Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Caracas (Fides Service) - Last minute preparations for Venezuela’s 3rd National Youth Mission Congress to be held 24 to 27 giugno, at the parish of “Our Lady of the Rosary in Chiquinquirá del Santo Cristo della Vega” in Caracas. “The event is organised by the Pontifical Mission Societies through JOVENMISION, (Service of Missionary Animation of Youth) of the Venezuelan branch of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith, with the aim of increasing missionary dynamism among young people and preparing them for mission at home and abroad” Luis Alberto Piñango Dominguez, JOVENMISION national secretary said in a note sent to Fides.
The purpose of the Mission Congress is to “celebrate, study and proclaim the gift of faith and the challenge of mission Ad Gentes, starting from the situation of youth in the Third Millennium”. The Congress also intends to help participants reflect on the faith in Jesus, the Father’s Missionary; respond to the challenge of mission Ad Gentes starting from the situation of youth; promote the Service of Missionary Animation of Youth as a constitutive element of youth pastoral; offer spaces in which it is possible to see that mission is life for every young person; evaluate and strengthen the Service of Missionary Animation of Youth “JOVENMISION”.
Some 700 participants from many different realities, movements, associations, religious institutes etc., have enrolled for the Congress. They will be joined by youth pastoral delegates from all 37 of the country’s ecclesiastical circumscriptions (religious, priests, seminarians, youth animators, etc. operating in Venezuela). The participants will be staying at schools, parish centres, seminaries, religious houses and also with local families who have offered to give them accommodation.
The theme for discussion will focus on two nuclei: Young Person your Life is Mission Ad Gentes and the Missionary Family. The Congress programme foresees a rich and varied number of activities: conferences, workshops according to pastoral zones, moments of animation, sharing recreation and times for prayer and reflection. Liturgical animation will be the responsibility of a liturgy team with diocesan representatives. Special attention will be given to a Youth Mission Expo open for the four days of the Congress at the Maria Atonia Bolivar College in Caracas, and a Missionary Youth Procession around Plaza della Vega.
The Congress will open with a solemn celebration of Mass presided by Archbishop André Dupuy, Papal Nuncio in Venezuela. It will close with an address by the National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies Rev. José Rafaél Romero Linares, who is also Delegate for Missions of the Venezuelan Bishops’ Conference and a solemn “Criole” celebration of Mass with the sending of four missionaries con Mary Cruz, Isydmar, Charles and Viky (R.Z.) (Agenzia Fides 15/6/2004; Righe 35; Parole 427)
