Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) – “The missionary month of October always begins a new path in our Christian communities, in fact it marks the start of a new pastoral following the liturgical year. For some years now the Italian office of the Pontifical Mission Societies has proposed missionary formation itineraries to accompany the faithful throughout the year and therefore to flank ordinary parish pastoral. We do this to ensure that Italian church communities breathe the Church’s mission all the year round ” said Mons Giuseppe Andreozzi, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Italy who told Fides about his work: “These proposals wish to help increase awareness, to help the missionary dimension take root in the daily life of every person, to free it from the pen of marginalisation and specialisation. The formation we propose aims to help communities in their articulation and globality to overcome the temptation to close in on themselves, to be self reliant. If the people of God are permeated with the Spirit of Christ, the one sent by the Father, through constant and not occasional missionary formation, then we will have Christian communities adult in the faith, courageous in witness, ready to shoulder responsibility for proclamation and new evangelisation”.
“The theme chosen for Mission Sunday and for the whole year 2003/2004 is “A Home for everyone”, which takes inspiration from the Prophet Isaiah 56,7. The aim is to orient decisively ecclesial communities and groups to life in communion so that they become ever more authentic homes of communion for all peoples; a place of welcome, sharing, proclamation. Material prepared by the National Office for missionary animation of this pastoral year on this common theme is different for each age group: Parish communities “A home for everyone”; children with the same title; pre-adolescents “World Home sweet Home”; for adolescents and youth “No windows no Doors”; lastly for priests, deacons, seminarians, religious men and women “One land, one people one home”. The Material consisting of Gospel passages, reflection, formation, catechesis, missionary testimony, suggestions for activity etc opens with ample space dedicated to the animation of the mission month of October and World Mission Sunday. For the occasion we also prepared as usual posters, collection boxes, suggestions for a Prayer vigil, the Pope Message and the tests of the Missionary Rosary.” For more information see www.fids.org SL (Fides Service 14/10/2003 EM lines 32 Words: 428)
