Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Buenos Aires (Agenzia Fides) - Some 50 diocesan directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Argentina met in early March for the annual meeting in Buenos Aires, the National Director Fr Jairo Calderón Benavides reported to Fides. Present also Bishop Vicente Conejero head of the Bishops’ Conference mission commission.
The meeting focused on the contents of the 3rd National Mission Congress to be held 18 - 20 August at San Nicolás de los Arroyos (see Fides 29/3/2007) with the slogan " Pentecost continues, Argentina hears and responds". In his address Fr Jairo Calderón Benavides outlined briefly the first two congresses, Santa Rosa, La Pampa, 1997 and Mar de Plata 2002 and preparations for this 3rd Congress; preparations for the 3rd all America Mission Congress in 2008 in Quito Ecuador; a PMS financial report for 2006. It was established that the meeting next year will be held 4-5 March. Fr. Jairo, said the meeting was an opportunity “to give new impulse to our lives as evangelisers and disciples and to take on the challenge of the new paradigms mission today”.
Fr Adrián Santarelli secretary of the local St Peter’s Apostle office reported on a national meeting for Delegates of 25 diocesan Mission Groups 24 and 25 March at the PMS head office, convoked by the Argentinean Bishops’ Commission for Mission and the national office for Propagation for the Faith. Fr. José Luís Quijano presented the Working Paper of the 3rd National Mission Congress, contents and methodology. "Each delegate made a rich contribution" Fr. Adrián said. "Here in Argentina theses groups are a solid reality a demonstration of the missionary vitality of our diocesan Churches. These mission groups of lay people, religious and clergy, promote mission awareness in remote areas in specific parts of the year and also in the form of permanent formation". Fr Adrián said more than 600 groups are registered with the national Propagation for the Faith office. Many are formed in parishes, or movements, association. Two other important moments of the meeting were the presentation and examination of a national survey to serve as a vases for the National Mission Congress and the testimony of a married couple and three children who has just returned after two years mission in Angola. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 31/3/2007; righe 36, parole 509)
