EUROPE/SPAIN - WORLD MISSION SUNDAY: INTENSE PREPARATION IN PARISHES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY: “MISSION AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE LIFE OF EVERY BAPTISED CHRISTIAN”

Madrid (Fides Service ) – Material for Mission Sunday prepared by the Pontifical Mission Societies in Spain included catechesis for children of various age groups diverse; a guide for a prayer vigil and special Mission Sunday Mass; the official Spanish Mission Sunday prayer, suggestions for the mission animation in the missionary month of October; reflections on World Mission Sunday slogan chosen by the PMS in Spain “With Mary, called to Mission” by Bishop Francisco Perez, Osma-Soria who is national director of the PMS and a comment on the Pope’s Mission Sunday message by Mgr Juan Esquerda Bifet who teaches at Urban University in Rome. Besides this material PMS Spain prepared Posters “With Mary, called to Mission” and stickers of various sizes with “The Rosary Gospel prayer”; a CD with Mission Sunday hymn 2003 interviews with Bishop Francisco Pérez and Sr Gustavo Maria, Missionary of Charity and Fr Laureano Rojo, Comboni provincial dei Comboniani in Spain; videos: for adults “Searching for your mother” (35 minutes); for children: “I the Brothers of Achacachi” (15 With Mary, called to Minutes). Various Spanish dioceses prepare for Mission Sunday with meetings for reflection and other initiatives organised by the diocesan office of the Pontifical Mission Societies.
(R.Z.) (Fides Service 18/10/2003)