Częstochowa (Fides Service) - The 5th National Missionary Childhood Congress Pontifical Mission Societies in Poland is being held 28 and 29 May at Jasna Gora, Częstochowa. The theme of the congress is "Carrying love to the Whole World". News of the event was sent to Fides by National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Poland Rev. Jan Piotrowski, who assured us Missionary Childhood children have prepared for the event with enthusiasm and joy for a long time
The congress will start this evening 28 May with two conferences : "Missionary Childhood History and 160th Anniversary" and "Our Commitment to Missionary Childhood following the message from Pope John Paul II".
A special moment of the Congress will be the sending of children missionaries. The children will receive a candle as a symbol of the Light of Christ to carry to the world which they will use at Pentecost and on Mission Sunday. On Saturday 29 there will be Mass presided by Bishop Piotr Libera, secretary of the Polish Bishops’ Conference.
During the Congress the names will be announced of the winning entries in a painting competition to mark the 160th anniversary of Missionary Childhood. There will also be a collection in aid of children in Papua New Guinea, as agreed with the Secretary General of Missionary Childhood Rev Patrick Byrne. “The 4th national Missionary Childhood Congress in Poland held in 2002 brought together 35,000 children from all over the country. This year we hope for an even larger crowd ” Father Jan told Fides. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 28/5/2004; Righe 21; Parole 255)