Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Quito (Agenzia Fides) - At least 1,000 college students will take part in Mission Ecuador 2006 1-10 September with activities of evangelisation and social assistance organised for the third consecutive year by Loja Technical College (UTPL). The aim of the initiative, launched as a ten year plan, is to encourage young people to put their talents and professional knowledge at the service of people in need.
The Mission slogan is "Spreading God’s Love to Transform Ecuador" inspired by the Encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI Deus Caritas est. The initiative is open to all young people in Latin America and people in general who wish to live an experience of self-giving for love of Christ. Last year’s Mission Ecuador 2005 brought participants from Mexico, Chile and Peru. On that occasion 500 young people visited 3,840 families to share with them the message of Christ and offer them basic notions on health, human rights and farming…to help overcome widespread poverty in this part of the world. During the Mission 2006 the young participants will visit the poorest areas of 22 provinces in Ecuador.
Mission Ecuador 2006 was officially launched on 12 May at the UTPL College Campus. Prayers were said for the success of the initiative and the students were encouraged to collect food to distribute during the mission.
The Mission is the answer to a specific request of students who had lived a similar local experience and wanted to go on mission all over the country. In the past the department for university pastoral organised several missions for evangelisation and human and social promotion in the provinces of Loja and Zamora. Seeing the growing numbers of young participants the organisers decided to extend the initiative to the national level.
The organisers wrote to the Bishops of Ecuador informing them of the initiative and asking them to indicate the most suitable area for such a Mission. Other national Catholic universities were contacted and invited to take part. The aim is to carry the Good News to people in the most remote and poorest areas and to help them improve their living conditions. In fact the mission includes social programmes in which the students put their qualifications and expertise at the service of the brothers and sisters. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 29/8/2006; righe 35, parole 456)
