ASIA/INDIA - “The Indian Missionary Congress: the hope that a new missionary era may open in the country,” India's Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies tells Agenzia Fides.

Wednesday, 7 October 2009

AFGHANISTAN

2024-02-07
Manipur, torn by conflict, tries to reconnect the threads of dialogue

2023-12-04
The Franciscan Pastoral Center of the Diocese of Jinan celebrates the 60th anniversary of Sacrosanctum Concilium, to continue walking on the paths opened by the Second Vatican Council

2023-10-16
Prayer for the reconciliation of the peoples of Israel and Palestine

2022-02-24
Integrating refugees into society: the commitment of the Pro Bambini Association of Kabul

2021-12-18
The Barnabites, with their hearts in Kabul: "Pray for Afghanistan"

2021-12-17
Serious food crisis: 23 million people in need

Bombay (Agenzia Fides) – The Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) of India have been busy in recent months with the preparation of the Indian Missionary Congress, which will take place in Bombay, October 14-18.
Fr. Ignaci Siluvai, National Director of the PMS in India has been helping to coordinate the preparations.
Fr. Siluvai tells Agenzia Fides: “My hope is that, with the Congress, a new missionary era will be opened in India. The time has come to concentrate our efforts for the ultimate task of evangelization. The participants will learn to appreciate the value of the faith in Christ and manifest the joy of the faith to others. Our faith is strengthened when we share it. I am sure the Congress will bring out a new vitality for the missions and will help bring Christ's light to all.”
Fr. Siluvai also mentioned that the Indian Congress will examine the reflections from the Asian Missionary Congress held in Thailand in 2006, in an effort to contextualize them and apply them to the present: “We should always have an enlivened missionary spirit in the local Church and maintain the missionary fire kindled. The Indian Diocese has cooperated, organizing local missionary Congresses that will help bring new ideas and proposals to the larger Congress,” he told Fides.
“Through the Congress, we should rediscover our identity as evangelizers and realize the wonders the Lord has done over the centuries, right up until today, strengthening our missionary spirit in this manner,” the PMS Director said.
One of the aspects that the assembly will reflect on is the situation of the Christian minority in India, which is suffering persecution and attacks from extremist Hindu groups: “The difficulties have become opportunities to remain steadfast in the faith and bring the testimony of our faith in Christ to others. There have been many examples in the martyred Christian community of Orissa. In the Congress, we will reiterate that our path is that of the Master and that the Lord never abandons us,” Fr. Siluvai concluded. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 7/10/2009)