Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lima (Fides Service) - As part of celebrations and initiatives for World Mission Day 25 October, the National Mission Centre of the Peruvian Bishops’ Conference has organised the first ever National Mission Exhibition with the slogan: “In Peru today…Mission is alive!”
The exhibition will be held at the Jockey Meeting Centre, Piazza di Surco Lima 12 to 17 October and the entrance will be free. Besides admiring the stands, set up by about fifty different congregations of men and women religious present in Peru, visitors will be encouraged to take part in cultural, artistic and recreational activities.
The goal of the exhibition is to make known è “the missionary history and activity of the Church in Peru, increase missionary awareness and encourage young people to consider a missionary vocation ad intra e ad gentes” Comboni missionary Sr. Maria do Carmo Bogo, a member of the organising committee told Fides.
Besides illustrating the history and spread of evangelisation at the hands of so many missionaries of different families who helped to bring the message of the good news to the people of Peru, the initiative also intends “to encourage people to thank God for visiting and redeeming his people and to discern new ways and means of evangelisation to continue the journey started five centuries ago”.
History recalls in fact that the Gospel was brought to Peru with the arrival of Spanish settlers. The Dominican fathers were among the first to start systematic missionary work in 1544 with more than 50 religious. Franciscans, Augustinians and Mercedarian Missionaries soon joined them. The first Jesuit father arrived in 1568 and by 1613 the Jesuit community had grown to 365 men. Before the 16th century in various parts of the country convents of nuns were opened and the Sisters helped with the work of evangelisation in ways in which women religious were allowed to.
“Today missionary work is just as important as it was in the beginning and it will continue to be important as long as there are people on the earth. Today as in the past the work of evangelisation is not easy but it is the most necessary for the development of all peoples and the happiness of every human person” Sr. Maria do Carmo Bogo told Fides
See more information: mariadocarmobogo@yahoo.com.br (R.Z.) (Agenzia Fides 27/9/2004; Righe 30, Parole 393)
