Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
San Salvador (Agenzia Fides) - The Church in Salvador will hold its 1st National Mission Congress next year 16 - 18 May on the theme "The Parish, a missionary community" with the slogan "Missionary Parish without Frontiers", the national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in El Salvador Fr. José Norberto told Fides.
The purpose of the Congress is to increase missionary awareness and commitment among Catholics in San Salvador at the parish and diocesan level and to encourage activity of mission ad gentes. More in detail the objectives include: study and draft a plan of missionary formation; plan missionary congresses or meetings at the parish and diocesan level; identify ways of instilling a mission spirit in ordinary pastoral work.
The 1st National Mission Congress hopes to achieve: mission congresses in all eight diocese; bring together 1,800 delegates from dioceses, national commissions, national councils of apostolic movements to reflect on how to promote the missionary dimension in every area of pastoral care; publish interventions during the Congress for further study after the congress; form an inter-diocesan team to implement the Congress conclusions and resolutions.
Fr. Norberto, said preparations for the Congress have already begun with the formation of various commissions: a commission to build awareness among the clergy with visits to the different dioceses to present the congress and enlist support; a commission to prepare material for reflection on the theme of the congress; a secretariat for correspondence and archive activity; a media commission to advertise the congress. A central co-ordination body, chaired by Bishop Rodrigo O. Cuéllar Cabrera, president of the Commission for Missions of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Salvador, will supervise and assist the work of the various commissions. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 15/6/2007; righe 26, parole 320)
