Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
São Paulo (Fides Service) - About 250 men and women Religious from 25 different countries, members of 70 different missionary institutes and working in Brazil took part in the 1st Inter Institutional Missionary Congress promoted by the Xaverian Mission Animation Centre with Pime-Missio Centre in collaboration with COMINA the Missions Commission of the Brazilian Bishops. The Congress was held in São Paulo 21-23 April at the La Salle Education Centre. The objective was to help Catholic men and women religious identify goals and outline a common plan for missionary animation and action in Brazil, Director of the Xaverian Mission Animation Centre Fr Stefano Raschietti told Fides.
Reflection focussed on the Ad Gentes decree 40 years ago since its promulgation by Vatican II and its importance and impact today for consecrated life. Speakers included Congress mission expert Fr. Paulo Suess former president of the International Association for Mission Studies, Fr Edenio Valle psychologist former president of the Conference of Religious in Brazil. Among those present Bishop Sérgio Castriani head of COMINA; Sr Maris Bolzan president of the Conference of Religious, Fr. Daniel Lagni national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies and Fr Guido Labonté director of the Missionary Culture Centre in Brasilia.
According to a Brazilian web site alemfronteiras.org.br., Brazil has about 1,800 religious on mission all over the world (80% women) and from 200 different institutes.
The Congress was enhanced by multi-cultural liturgies, conferences, discussion groups and missionary testimony. Missionaries who have worked for several decades in missions in Africa and Asia shared their experience and its significance for the Church in Brazil. A thematic summary on “new missionary ethics” and a series of proposals and resolutions to increase awareness in Brazil of the universal dimension of mission was drafted towards the end of the congress. In fact the aim of the organisers was to put on the agenda debate on the theme of universal mission ad gentes e ad extra, frequently omitted in national evangelisation plans. In agreement with the General Directresses of the Brazilian Church’s Evangelising Activity, and with all the documents of papal and bishops’ teaching mission ad gentes is not considered secondary, it represents the heart of the Church’s mission. If it depends on the enthusiastic response of the congress participants, the universal dimension of mission will undoubtedly be given greater importance and space in consecrated life and in the missionary growth of church communities in Brazil.
The 1st Inter Institutional Missionary Congress was one of the first important events for the Church in Brazil since the election of the new Pope Benedict XVI. The participants welcomed Pope Benedict XVI’s intention to promote further implementation of the teaching and spirit of the Second Vatican Council which closed 40 years ago in 1965. The Council was a universal missionary event whose motto was taken from Jesus’ missionary command: “Go and teach all peoples” (Mt 28,19). (Agenzia Fides 28/4/2005, righe 39, parole 525)
