EUROPE/SPAIN - “Our aim is to help Spanish children realise that so many other children are less fortunate and in great need, and this year the children of Asia in particular” says National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies. Spanish missionaries in affected countries in front line to help seaquake victims

Madrid (Fides Service) - In Spain the annual Holy Childhood Day is celebrated on 23 January. In view of this important occasion the National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Spain, Bishop Francisco Perez issued a message “Rallying Missionary Childhood” expressing sympathy and spiritual and material assistance to the victims of the December 26 disaster in Asia, especially “children who lost their parents” and the many little ones who perished in the giant wave.
Recalling that the PMS in Spain collaborate regularly with development programmes in India, Sri Lanka and other Asian countries, Bishop Pérez says this year the Society intends to focus on “on children suffering from solitude, abandoned, persecuted by evil interests of those who take advantage of them, abduct them, abuse of them, destroying their human dignity”. He encourages Catholics and all people of goodwill to pray for the missions and to give generously to collections on Holy Childhood Day 23 January so that Missionary Childhood may offer an even more generous contribution towards helping children in Asia this year, especially those most abandoned.
“Our aim is to help Spanish children realise that so many other children are less fortunate and in great need, and this year the children of Asia in particular” the national Director pinpoints. The Bishop also expresses appreciation and encouragement for the praiseworthy activity, silent but with total dedication, of about 400 Spanish missionaries working in the affected Asian countries: “We have missionaries in the front line who were among the first to roll up their sleeves and are doing everything possible to help the most abandoned”.
The PMS in Spain have opened two different accounts for contributions: in aid of children (Supergesto) Banco de Castilla: 0082.5785.14.0600552610; in aid of adults (Misioneros Tercer Milenio) Banco Popular Español: 0075.0204.92.0600533234 (RZ) (Agenzia Fides 11/1/2005; righe 25, parole 328)