EUROPE/SPAIN - “We will continue”: after 57 of commitment and the present scarcity of mission resources, Basque dioceses opt to continue to support missions in Ecuador and Angola, because “for a diocese being missionary is not an option”

Vitoria (Fides Service) - On Sunday March 13, the Basque dioceses of Spain will celebrate the traditional Day of Basque Diocesan Missions, an organisation present in the dioceses of Bilbao, San Sebastián and Vitoria, to increase the diocese’s missionary awareness, spirit and service and give new impulse to parish groups for missionary animation and evangelisation.
The Campaign with the slogan “We will continue”, will have the presence of representatives of the Christian communities of Ecuador and Angola, as part of a programme “Voices of the South”, to encourage the work of missionary solidarity undertaken in various parish groups. Moreover on 19 March there will be an event to increase awareness of missions and the needs of poor countries.
The organisation of Basque Diocesan Missions started 57 years ago when in 1948, Pope Pius XII entrusted the mission territory of Los Ríos in Ecuador, to these Spanish dioceses. Later missionary commitment was extended to other countries (Venezuela, Brazil, Chile) and to the continent of Africa (Angola, Congo and Rwanda). During these 57 years dozens of missionary priests, religious and lay people from Basque dioceses have worked in these countries. At present, according to a report sent to Fides by the delegation of Vitoria, Basque Diocesan Missions is committed to collaboration in Ecuador and Angola. In Ecuador there are 15 priests, 10 lay missionaries and one Religious Sisters in three dioceses Los Ríos, El Oro and Manabí and in Angola there are 4 priests and one lay mission in the diocese of Luanda.
On the occasion of the Day, the Bishops of the three Basque dioceses, Bishop Ricardo Blázquez Pérez of Bilbao recently elected President of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Carmelo Echenagusía Urible auxiliary of Bilbao, Bishop Juan Maria Uriarte of San Sebastián and Bishop Miguel Asurmendi Aramendia of Vitoria wrote a letter "A mission we must continue". The Bishops say commitment must continue, although missionary resources are scarcer than ever, for four reasons: for a diocese mission is not an option, it is a commandment from the Lord which must be obeyed; a diocese closed on itself loses Christian vigour, faith is strengthened when it is shared ; because these Churches still need help for formation, material structures, to improve living conditions, health, sanitation and education. The last reason is that helping these brothers and sisters they to help us, stimulating our generosity, giving us an example of ecclesial collaboration and the ability to share. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 11/3/2005; righe 32; parole 410)