Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - " Give children even more space to speak, learn how to listen to them, because this Society belongs to them” It is the desire and commitment expressed by the new General Secretary of the Pontifical Society of Missionary Childhood (PSMC) Dr. Jeanne Baptistine Ralamboarison, who was elected a few months ago, after a long time spent in the General Secretariat of PSMC. "You know as well as I do - said the General Secretary in her speech at the Annual General Assembly of the Pontifical Mission Societies, held in Rome - that children have a lot to teach us, because they are not only innocent, but equally creative. The themes and messages, even the most delicate and difficult, which are transmitted by the children, are accepted more easily and reach the hearts of even the cold. We adults often have a lot of ideas - if you will pardon the expression - polluted, 'interested'. Since it is the children that the Society calls for participation of faith and material resources, it seems logical to me to give them a prominent position. " The presence of adults is necessary to guide, and not to impose, reiterated Dr. Ralamboarison and invited to give guidance and to ensure that achievements are the fruit of their creativity, with the aim that the word "mission" becomes for them "nice".
Since in 2013 PSMC will celebrate its 170th anniversary, the General Secretary has proposed an initiative to help children who already know the Society , by inviting them to answer one question: "What would you like to do with Missionary Childhood?". The answer could be a drawing, children's favorite means of expression, but also a universal language understood by everyone, which could be accompanied by a short phrase. Each National Board will choose the two best answers and will be published in a collection to commemorate this anniversary. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 13/05/2011)
