New York (Fides Service) – The delegation of the Church in the United States to the second American Mission Congress in Guatemala, is composed of 75 members. Father John Kozar, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies tells Fides that the delegation will be led by Cardinal Theodore MacCarrick, Archbishop of Washington and seven other bishops including Bishop Gregory Aymond, President of the US Bishops’ World Mission Committee. Other delegates are Pontifical Mission Societies diocesan directors, religious men and women of various missionary institutes involved in ad gentes mission. The delegates come from dioceses in every state including Alaska, represented by the Bishop of Juneau, who has served as a missionary in Central America. States with large Spanish speaking communities have sent the largest number of delegates California and Florida, New York and New Jersey.
Given the size of the country there were no preparatory meetings Father Kozar said. But they were all co-ordinated by the World Mission Committee of the United States Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the National Office of the Pontifical Mission Societies. Printed material, bulletins, leaflets etc on CAM2 were distributed all over the country, and in many dioceses special prayers were said at Sunday Masses for a fruitful CAM 2. (R G) (Fides Service 21/11/2003 – lines 18; words 238)