Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
San Jose (Agenzia Fides) - “From Words to the Mission” is the theme that has accompanied the activities of the 23rd National Holy Childhood Association Encounter held in Costa Rica on October 3. The event was attended by children, adolescents, and their group leaders and parents, from 6 of the country's 8 dioceses. As a note sent to Agenzia Fides from the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) of Costa Rica says, the central moment of the day was the Mass presided by the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Pierre Nguyen Van Tot, during which the gifts collected by the children of the Holy Childhood Association in Costa Rica, over the course of the year, were presented. They will now be sent to the International Secretariat in Rome. There was also a Marian Event, with the participation of all the dioceses present, each one invoking the Virgin Mary with a different title: Our Lady of Guadalupe, of Fatima, of Lourdes, Our Lady Help of Christians, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, and the Patroness of Costa Rica, Our Lady Queen of the Angels.
The celebration was also attended by Msgr. Vittorino Girardi, President of the National Council for the Missions, who gave the homily; Fr. Edgar Orozco Alfaro, National Director of the PMS; Fr. Reiner Castro Flores, National Director of the Holy Childhood Association; Fr. Estuardo Vásquez, Directory of the “Los Angeles” School; Fr. José Angel Durán, Director Emeritus of the PMS; and Fr. Fabio Flores, Archdiocesan Director of the PMS. The encounter ended with a game entitled “Who wants to be a missionary?” and an awards presentation for the winners of a drawing contest. (GT) (Agenzia Fides 8/10/2009)
