Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Quito (Agenzia Fides) - Preparations continue for the 3rd American Mission Congress CAM 3 to be held next year in Quito, Ecuador 12 - 17 August, according to CAM 3 executive secretary Osvaldo Fierro Terán. During a meeting in February, diocesan directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Ecuador approved a national mission animation support programme; identified lines of national and diocesan cooperation to promote awareness and participation in CAM 3; agreed to plan and hold CAM 3 Pre-congresses in the local Churches and identified criteria to choose CAM 3 participants. At the same meeting the diocesan directors were asked to examine and evaluate a 1st draft of a CAM 3 working paper and to make proposals and suggestions.
PMS National Directors from all over Latin America meeting in March in Lima were also presented with the draft working-paper with the same request to examine and make suggestions and proposals. The Paper is the result of almost two years of work on the part of a Theological Commission on the basis of various contributions and input. At present a Commission is working on a second draft which will presented to the CAM3 central commission, the Bishops’ Conference of Ecuador and to the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples. The working paper treats the three main themes of CAM 3: Pentecost: community carried by the Spirit; Discipleship: disciple community of Jesus; Evangelisation: missionary community for humanity; and two secondary dimensions: biblical, theological, missiological and missionary pastoral. The final draft should be ready for presentation in August at the 2nd international symposium on missiology in view of distribution throughout the continent.
March 30 was the deadline for a continental CAM 3 poster and hymn competition organised by the Congress preparatory commission. To foster mission awareness and participation in CAM 3, two handbooks prepared by the CAM 3 executive secretariat in a missionary key are being distributed to young people all over Latin America.
In view of the important event in their next plenary assembly the Bishops of Ecuador will reflect on the “Missionary Dimension of the Church" with the following conferences: "The Church’s missionary activity in Ecuador of yesterday" (Card. Antonio González Zumarraga, honorary president of the Bishops’ Conference and president of the CAM3 central commission; " The Church’s missionary activity in Ecuador of today" (Bisop Néstor Herrera of the diocese of Machala president of the Ecuadorian Bishops’ Conference); "The mission dimension in the Particular Church " (Archbishop Luis Augusto Castro Quiroga of Tunja, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Colombia); "Ad Gentes missionary dimension, in Evangelii Nuntiandi and in Redemptoris Missio" (Bishop Rafael Cob, Apostolic Vicar of Puyo). (RG) (Agenzia Fides 11/4/2007; righe 39, parole 500)
