Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Accra (Agenzia Fides) - The PMS National Directors of English Speaking Africa had their regional meeting in Accra (Ghana) from 19-27 October 2009. The theme of the meeting was: “Pontifical Mission Societies, Means of Evangelization.” The aim of the meeting was to discuss and plan the direction of the missionary activity in concrete forms, awakening in this way a spirit of practical solidarity in view of evangelizing all people.
The meeting brought together PMS National Directors from Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone/Gambia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. “We were honored with the presence of His Excellency Most Rev. Leon B. Kalenga, the Apostolic Nuncio in Ghana, during the opening ceremony of the meeting. We were also blessed with he presence of Fr. Timothy Lehane Barret, the General Secretary of the Pontifical Mission Society of the Propagation of Faith, and Very Rev. Fr. Gabriel Kumordji, the President for the Episcopal Commission for the Missions, of the Bishops' Conference of Ghana,” Fr. Bernard Makadani Zulu, National Director of the PMS in Zambia, told Agenzia Fides.
Fr. Bernard said that the meeting was “an occasion for the National Directors to know each other, know the various situations of dioceses in various countries, share experiences in mission and make plans for the missionary animation and cooperation... The meeting accorded us the opportunity to reflect on the history, charism, spirit, statutes, governane and administration of the Pontifical Mission Societies.”
The delegates also had time to visit some projects funded by the PMS in the ecclesiastical provinces of Accra and Cape Coast.
The encounter was held just after Mission Sunday and when the African Synod was coming to a close. The themes of these two ecclesial events included, in their wording, the theme of light. The Pope's Message for the World Mission Sunday was inspired with the verse "The Nations will come to its light" (Rev 21:24). The Synodal gathering was reflecting on the "The Church in Africa in service to Reconciliation, Justice and Peace", "You are the salt of the earth .... You are the light of the World" (Mt 5:13-14). The two celebrations constitute for the universal Church, and more particularly in Africa, a right time to renew her commitment to her fundamental mission, which is the to illuminate with the light of the Gospel all peoples of the earth,” the PMS National Director of Zambia observed.
Indeed, the meeting was “was a privileged time to share and grow in communion with one another. It was an occassion to reflect on the universal nature of missionary animation and cooperation, widen out our horizons beyond our local situation and feel part of the universal church,” Fr. Bernard concluded. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 30/10/2009)
