Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Manama (Fides News Agency) - To promote the missionary spirit of priests who pastorally accompany the communities of foreign workers in the Arabian Peninsula was the main objective of a talk given by the Secretary General of the Pontifical Missionary Union, Father Dinh Anh Nhue Nguyen OFM Conv, on the occasion of the annual meeting of the clergy of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Arabia .
The meeting, which brings together nearly 60 priests these days, is also attended by the Apostolic Nuncio to Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar, Archbishop Eugene Nugent, and the Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia, Bishop Aldo Berardi. The Secretary General of the Pontifical Missionary Union, first conveyed the greetings of the Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Cardinal Tagle, and those of the President of the Pontifical Mission Societies, Archbishop Emilio Nappa.
The lecture was divided into two parts, each of which was followed by a discussion among those present about missionary spirituality and concrete missionary initiatives in the field. In the first part of the talk, Father Nguyen addressed the theme of missionary spirituality, starting from the Pope's message for this year's World Mission Sunday, and also mentioned the Holy Father's address to the Pontifical Mission Societies on the occasion of the General Assembly (cf. Fides 3/06/2023), while in the second part he addressed the theme of pastoral care and mission, and the role that the Pontifical Mission Societies can play for a new missionary movement within the Church.
Father Nguyen's visit these days is part of a path taken by Cardinal Tagle two years ago during his trip to Bahrain for the dedication of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia. "Of course, it's not natural to talk about evangelization in these areas," Father Nguyen explains, "but it's about communicating to people that everyone, regardless of the situation they are in, if they profess their faith, can contribute to this missionary movement of the Church through prayer, sacrifice and material contributions."
In the Kingdom of Bahrain, which Pope Francis visited last year for the "Bahrain Forum for Dialogue: East and West for Human Coexistence" (see Fides 3/11/2022), the Catholic community has about 80,000 members, almost exclusively foreign immigrants and workers, out of a population of about 1.5 million. (EG) (Fides News Agency 11/10/2023)
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