Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - Hope is the underlying theme of material distributed by the Pontifical Mission Societies in Italy for the missionary month of October which culminates with Mission Sunday on 23 October and for the itinerary of missionary formation in the pastoral year 2005/2006. The Church in Italy is moving towards its 4th National Church Meeting scheduled for October 2006 in Verona on the theme “Witnesses of the Risen Lord, Hope of the world”. “Aware of the importance and necessity of missionary openness in view of authentic renewal of pastoral work in parishes and communities, we intend to prepare for the event in 2006 focusing attention on the vital question of mission: missionaries as witnesses, or signs, channels, memory of the missionary impulse of the whole Church- said Mons. Giuseppe Andreozzi, national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Italy -. The world of today has many expectations and desires but little hope. Missionaries are in the front line to carry to all Jesus Christ, Hope of humanity”.
The itinerary a handbook in two parts proposed by Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith is ‘Men and Women of Hope’. The first part reflects on the usual themes of the missionary month of October concentrating on Sunday Mass with various proposals. The second part is dedicated to the Seasons of the Liturgical Year: each unit presents the “face” of one or two witnesses taken from the Gospel or the Acts of the Apostles, proposing four key words to identify and actualise the figure.
The itinerary for Missionary Children is also centred on Hope: “Seeds of mission, fruits of hope” will accompany children aged 8 to12 to discover the many signs of hope all over the world (missionaries, ordinary men, women and children, saints, …). Each lap is marked by a Bible passage oriented towards hope, a spiritual proposal, a zoom on a witness of hope who teaches how to live the Gospel message concretely. The handbook also presents 5 Solidarity Projects (one for each continent) which children can support with small offerings during the year.
The itinerary for young people and adolescents, “Called for Mission”, starts from a fundamental question: “Lord, what must I do?” The youth path " Mission is contagious" and that for adolescents "Wings of Hope", following the liturgical year, aim to help them consider the call to mission which God puts in every heart and the personal response everyone is called to give.
“Emergency Hope” is the title of a handbook prepared by the national Pontifical Missionary Union office to help priests and religious regain possession of the saving message of Christianity. Because it is the hope comes from Christ which compels the Church to bear witness and proclaim the Gospel in which humanity will rediscover it future. This itinerary intends to accompany in a missionary perspective, clergy and religious entrusted with the task of being witnesses and announcers of the victory of life over evil and death. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 6/10/2005, righe 38, parole 493)
