Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Caracas (Fides Service) - Amidst grief for the death of John Paul II and hope for the new Pope the 31st national annual meeting for mission was held in Caracas, Venezuela , 6 to 8 April attended by about 30 people: delegates from mission departments from 15 archdioceses, dioceses and apostolic vicariates; diocesan mission delegates; representatives of Holy Childhood and Youth Mission in various dioceses. The Meeting opened with a requiem Mass for John Paul II. In hishomily Fr José Rafael Romero Linares, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Venezuela, said deeply touched “whenever we were near to the Pope we realised that everything about him spoke of holiness”. He urged those present to let themselves be guided by the legacy of the late Pope, a missionary and a pilgrim of peace.
On the first day the participants reflected on the message of CAM 2 and preparations for CAM 3. There emerged the urgent need to promote deeper missionary awareness and find ways to improve missionary animation. On the second day of the meeting guided by Fr Bernardo Favaretto the participants reflected on the conversion of St Paul, great apostle of the nations, and how the first Christian communities were born, the first difficulties encountered in the mission to spread the Gospel among all peoples. Workshops allowed the participants to look at situations today from the point of view of the desire to evangelise.
The third day was devoted to the presentation for reports by the National PMS secretaries on the work of the past year. The National Mission Council, the local Church’s body for missionary activity announced it is planning the 4th Meeting of Indigenous Peoples and Missionaries to improve the process of evangelisation among these peoples in Venezuela. (R.Z.) (Agenzia Fides 19/4/2005; righe 23, parole 304)
