| Vitoria (Fides Service) - The archdiocese of Vitoria closed twelve months of reflection and intense activity including forum, formation, sharing of experience and other events organised for a special “Year of Mission” 2003-2004 with a Mission Congress 21-24 October. The Congress held at Vila Velha Marist College was scheduled in order to conclude on Mission Sunday 24 October. The theme of the congress was “for a missionary Church” and the slogan was “Announcing the Gospel to every creature!” About 250 local Church delegates attended the Congress. Bishop Erwin Kräutler of Xingu Territorial Prelature, Father Daniele Lagni national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Brazil and Bishop Jesus Moraza de Azùa of Làbrea Territorial Prelature gave talks on different themes with regard to the missionary nature of the Church and church communities, and missionary month and missionary organisations in Brazil .
Addressing the subject “Mystic to rediscover for missionary spirituality” Father Lagni said mission comes from God and is a gift of God. Therefore “our missionary collaboration means we must let ourselves be wrapped in this gift. To proclaim the Kingdom of God we must let this gift be seen. The only initiative of the missionary is this movement towards the heart of God One in Three”. Father Lagni said “before becoming activity, mission is contemplation and willingness to be part of God’s plan and goodness”. God takes the initiative anticipating, accompanying and bringing the mission to conclusion. Therefore “before approaching the people he wishes to evangelise the missionary must give himself to God, because mission is God’s land”.
In a paper with the title “Ways of being a Missionary Church” Bishop Kräutler spoke about local, national and ad gentes mission. The final day of the Congress, Mission Sunday was devoted to missionary testimony followed by a solemn concelebration of Mission Sunday Mass in the evening which closed this 1st archdiocesan Mission Congress. (R.Z.) (Agenzia Fides 29/10/2004; righe 26, parole 346)
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