Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lusaka (Agenzia Fides)- The Regional meeting of the National Directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies for the English Speaking Africa for 2005, took place in Lusaka, Zambia from the 24th October to 2nd November. The National Directors from Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia attended the meeting which was graced with the presence of Archbishop Orlando Antonini, papal nuncio for Zambia and Malawi, Most Rev. Telesphore G. Mpundu, the President for the Zambia Episcopal Conference and Rev. Fr Fernando Galbiati, General Secretary of the Pontifical Mission Society of the Propagation of Faith, in Rome. In order to share what is actually on the ground in the mission of the Pontifical Mission Societies, the organisers invited the PMS Diocesan Directors, Religious men and women, the clergy and the lay faithful to this meeting.
“Their participation in the meeting certainly helped them to open to the universal character of the PMS, to know and appreciate the aims, purpose and significance of the societies in the life of the Church - said Fr Bernard Makadani Zulu, PMS national director in Zambia -. The meeting equipped the participants with methods and materials for missionary animation, and to help them to venture into activities that will help to awaken, enliven and support the missionary efforts of the Church.”
Fr Bernard described the purpose of mission animation: “develop a mentality, criteria and attitude in tune with Jesus Christ, who helps us to live the missionary communion and accompany us with his light and strength in pursuit of our mission.”
“The meetings was indeed a providential moment because it enabled the participants to know each other and the various pastoral situations, to share experiences in mission, and to make plans for missionary animation and cooperation” the national director of Zambia said.
The mission of the Pontifical Mission Societies is to serve and evangelise. The purpose of NDESA meeting was to discuss and plan the direction for missionary activity in concrete forms. The participants had to study instruction Cooperatio Missionalis on Missionary Cooperation of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples.
“This meeting was an important event for the life of the Church in Zambia, in Africa and the universal Church. It helped us to enhance our bond as evangelisers belonging to the Lord. We are called by and committed to one and the same person Jesus Christ - having one and the same mission of proclaiming the Good News and sharing the faith in Jesus Christ - opportunity for us to deepen our mutual appreciation for the tireless efforts of different nations, dioceses, institutes, organisations, commissions, councils and all other pastoral initiatives in conveying our Mission.
“It is our wish that the just ended NDESA regional meeting should help us to renew our vision of the missionary church. It should help us to renew our vision to actions at personal, diocesan, national and international level. Our reflections and resolutions should help us to deepen our understanding and to clarify our mission in the church of the 21st Century and to find a new stimulus and a new boldness for communicating the gospel in the new millennium in our African context” the national director concluded.. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 14/11/2005 righe 44 parole 497)
