Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Orlando (Agenzia Fides) - National Directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies in North America and South America will gather in Orlando, Florida, beginning March 15 and running until March 21, for a weeklong meeting focusing on the Church’s mission ad gentes.
“Coming together in this way, we continue to keep alive the vision of the late Pope John Paul II of seeing the Americas as one,” offered Monsignor John E. Kozar, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States.
Monsignor Kozar, who serves as host for the group, noted that the gathering would include 23 different countries from the two continents. “We will review the mission needs of some of the local churches of the Americas, and, importantly, the mission response from all local churches, the ways in which we cooperate in the mission ad gentes,” he explained. Father Timothy Lehane, SVD, international secretary general of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, a Pontifical Mission Society, will be participating in this meeting.
Among the major issues on the agenda of this meeting are: the path after CAM3 (Third American Missionary Congress) held in Quito (Ecuador); reflection and initial organization of CAM4, to be held in 2012 in Maracaibo (Venezuela); the year dedicated to the foundress of the Propagation of the Faith, Pauline Jaricot; shared missionary experiences of each country through dialogue and exchange of materials.
Also attending the event is Fr. Eugene Scarpellini, National Director of Pontifical Mission Societies in Bolivia, who will present the rich missionary experience of Bolivia and the animation work in different jurisdictions, as well as the issue of formation on specific topics such as the Year of St. Paul, Year for Priests. .. In a note sent to Fides, he said: “We want to share our proposals for the future, to try and reach as many people as possible, in collaboration with specific sectors of society and show how the Bishops' Conference of Bolivia and the Pontifical Mission Societies are working together to serve the Continental Mission.” (CE) (Agenzia Fides 12/03/2010)
