AMERICA/BRAZIL - Holy Childhood Association on the move: “Missionary Disciples on Five Continents”

Sao Paolo (Agenzia Fides) - "Promoting the work of the Holy Childhood Association" is the desire of the Bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean expressed in the Document of Aparecida (number 441). On May 19, the Pontifical Society of Missionary Childhood and Adolescence (IAM) will complete 167 years of foundation. With the goal then to celebrate the anniversary, the regional area of South 1 of the Brazilian Bishops' Conference (CNBB, Sao Paulo) has organized a special event for the third consecutive year. "This is not a party or campaign, but an effort to promote, among all groups of the IAM, integration that can help develop and implement the history and charism of the Pontifical Society, through prayer, sacrifice, and universal solidarity," says a note sent to Fides from the organizers of the event. The theme that will help in the reflection is "Childhood and Adolescence Mission – Missionary Disciples on Five Continents" and the slogan: "They Need Us." In Brazil alone there are about 30,000 groups and over 400,000 children and adolescents belonging to IAM. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 21/04/2010)