Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Accra (Agenzia Fides) - “We thank God for the gift of the missionaries, men and women who moved by love, left their country, came to minister in our midst bearing much bodily suffering, cultural challenges, climatic difficulties, and the language barrier,” writes Fr. Celestino Bundi, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies of Kenya, in a statement sent to Agenzia Fides on the meeting of the National Directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) of English-speaking countries of Africa, held in Ghana, October 19-27 (see Fides 30/10/2009).
“Our coming together...expresses our oneness, our brotherhood...” said Fr. Celestino, who also highlighted how the work of the African PMS is directly inspired by the testimony of the missionaries who evangelized Africa. “In a spirit of total surrender to the will of the Father, they gave their lives and their graves today are visible signs of their commitment to evangelization. Their dead bodies were planted as seed to the African soil. The missionaries came when Africa had no modern hospitals, transport systems, schools, etc. They mobilized the work of animation despite their language barrier and the vast geographical distances they had to walk. They totally trusted in Divine Providence and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. As we pay homage to the missionaries who brought the Good News of Our Lord Jesus Christ to Africa, we are challenged to remain faithful to the Gospel message, steadfast in defending it, and conscious of the responsibility that the Pontifical Mission Societies have.”
Fr. Celestino adds that the PMS meeting “expresses our oneness, brotherhood, and shows need for reorganization for better witnessing. We must be people who are open to lead others to holiness through a true spirit of reconciliation, hospitality, justice, peace, and sharing. We have a duty to promote team work, open ourselves to dialogue, be ready to adapt, develop passion for the mission work, and be true instruments of infecting the world with hope for happiness and change.”
“Our missionary work will not become successful until the lay faithful actively and consciously involve themselves as evangelizers. Africa is not a continent of misery, poverty, wars, corruption, etc. It can become a continent of hope with missionary vocations, peace initiatives, and community life. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 23/11/2009)
