Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Madrid (Fides Service) - At this difficult time Spain must be more united in efforts to regenerate society. We must “rediscover the meaning of life lifting our eyes to see what transcends life while keeping our feet on the earth”. Bishop Francisco Pérez González military ordinary and national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Spain said this in an interview with a local newspaper. The Bishop said the best thing for Christians to do in the present situation of terrorism and fear “is to be the ‘living conscience’ of society so we can lift it on to our shoulders and carry it towards the encounter with God”. The work of Christians which is grafted onto the Cross of Christ is to heal, amidst many sins, with actions of love for all by proclaiming, as our missionaries, that Christ is the only Saviour and announcing that conversion of heart is the only way to be free and to show more solidarity and promote peace.”
With regard to missionary work Bishop Francisco Pérez said Catholics in Spain are very conscious of the duty of mission, in fact they are “missionaries by nature”. Spain has about 20,000 missionary priests, men and women religious and lay persons working all over the world. In 2004 offerings for missionary activity increased by almost 15%. “Increasing numbers of young people feel called to carry the faith to disant countries, the Bishop said - This Summer almost 11,000 young men and women will take part in annual mission initiatives or travel to mission countries to ‘experience mission’. Young people are not indifferent to the Gospel they realise it helps them mature in their human experience which is a call to happiness in Christ”. (RZ) (Agenzia Fides 22/7/2005 - Righe 19, Parole 297)
