Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bogota (Agenzia Fides) – The National Director of Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Colombia, Fr. Mario Alvarez Gómez, has sent Fides a statement on the "Ad Gentes Course 2010," which began May 31 and ends June 25. The course is being held at the National Center for Mission, which has its headquarters at the Colombian Bishops' Conference.
"The Ad Gentes Course allows laity, priests, and religious, to examine more closely the reality of the Church's missionary activity, not only for becoming more familiar with it, but also in order to awaken and strengthen their missionary identity," said Fr. Mario Álvarez Gómez. "When a Christian is defined as a disciple and missionary of Jesus Christ, it means that his identity is constituted by a double force: the force that leads to communion with Christ, his Master, who called him, and the force that generates in him or her a loving movement beyond their own boundaries, as an envoy from his Master in the world, to sow the seed of the Gospel in the world with his message of salvation and humanization."
The National Director of the PMS continues: "There are many peoples and cultures that still have not acknowledged Jesus as Lord and God. The movement of love beyond borders, should lead every Christian to desire that one day Jesus and his Church become present among these people. This is our challenge and we must respond to it with courage and a strong faith. We cannot only declare a small group as missionaries; the responsibility belongs to everyone. Our missionary commitment arises from baptism, we must allow the Holy Spirit to act and share the joy of being disciples and missionaries of Jesus Christ."
In his statement to Fides, Fr. Mario stresses the experience of his participation, for the first time, in the General Assembly of the Pontifical Mission Societies held in May in Rome: “It's always an opportunity for which to thank the Lord, being able to exchange experiences in missionary work." He also announced the upcoming events that involve him personally and that the PMS of Colombia, which they are working enthusiastically to prepare, among which is the Eleventh National Missionary Congress of Colombia, which will be held in July. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 06/04/2010)
