Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Tarija (Agenzia Fides) - Some 140 young people from all over the Los Valles region took part in the 1st Regional Mission Congress in 25 to 30 September in Tarija (Bolivia) organised by the Bishops' Mission Commission and the national office of the Pontifical Mission Societies. The los Valles region includes the archdiocese of Cochabamba e Sucre, the dioceses of Potosí and Tarija, and the Prelature of Aiquile. The event was one of a series of Regional Mission Congress all over Bolivia to encourage and intensify mission activity. The principal objective was to share experience of missionary activities in parishes, communities and local Churches, understand the present situation and identify the challenges facing the Missionary Church. During the Congress the young participants launched concrete proposals to intensify missionary commitment and preparation for CAM-3 in Ecuador in 2008.
In his homily at the opening Mass of the Congress, Bishop Javier del Río of the diocese of Tarija, explained these meetings are being organised in Bolivia "to reflect on how we are missionaries: unless we are missionaries we cannot be Christians, because to be a missionary is part of our being Christians". He recalled that “we cannot be missionaries unless we are disciples” and " missionaries do not keep God's gift for themselves and live happily with God's gift, they give them it others".
Conclusions presented at the end of the Congress included: personal and community encounter with Christ is a fundamental priority for mission; realise "we are the Missionary Church" and we are called to be more radical in living mission; consolidate Missionary Regional Mission Groups for mission in the different regions; form " diocesan mission teams" of priests, religious and lay people to encourage missionary activity in their respective diocese; open diocesan " Missionary Formation Centres” for pastoral workers; start mission “ad intra” in the dioceses of Missionary Regions of Altopiano, Valle and Oriente; ask parishes to form mission groups and seminaries, formation houses for women religious to increase awareness of every Christian's missionary responsibility. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 3/10/2007; righe 27, parole 372)
