EUROPE/SPAIN - Next Sunday annual Day “Madrid with its missionaries” with the slogan: " Diocesan Church, Missionary Family"

Madrid (Agenzia Fides) - Sunday 28 May the archdiocese of Madrid will mark the annual Day Madrid with its Missionaries 2006 which this year has the slogan “Diocesan Church, Missionary Family”. For the occasion Cardinal Archbishop of Madrid Antonio Mª Rouco Varala expressed to missionaries his "affection and closeness and that of the whole diocesan community, thanking the Lord of the harvest for your lives and your vocations ".
Cardinal Rouco, in a letter to missionaries from Madrid mentioned two important events: “The World Meeting for Families in Valencia presided by Pope Benedict XVI. A very great grace from God at a time in which the family (…) is viciously attacked from many sides”; the “celebration of the 5th Centenary of the birth of the patron of the missions Francis Xavier", “an extraordinary example to follow and powerful intercessor”. In the homily as Special Envoy for the commemoration of the Spanish missionary, the Cardinal recalled the words of John Paul II when he visited Javier Castle the saint’s birthplace on 6 November 1982 and encouraged Christian families to follow the example of the illustrious Navarra family: "Christian families… look at the edifying life of the parents of Javier, especially his mother, who made their home an exemplary domestic church”.
Preparation for the annual Day ‘Madrid with its Missionaries’ consists of three missionary animation Conferences organised by the Madrid Council of Missions. On Sunday 28 May, a special Mass will be presided Our Lady of Almudena Cathedral presided by Cardinal Rouco Varela, with the sending of missionaries and the consigning of the missionary cross. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 26/5/2006; righe 24, parole 311)