Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Washington (Agenzia Fides) - The United States Catholic Mission Association celebrates 30 years of promoting mission and global solidarity. "The 30 years anniversary of USCMA is a celebration of loyalty and radical commitment to God's mission of all U.S. Catholic missionaries. We thank God for the invitation to participate in his mission and we pray that we may continue to be open to the Holy Spirit promptings as we respond to the ever changing realities of mission," says Fr. Michael Montoya, MJ, Executive Director of USCMA, in a statement sent to Fides.
The anniversary will be celebrated at the annual Mission Conference to be held in Miami, from October 28 to 30. Over the past 30 years these conferences have been venues for missionaries to gather, share and deepen their mission perspectives, as well as, strengthen collaboration and partnership in the mission world.
When USCMA started in 1981, the membership of the new mission association was composed of the mission committees of both the Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM) and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR). "We have come a long way since that initial beginning as an association - says Fr. Montoya -. And now we even have a lay missionary as President of the Board". The Executive Director of USCMA also points out that, moving around the country and meeting other missionary groups, is always amazing to realize all the many wonderful initiatives in mission coming out of conversations initiated by the USCMA. The USCMA stands in a direct line to two national mission agencies: the Mission Secretariat (1949-1969) and the U.S. Catholic Mission Council (1969-1980). (SL) (Agenzia Fides 02/09/2011)
