Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Madrid (Fides Service) - Yesterday, in the context of the year of the Eucharist and on the solemn liturgical feast of the Epiphany a clearly missionary feast, the Church in Spain celebrated its annual Day for Catechists in mission territories which this year focused on the theme “A banquet to which everyone is invited”. The theme refers to the Banquet of the Kingdom of God: all are invited, many decline and many more have yet to receive the invitation through the happy message of the Good News of salvation.
Catechists Day, promoted by the Spanish Institute for Foreign Missions IEME, consists in initiatives of animation and sensitisation as well as the of prayers and a special collection in support of catechists in mission lands. Half of the money collected is sent to the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples in Rome to be distributed to catechists in mission territories, the other half goes to support the activity of the IEME involved in evangelisation ad gentes with the valid assistance of local catechists.
Juan José Alarcia, a member of the IEME department for information and animation, told Fides about the different roles played by catechists in mission lands: delegates of the Word, community animators who often risk their lives while working to diffuse the invitation to the Banquet of the Kingdom to which all are invited without exception. Juan Jose underlined that “catechists are a fundamental part in the functioning of the missionary dynamism of Christian communities”.
IEME is a Society of Apostolic Life. Its members are diocesan priests dedicated to the missionary activity of the Church. Founded 80 years ago, it has served as a missionary seedbed for about 500 diocesan priests. Today it has 180 member priests from various Spanish dioceses now on mission in 15 different countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
(RZ) (Agenzia Fides 7/1/2005 righe 26 parole 278)
