of Our Lady of Lourdes and Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini.
On the occasion of “Bible Month,” the National Team of Aboriginal Pastoral Ministry (ENDEPA), of the Bishops' Commission for Aboriginal Pastoral Ministry, and “Agape Books” are holding a campaign for the aboriginal community. Through the initiative “A Bible for Every Aborigine,” they hope to spread Sacred Scripture to the various aboriginal communities. The proposal consists in trying to acquire a Bible in the local “Agape Books” stores or in the ENDEPA offices, and later, their personnel will present them to each aboriginal community. The campaign began this part September 1 and will end October 5. The Department of Biblical Pastoral Ministry of the Argentinean Bishops' Conference started a National Bible Campaign, as well, to promote reading and reflection on the Bible in all Church communities. (GT) (Agenzia Fides 22/9/2009)
AMERICA/PERU – Archdiocese of Lima organizes First International Congress on Social Networks for Youth and Professionals, September 25-26, part of the Great Mission of Lima
Lima (Agenzia Fides) – The Archdiocese of Lima, in collaboration with “Link Únete A la Red,” are organizing the First International Congress on Social Networks for Youth and Professionals, September 25-26, at the University in the Peruvian capital. The initiative forms a part of the Great Mission of Lima and aims at the promotion of a proper use of the Internet and social networks among the youth.
The Congress, which will be attended by international experts in social networking, is meant to respond to the recent Message for World Communications Day from the Holy Father Benedict XVI. As a statement sent to Agenzia Fides from the Communications Office of the Archdiocese of Lima said, in the text the Pope “invited the faithful, especially the youth, to promote a culture of respect, dialogue, and friendship through digital communications and to transmit a testimony of the faith and evangelization through the 'digital continent.'”
The event is aimed at professionals, university students, and superiors of congregations, called to “discuss the technological innovations for promoting an ethical, transparent, and respectful use,” the Archdiocese said, “in order to create a ripple effect through a culture of ethics and mutual respect in society.” The “networks” are forms of social interaction, defined as a dynamic exchange among peoples, groups, and institutions. At the moment, their use on various levels of society is being extended in an intense manner and one of the areas that is seeing a constant growth in users. (GT) (Agenzia Fides 22/9/2009)
