Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Riberalta (Agenzia Fides) – The city of Riberalta, located in the Department of Beni in the Northeast Region of Bolivia, near the border with Brazil, was the site of a four-day Congress from August 5 to 8 sponsored by ESAM (for the initials in Spanish: EScuela de Animacion Misionera). The slogan of the Congress was "Mission with Christ: listen, learn, and preach with children."
The Congress was attended by a large number of children, adolescents, and youth members from the 3 Vicariates: Reyes, Beni, and Pando, in order to continue their training and missionary animation, so that the jurisdictions are also jointly responsible for this task that until now belonged almost exclusively to the Bishops' Conference and the Pontifical Mission Societies.
In the note sent to Agenzia Fides, Sister Cilenia Rojas, coordinator of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS), at the Bolivian Bishops' Conference (CEB) said: "It is important to know that this meeting of missionary animation, as on previous occasions, was of paramount importance to the efforts of diocesan directors, in this case of Sister Diva Schneider (Vicariate of Pando), Sister Ana Maria (Vicariate of Beni) and Sister Rosane Padova (Vicariate of Reyes), who participated in the Congress. We need to stress their commitment, their work, and their service as a sign to share and enrich our responsibility in the mission."
Sister Rosane said: "It has been a great experience. We went with a delegation of 12 children and adolescents, Sister Golda...on behalf of the Vicariate of Reyes, the most interesting thing was being able to share with other parishes. The experience has been very enriching."
"Finally - concludes Sister Cilenia - we hope to further strengthen the preparation for a mission with the support of Diocesan Directors. Especially since in this meeting we not only had a moment of study, but we also experienced a moment of encounter with Jesus Christ." (CE) (Agenzia Fides 08/11/2010)
