Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Corrientes (Agenzia Fides) – This past October 1, in the Basilica of Our Lady of Itati, there was a celebration for the launching of the Missionary Month of October, with a Mass presided by Archbishop Andres Stanovnik of Corrientes, concelebrated by Bishop Ricardo Faifer of Goya, and Bishop Vicente Conejero of Formosa, Presidnet of the Bishops' Committee for the Missions, along with other priests of the Northeast Argentina Region (NEA).
“The Church is a mystery of communion and mission, which is why all of us here present are missionaries,” the President of the Bishops' Committee for the Missions said during the homily, adding that “the mission is fruit of the love of God, which comes from the heart of the Father and is Jesus Christ His Son, who is sent and carries out this mission through the anointing of the Holy Spirit.” Bishop Conejero added that “the love of God is the source, path, and strength of the Church's mission, which works for the the salvation of mankind, because He loves them so deeply.” In fact, “He loves us so much that He gave us His Son, the Son of Mary, for our salvation.” The love of God, moreover, “is manifested in the joy of the Holy Spirit that has been poured out in our hearts so that we may become witnesses of the Risen Christ,” the Bishop of Formosa said. He then made reference to the First Message of Benedict XVI on World Missions Day 2009, highlighting that “the Holy Father invites us to rediscover our identity through the Mission.”
Fr. Osvaldo Leone, Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies, recalled that the decision to launch the Missionary Month of October every year, in one of the most important pastoral regions in the nation, served as a means to “strengthen communion, participation, and missionary animation for the month of the missions, with a contribution from everyone.” “We want this celebration to be a festivity for everyone and a meaningful beginning to the month for the missions, which we are all called to participate in as Baptized, with the universal mission of the Church,” he concluded. (GT) (Agenzia Fides 06/10/2009)
