EUROPA/ITALY - Meeting for Italian missionaries in Peru: Church in Italy and Church in Peru dialogue on mission

Lima (Fides ) - A meeting for Italian missionaries in Peru will start this afternoon at the Neocatechumen Santa Rosa Centre in Lima. “About 120 men and women missionaries have signed up for the meeting - Mgr. Giuseppe Andreozzi, head of the Italian Bishops office for missionary cooperation among Churches and national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Italy, told Fides -. They represent about 400 Italian priests, men and women religious, lay persons and missionary families on mission in Peru.” The meeting is part of a series of similar events held in recent years in various countries: Albania, Lebanon, Philippines, Thailand, Argentina, Senegal, Kenya, Guinea Bissau, D. Congo. “These are not exactly meetings for Italian missionaries, they are meetings between two Bishops Conferences and Italian missionaries” Mgr. Andreozzi explained to Fides. “The meetings, which allow two local Churches to share experience and opinions, are organised by the Italian Bishops’ Conference with the active involvement of representatives of the respective national Bishops’ Conference, Nunciature and national offices of the Pontifical Mission Societies and representatives of missionary priests, men and women religious and lay missionaries. The main purpose is to assess progress made in the evangelisation activity of both local Churches for which missionaries serve as bridges for an exchange of experience.”
As it has become the custom, the meeting in Peru will open with a concelebration of the Eucharist. The Mass will be presided by Bishop Antonio Santarsiero of Huari. On Tuesday 15 participants will discuss evangelisation in Peru. On Wednesday 16 they will listen to a presentation of evangelisation in Italy and priorities identified. In the afternoon work groups will identify suggestions and concrete proposals. The last day 17 February the participants will draft their conclusions and Bishop Lino Panizza of Carabayllo will preside the closing Mass. The Church in Italy will be represented by the secretary of the CEI Commission for Missionary Cooperation Bishop Andrea Mugione of Crotone; Mgr Giuseppe Andreozzi, head of the office CEI office for missionary cooperation among Churches and national director of Pontifical Mission Societies, Italy; Mgr. Giuseppe Pellegrini, Vice director; Don Flavio Saleri of the CUM (Centro Unitario Missionario). (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 14/2/2005 - Righe 27 ; Parole 349)