Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Brasilia (Agenzia Fides) – Sunday, August 8, marked the opening day for the Ad Gentes Missionary Training Course 2010 being held at the Missionary Cultural Center (known as CCM) in Brasilia. The course is being attended by 37 priests, religious, and laity, who are preparing to be sent to missions in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
In a note sent to Fides by Fr. Stefano Raschietti, executive secretary of the CCM, it says that the three-week course (including three days of spiritual retreat), "is intended to give missionaries a human, intellectual, spiritual, and practical formation.The missionaries need a time to enter into relationship with themselves, with others, and with God, and thus, prepare to meet the challenges of the mission beyond borders. The course provides an important opportunity for reflection and study before leaving for this great and fascinating experience of being guests in the homes of others."
The Ad Gentes Missionary Training Course 2010 addresses the mission in light of the Gospel of Luke: the mission as the fulfillment of the Scriptures, the mission as a call to conversion and forgiveness made to all nations, the mission beginning in Jerusalem, the mission as witness, and the mission of the Spirit (cf. Lk 24.44 to 49). The universality of this missionary vision is manifested in the life-changing encounter with the person of Jesus.
Based on the Gospel, the course will address the main issues concerning the missionary experience beyond borders, following seven approaches: human-affective, biblical, historical, anthropological, theological, practical, and spiritual. The Ad Gentes Course 2010 will end September 1. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 08/10/2010)
