VATICAN - Missionary Childhood: new role of the newsletter on children's missionary commitment

Friday, 15 March 2019 pontifical mission societies missionary animation children

Fides

VATICAN

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Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - "Currently, the predominant view is that childhood is not only a preparatory moment that everyone needs in order to grow, but it is a significant period in the journey of the life of the human person. Consequently, as a true member of the human community, the child is also a spiritual being that requires to be recognized, respected and nurtured", this is what Adrian-Mario Gellel, of the Department of pastoral theology of the University of Malta says, who gave his contribution to the theme "Feeding the spirituality of children" in the first issue of the new Bulletin of the International Secretariat of the Pontifical Society of Missionary Childhood (POSI), just sent to the National Directions of the Pontifical Mission Societies around the world.
"This first issue starts from spirituality, a fundamental element of missionary activity - writes Sister Roberta Tremarelli, General Secretary of POSI in the editorial -. In the Missio ad gentes the baptized person, guided by the Spirit and by love, is pushed to overcome his own frontiers to share faith in Jesus Christ with peoples and cultures that do not yet know him. As emphasized by Pope Francis in Evangelii Gaudium n.78, it is the spiritual life that nourishes the encounter with others, the commitment in the world, the passion for evangelization".
Taking up an ancient custom of documenting the activity of POSI and using today's digital tools, the bulletin contains reflections, information, testimonies, experiences and initiatives regarding the world of children and their missionary commitment, drawing from the vast world heritage of POSI. Ample space is therefore dedicated to the "voice of children", in this first issue of Ethiopia, Zambia, Mauritius, Malawi, Colombia, Honduras, Sri Lanka. National Director of the PMS Fr. Asif J. Khokhar reflects on how to be "missionary children" in an Islamic country like Pakistan, , while the staff of the International Secretariat of POSI illustrates some of the projects that are supported by the Society for the material and spiritual needs of children. Information on some events and the prayer of Pope Francis for the Extraordinary Missionary Month of October 2019 conclude this first issue of the bulletin, which is written in five languages and sent via email. (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 15/3/2019)