Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) – “While everyone in the Church is baptized and consecrated for the mission, many of us do not make the urgent situations are own concern; we have no clear sense of belonging, of community participation and ecclesial responsibility in the Church," says Father Andrea Bignotti IMC, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Venezuela, who is in Rome for the General Assembly of the PMS.
Describing the work of the PMS in Venezuela and the situation that the Church lives in this Latin American country, Father Bignotti stressed that the first important issue that is motivating all ecclesial communities is the Continental Mission. "In Venezuela, we are now in the stage of mission planning, by which the Church on the continent hopes to be physically present, throughout the Americas. Yet, in order to get going, we have to reflect and be willing to leave behind our own comfort... We are often very critical of the Church or we expect more from her, but then we do not want to commit ourselves to follow the course of a more dynamic and prophetic Church. Instead, we should be reminded of the text of the Venezuelan Plenary Council (JEC). The Church in Venezuela now wants to continue her mission to examine herself, taking upon herself the anxieties and hopes of the Venezuelan people to more effectively communicate the Good News of Jesus Christ and his saving plan through a new evangelization, which requires new enthusiasm and new methods."
Father Andrea highlights the importance for all areas of the Mission of the Church: "The mission must involve all pastoral ministry and become the transverse axis which supports the plans and contents of pastoral ministry.
This Continental Mission in Venezuela is of particular importance, because we are now looking towards the CAM 4 (Fourth American Missionary Congress) that will take place in the city of Maracaibo (Venezuela), in January 2013 and the Church in Venezuela has begun to prepare the minds and hearts of the people so as to fully live this great missionary event. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 20/05/2010)
