Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vienna (Fides Service) - Delegados de la Palabra is the title of a special collection organised by MIVA (Missions-Verkehrs-Arbeitsgemeinschaft) to help catechists in young Churches of Africa and Latin America move around vast parishes to visit isolated villages. In these villages catechists do much of the routine pastoral work: proclaim the Gospel, visit the sick and help those in need with small errands. In these regions where public transport is non existent bicycles are very useful.
With funds collected in the campaign last May 2005 for example in the diocese of Koupela (Burkina Faso) alone 163 bicycles were purchased for 15 parishes and there are still at least 230 catechists who walk many kilometres on foot. Also in other dioceses of Africa there is an urgent need of bicycles for the service of evangelisation.
With Delegados de la Palabra 2006 funds collected mainly in the Marian month of May in every parish in Austria, MIVA hopes to purchase another hundred bicycles. Young people who have been Confirmed this year take an active part in the collecting. In 2005 the initiative collected 80,000 Euro.
MIVA, which collaborates with over 300 dioceses in different countries and numerous mission organisations and institutes in Austria, is also supported by the Pontifical Mission Societies in Austria (Missio Austria). (MS) (Agenzia Fides 26/4/2006 - 21 righe, 265 parole)
