Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
San José (Fides Service) - “Missionary children and adolescents, heralds of Jesus in the Eucharist” was the slogan of the 19th National Meeting of Missionary Childhood and Adolescence held recently in San Josè, Costa Rica, organised by the national office of the Pontifical Mission Societies. Over 2,000 children and adolescents from all over the country took part.
The opening talks were given by national PMS director Fr. Manuel Peña and Sr Elieth Arias Elizondo national Holy Childhood secretary. Since this important missionary event took place during this special ‘Year of the Eucharist’, emphasis was given to prayer. One of the many activities undertaken with enthusiasm by the the children in groups was setting up “eucharistic altars” one for each continent where they then went in procession to pray. On the occasion the young missionaries recalled the 200,000 innocent men, women and children killed on 6 August 1945 in Hiroshima in Japan when an atom bomb was dropped on the city. A solemn concelebration of Mass was presided by Archbishop Hugo Barrantes Ureña of San José. By way of conclusion the young participants listened to talks to help them know more about the Pontifical Society Holy Childhood and missionary childhood and adolescence and about the Eucharist. (RZ) (Agenzia Fides 1/9/2005 righe 16 parole 204)
