Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Madrid (Agenzia Fides) - For the Church in Spain the first Sunday in March (this year March 4) is Latin America Day promoted by the Spanish Bishops’ Commission for Missions and Cooperation among Churches to recall the relations of missionary cooperation with the local Churches in the countries of Latin America. The theme this year "Called to be Disciples and Missionaries in America", is drawn from the important Church event to be held in Brazil in May, the 5th General Conference of the Council of Latin American Bishops’ Conferences, CELAM.
In the presentation of a pamphlet issued for Latin America Day 2007, Missions Commission president Bishop Ramón del Hoyo of Jaen, writes “the Spanish Church’s concern for evangelisation in Latin America is as lively as ever…our dioceses continue to respond in every season with missionary cooperation”, mainly but not only in Latin America “because for historical reasons of culture and language, we have always given special attention to our Sisters Churches in those countries”.
The pamphlet contains a message for the Day sent by the president of the Pope’s Commission for Latin America Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re; a reflection on the Day’s theme by Bishop Amadeo Rodríguez Magro Plasencia; suggestions for a special celebration of Mass; catechesis for adults; testimonials and documentation on the life of priest members of OCSHA (Obra de Cooperación Sacerdotal Hispanoamericana). In his message Cardinal Re thanks Spanish Catholics for supporting evangelisation in Latin America for over 500 years encouraging them to continue with ever greater zeal to help missionary activity on the “continent of hope”, “hope, he said, motivated by invincible faith”, with prayers, material aid and above all participation in missionary work.
According to the Spanish Bishops’ Commission for Missions, Spain has no less than 898 diocesan priests on mission. Of these 368 are members of OCSHA (Obra de Cooperación Sacerdotal Hispanoamericana) and the remaining 530 are sent on mission by their respective Bishops. The following dioceses offer the greatest number of missionaries: Madrid 77, Burgos 58, Pamplona-Tudela 50 and Toledo 46. The 898 priests are distributed by continent as follows: Africa 76 Asia 22 and America 800 and about half of these are in five countries Peru 127, United States 88, Brazil 74, Ecuador 52 and Argentina 51.
This year on 4th March OCSHA is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Ordination of the first of its members who left Spain to collaborate with local Churches in Lain America. Some are still helping to spread the Gospel in those lands. Since the association was formed it has sent more than 2,300 priests on mission to America. To mark the occasion national television will broadcast a special Mass from the Parish of Nuestra Senora delle Indie, in Madrid, presided by Bishop Ramón del Hoyo. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 23/2/2007; righe 38, parole 514)
