EUROPE/ITALY - FROM SERVICE TO SERVANTS: IDENTITY AND ROLE OF LAY LEADERS FOCAL POINT OF MEETING OF ITALIAN PMS STARTING TODAY

Tuesday, 1 July 2003

Rome (Fides Service) – This afternoon, July 1, at Frattocchie (Rome), the Pontifical Mission Societies in Italy will start their general assembly, which brings together regional leaders, diocesan directors and lay diocesan delegates of the Pontifical Mission Societies all over the country. The participants will reflect this year on the theme: . “At the previous general assembly held four years ago in Chianciano, we reflected on the identity of the Pontifical Mission Societies, Mgr Giuseppe Andreozzi, National Director of the PMS in Italy, tells Fides Service. “This time we want to go a step further, examining the identity and role of lay PMS leaders at the parish, diocesan and regional level”. The main objectives of the meeting are the following: understand the social, political, cultural and religious context which challenges the universal mission of the Church; identify the figure and role of regional and diocesan delegates; reflect on the lay ministry of the PMS leaders in the local Church.
Another objective is to formulate proposals to render the family ever more the subject of mission within the PMS. “The assembly will in fact discuss how to render the family the subject of missionary activity says Mgr Andreozzi-. This piece is still missing in the mosaic of the PMS activities for animation which involves people of all ages, except for the family as such.” The meeting is attended by about 300 participants representing 90 Italian diocese. There will be three main conferences: Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith, President of the Pontifical Mission Societies will speak about the challenges facing missionary work; theologian Mgr Paolo Doni will speak on the laity’s role in the Church’s mission and Mgr Andreozzi will outline the figure and identity of the PMS in parishes, regions and dioceses. The meeting will close on 4 July with a concelebration of Mass presided by the Secretary General of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Giuseppe Betori, with final resolutions and message. SL (Fides Service 1/7/2003 EM lines 38 Words: 478)


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