Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Paipa-Boyacá (Fides Service) - Over 100 lay people, delegates of mission apostolate groups attended the National Meeting of Lay Missionaries on the theme Lay Missionaries: ‘bread broken for the Life of the World.’ The Meeting, organised by the National Laity Council with the national mission centre of the Colombian Bishops’ Conference and the Pontifical Mission Societies national office opened on 4 November and ended yesterday 7 November. It was part of initiatives organised on the occasion of the Year of the Eucharist which has just concluded and aimed to promote missionary spirit among the laity and awareness of the commitment stemming from Baptism and also in view of the 11th National Mission Congress to be held in 2006 in which lay participants will play a prominent role.
The programme of the National Meeting of Lay Missionaries included conferences, testimonials, group discussion, plenary assembly discussion, liturgy and moments of animation.
The meeting opened with a conference by Bishop Luis Augusto Castro Quiroga of Tunja, president of the Bishops’ Conference on the theme “challenges and urgencies of the Church’s evangelising mission in the world today”. The programme on Saturday 5 November included a conference on “Theology of lay missionary activity” (Consuelo Vélez), and a testimonial “Spirituality: incarnating the Mission of Jesus” (Sr. Scolastica Rýu) followed in the afternoon by group discussion on the question “How does the laity live missionary spirituality?” and then a plenary assembly to share the findings. The day closed with Mass and Adoration and Benediction at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Miracle.
On Sunday 6 November, after Mass, Fr. Bernardo Parra spoke about “The Programme of Sister Churches and Mission Ad Gentes”. This was followed by a panel discussion on “Mission experience of lay members and lay experience of mission Ad Gentes”. In the afternoon discussion groups identified “Proposals for mission ad gentes ad intra and ad extra in Colombia”. Monday 7, the last day, focussed on preparations for the 11th National Mission Congress next year. (RZ ) (Agenzia Fides 8/11/2005, righe 28, parole 357)
