Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Buenos Aires (Fides Service) - “In harmony with the national Eucharistic Congress in Corrientes 2 to 5 September and the International Eucharistic Congress in Guadalajara Mexico, 10-17 October, for all our activities to mark World Mission Sunday, 24 October, we have chosen the slogan: ‘We proclaim Jesus Christ, Bread from God for the hunger of the world’”, Father Guillermo Brabander SVD, national secretary of the Office for the Propagation of the Faith told Fides.
Padre Brabander says that all the material prepared and issued by the national PMS office to prepare the celebration of World Mission Sunday 2004 (posters, texts to promote mission awareness, guidelines for liturgical celebrations, suggestions for homilies and examples of prayer services) highlights the deep bond between Eucharist and Mission as Pope John Paul II said in his Message for Mission Sunday this year: “gathered around the altar, the Church is more aware of her origin and her missionary mandate”. The close bond between Eucharist and Mission was also emphasised during a recent national Eucharistic Congress in Corrientes, attended by hundreds of people including many catechists and lay people from all over the country.
This year -Guillermo said - the PMS has given special attention to missionary animation among school children in about 3000 Catholic schools and colleges, distributing material for animation to instil a spirit of mission among children and adolescents including games and money boxes for children’s collections in school. The office also distributes a special magazine for Catholic teachers “The Missionary Church Today” which covers various topics including challenges facing evangelisation on every continent.
Padre Brabender said the PMS is confident that now that the serious economic crisis is over, contributions for missions will be abundant including prayers, sacrifices, money and personal involvement in efforts to evangelise. The Church in Argentina as 514 missionaries ad gentes and Fr Brabender said there might be more if there were the funds to cover the expenses of sending missionaries.
The national office works in close collaboration with diocesan PMS offices and directors. All are enthusiastically committed to distributing animation material in parishes, pastoral centres and to individual people so that everyone feels involved and called to play a part in the mission of the Church. (R.Z.) (Agenzia Fides 17/9/2004; Righe 29, Parole 372)
