Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Caracas (Fides Service) - Delegations of 23 countries of the continent of America and a delegation from Spain attended the 3rd American Meeting of Missionary Youth held recently in Guaira Vargas-Venezuela, in order to “define, animate and consolidate the identity of American missionary youth taking up the challenges and demands of new evangelisation” with the slogan “Young American fearless and ready for Mission”. The meeting was organised by the National youth mission office of the Pontifical Mission Societies PMS in Venezuela in collaboration with National youth mission Offices of other countries in America.
In a final message “Statement of young missionaries of America after the 3rd American Meeting of Missionary Youth” the young missionaries said: “the greatest service the Church can offer humanity in the present world situation is missionary evangelisation”. They affirm that the maturity of missionary youth in America at the start of the Third Millennium encourages them to devote themselves to evangelising the young; in the awareness that they must go beyond their frontiers because as young Christians they are not only the future of the world, but they wish even more to be the missionary present of America and the world.
The document traces the identity kit of the young American missionary emerging from reflection and discussion groups: these young missionaries are aware of being members of the PMS, which they know and propagate and are anxious to carry the missionary dimension the PMS offer to others. They discover their missionary vocation which leads them to live fully the universality of Christ’s missionary mandate. They have a living and profound experience of Christ, they are ready to make him known to those who have yet to meet Him. They possess a universal vision and are ready to obey Christ’s missionary command: “Go an announce the Gospel to all nations” so it may reach all peoples. They know, accept and are ready to transform their personal and social reality in the light of the Gospel. They live a process of integral missionary formation. They walk with and share the mission of the Church, living the riches of fraternity like the early Christians. They love their culture while respecting and appreciating other cultures. With joy, simplicity and responsibility they bear witness to hope and are ready to take up the challenges of a changing world.
Echoing the words of Pope John Paul II, the young missionaries end their message entrusting their mission resolutions to Our Lady of Guadeloupe and they encourage all young people on the continent not to be afraid of giving themselves to Christ and of carrying Him to others: “Do not be afraid to give yourself to Christ and to carry Him to others … osa…osa..!”.
The venue and date of the 4th Meeting of Young Missionaries will be set after a PMS National Directors of America Meeting in March 2005 and the General Assembly in Rome in May 2005. It is probable that the place will be Quito (Ecuador) and the date after the celebration of CAM 3, Luis Alberto Piñango Dominguez, national secretary of “JOVENMISIÓN” in Venezuela said in a note to Fides. (RZ) (Fides 26/11/2004, righe 38, parole 513)
