Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Aachen/Munich (Fides Service) – The 2003 October mission campaign launched by the Pontifical Mission Societies in Germany has been planned to fit the framework of the Year of the Bible being celebrated in local Churches throughout the country. The theme of the campaign is “Trusting in the Word” and its aim is to illustrate the situation of Catholics in the Philippines.
During the month of October Catholics and missionaries from the Philippines travel through the dioceses to explain their missionary commitment to defend human rights and protect creation. The example of the Philippines also wishes to demonstrate the importance of the Word of God in the Christian communities in that country for spirituality lived daily. The campaign leaflet explains: “Since the path of mission is not one way, we can learn from Christian communities in Asia how to help our parishes grow” .
The PMS campaign opened on 3 October with Mass in Cologne cathedral presided by the Archbishop, Cardinal Joachim Meissner, and it will close with the Mission collection on Mission Sunday which in Germany is celebrated on the last Sunday, this year 26th , instead of the penultimate Sunday in October. During the month initiatives in dioceses will be accompanied by concerts given by the Chamber Choir of the Plawan centre for the Arts, Puerto Princesa City. The young choristers see their activity as a mission and service for Church and country.
The missionary campaign will be integrated by two initiatives: one for children with the theme “Come with me and I will show you the Philippines” and the other for young people “Witnesses Wanted!” “We are convinced the mission today faces a new beginning with a vision which can given men and women of the new millennium meaning and orientation for the future. In this missionary month with our campaign, which has the motto “Trusting the Word” we want to call German parishes to follow these visions” say the two national Directors Father Hermann Schalück ofm, Aachen (missio Aachen), and Mons. Konrad Lachenmayr Munich (missio München) in a letter joint letter for Mission Sunday. See Mission Sunday Poster
(MS) (Fides Service 13/10/2003 – 33 lines,402 words)
