AMERICA/VENEZUELA - The feminine genius and missionary soul of Pauline Jaricot at the center of the symposium of the Venezuelan PMS

Friday, 6 May 2022 evangelization   missionary animation   pontifical mission societies   anniversaries  

Caracas (Agenzia Fides) - The historical impact, life and pastoral dimension of Pauline Jaricot were discussed at the Symposium "Pauline Jaricot, feminine genius and missionary solidarity" held in the Auditorium of the Cultural Center Padre Plaza, at the Andrés Bello Catholic University (UCAB). This day of reflection, organized by the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) of Venezuela, began with a welcome speech by Dr. Gustavo Peña, academic vice-rector of the Catholic University Andrés Bello, who stressed the importance of knowing the life and work of a young laywoman like Jaricot, who with simplicity initiated important processes of transformation of her social and ecclesial environment from the experience of her Christian vocation. In his opening speech, Ricardo Guillén, National Director of the PMS, placed the Missionary Symposium in the context of the beatification of Pauline Jaricot and the celebration of the bicentenary of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith (see Fides, 3/5/2022) and invited the participants to meet with Pauline Jaricot and to be surprised by the testimony of a visionary woman with a universal heart, who anticipated the times and who lived her Christian vocation at the service of the missionary Church since her baptismal consecration. The symposium made it possible to understand the life of the future blessed under several aspects: the story, addressed by R.P Dr. Oswaldo Montilla OP in the report "The Church in France at the time of Pauline Jaricot"; the biography, developed by Dr. Marielena Mestas on the theme: "Pauline Jaricot, mother of the missions, laywoman with a universal heart"; the pastoral action, presented by videoconference from Rome by the Secretary General of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith R.P. Tadeusz J. Nowak, OMI on the theme: "The legacy of Pauline Jaricot and the charism of the PMS: a network of prayer and solidarity". Father Nowak highlighted some aspects of Jaricot's charism that are fundamental for the Pontifical Mission Societies: "the deep encounter with Jesus Christ, the life of prayer and deep communion with Christ, sensitivity towards the poor and openness to the world, that is, to look beyond our borders". (E.G.) (Agenzia Fides, 6/5/2022)


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