VATICAN- Assembly PMS: the Society of St. Peter the Apostle is taking root and slowly but surely consolidating in countries where it has started recently

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - "I am happy to notice that the Society of St. Peter the Apostle is taking root and slowly but surely consolidating in countries where it has started recently," said Mgr.Jan Dumon, General Secretary of the Pontifical mission of St. Peter the Apostle (PMSPA), in his speech at the Annual General Assembly Meeting of the Pontifical Mission Societies, held in Rome (see Fides 06/05/2011, 11/05/2011, 12/05/2011). This growth, which manifests itself also in an increase in collections of these countries is especially important in Africa, a marked improvement is forcast in Latin America, Asia and in Oceania the Mission is progressing well. This is very important because in the past PMSPA relied primarily on Europe for the Universal Solidarity Fund: In 2011 Europe provided 62% of contributions. "The directors of Europe know how difficult it is to maintain stable their contribution, which is traditionally very high - said Msgr. Dumon -. In many countries the average age of donors loyal to PMSPA is very high. In addition it is not entirely certain that one can count on such a large number of inheritance, so far one of the means used to offset the decline of direct offers. These considerations are not pessimistic. Facing reality, on the contrary, is a sign of dynamism and confidence in the future. "
The general Secretary of PMSPA then pointed out four elements, that he considers essential for a new dynamism in the PMSPA and PMS in general. 1. Place in the middle of all forms of promotion of PMS faith in Jesus Christ, the missionary of God for the life of the world, and an invitation to follow him and be his Church, his living body in society. The Society of St. Peter the Apostle was born from a communicative and enthusiastic faith. It cannot be born or grown today in the lives of Christians if not starting from this faith. 2. To include PMS more in the local community: before being an organization PMS is a missionary movement of solidarity within the whole Family-Church of God, if they are not perceived and experienced as belonging to the local Church, they remain an unfamiliar body and the missionary yeast will not be by and large composite of the local church. 3. Develop fundraising strategies in a systematic and professional way. It is no longer sufficient to organize collections in churches, however important they are, highlighted Mgr. Dumon. One must address to the donors in a targeted and personalized way. In all the fundraisers the important elements are concreteness, transparency regarding the use of money collected, information and control. 4. Paying more attention to the effectiveness of our long-term benefits, because the certainty of "automatic" aid inevitably creates the mechanisms of addiction.
The general Secretary of PMSPA concluded his report with these words: "As almost every day I am faced with the comparison of the scarcity of means in relation to the needs of our seminars, I sometimes dream of throwing a hook, and fish, like St. Peter, fish with money in the mouth (cf. Mt 17, 27). But the awakening is another word addressed to St. Peter who asks me, " Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught" (Lk 5:4). "(SL) (Agenzia Fides 05/13/2011)