Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - Ongoing formation for priests is a major concern for the Church in Pakistan. This emerged during a Seminar for Priests organised 22-26 January Lahore by the national office of the Pontifical Mission Societies in collaboration with the Pakistan Bishops’ Commission for the Clergy.
In the opening address Commission president Bishop Evarist Pinto thanked the priests for coming from all over the country and urged them to find a little time for cultural and spiritual formation every day in between their pastoral commitments. The Seminar was planned by national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Pakistan Fr Mario Rodriguez, who explained to the participants how a priest can be a missionary.
Fr. Francis Gulzar spoke on the Biblical concept of Mission and evangelisation from Abraham to Moses and the Prophets and then to the experience of the apostles of Jesus. Another talk, on the nature and activity of the Pontifical Mission Societies, was followed by group discussion focussed on three questions: What is my baptismal obligation to the mission of the Church, Where do I find it difficult to be a real missionary, How is my life effected by the spreading Christ’s message.
Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha of Lahore president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan, who presided a concelebration of Mass, reminded the priests that ‘going out to evangelise is part of the priestly ministry’.
Fr. John Murad spoke on Tribal Mission in Pakistan. He said that there are about forty tribes throughout Pakistan but only four tribes have been catechised by the Catholic Church. He then spoke of each tribe in detail and the difficulties and problems they face and he gave a few suggestions for tribal Missions.
The seminar was an opportunity for the participants to learn more about mission in their country in many different contexts. At the end of the seminary Archbishop Saldanha encouraged the Pontifical Mission Societies to continue along this important line of missionary formation for priests and urged the priests to become more missionaries with every passing day. (PA) (Agenzia fides 29/1/2007 righe 29 parole 290)
