EUROPE/SPAIN - "Saint Francis Xavier and Mission in the 21st Century": 59th Missiology Week starts in Burgos as part of celebrations for the 500th anniversary of the birth of the patron saint of the missions

Burgos (Agenzia Fides) - ‘Saint Francis Xavier and Mission in the 21st Century’ is the theme of the 59th Missiology Week which starts today 17 July in Burgos, Spain. The 5 day event, part of celebrations for the 500th anniversary of the birth of Saint Francis Xavier patron saint of the missions, is organised by the Burgos Theology Faculty, the Spanish Bishops Commission for Missions, the Pontifical Mission Societies in Spain, the Spanish Institute for Foreign Missions IEME and Joint Mission Animation Service
The Week will open with a welcome address by Archbishop of Burgos, Francisco Gil Hellín, followed by talk on “Asia, a Call to Mission” by Sr. Aida Rodrigues, superior of the Sisters of Jesus Christ.
Reflection during the week will be guided by the following conferences: “ Francis Xavier Theological-Missiological Context” (Eloy Bueno de la Fuente, director of Missionary Institute of Burgos Theology Faculty); "Evangelisation in Asia: test for the Church in the third millennium" (Santiago Saiz González, Dominican missionary in Korea); “The missionary activity of Francis Xavier” (IEME director José Antonio Izco Ilundáin); "Challenge of Evangelisation in China" (Antonio Bravo, Bishops’ delegate to Caritas Spain); “Spirituality of Francis Xavier” (Carlos Collantes Díez, Xaverian missionary in Pamplona); "Gerardo Villota: on the path of mission " (José Manuel Madruga, editor of "Misiones Extranjeras” Foreign Missions magazine).
Rev. Anastasio Gil García, head of the office of the Spanish Bishops’ Missions Commission and vice director of Pontifical Mission Societies Spain will present "Action Plan adopted by Spanish Bishops’ Mission Commission". Luis Pérez, Xaverian missionary, and Mª Purificación López Ortiz, Javeriana Institute in Madrid will speak on " Javerianos charisma today ", Mission Delegations from Cordoba and Ciudad Real will illustrate "Experience of Missionary Animation”.
The Week will conclude on Friday 21 July with a pilgrimage to Javier, Navarra, and a special Mass presided by the apostolic nuncio to Spain Archbishop Manuel Monteiro de Castro. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 17/7/2006; righe 28, parole 328)