Guatemala City (Fides Service) - Throughout America preparation continues for CAM 2, the all American Mission Congress to be held in Guatemala in November this year, 2003. Last month, February, in Managua, Nicaragua, the CAM Central Committee had a Third Central American Meeting with pastoral delegates and diocesan directors of mission. The meeting was chaired by the newly appointed Bishop of Tilaran in Costa Rica, Comboni Mission Bishop Vittorino Girardi, a well known mission expert. The aim of the meeting was to reflect, with the help of the Document issued by the Fourth General Conference of the Latin American Bishops in Santo Domingo 1992, on the situation with regard to mission awareness and commitment and to identify ways and means of strengthening mission spirit. Bishop Girardi said that awareness of the need of responsibility for mission ad gentes is still limited: missionary activity is rarely mentioned in catechesis or pastoral planning or lay apostolate. He stressed that the Church is missionary by her very nature and that all Christians have a duty to share the treasure of their faith because faith is strengthened when it is given to others. Bishop Girardi recalled that mission has its origin in the mystery of the Trinity and every effort must be made to foster a spirit of mission among Catholics, to encourage missionary vocations and the necessary structures. By way of conclusion the Bishop recalled that an authentic spirit of mission is born in hearts who have encountered the living Christ and commit themselves to bearing witness to him with their style of life. RZ (Fides Service 12/3/2003 EM lines 22 Words: 267)