AMERICA/HONDURAS - PMS Guide for Missionary Animation: “a didactic tool in helping our baptized faithful to grow in their faith, open their hearts to their neighbor, and commit their lives in solidarity.”

Tegucigalpa (Agenzia Fides) – “As head of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Honduras, I am counting on you to do all you can in fulfilling the wishes of our Holy Father, of animating and forming the missionary spirit of the People of God, through study, prayer, festivities, and offerings from the People of God...” says Fr. Raul Corriveau, National Director of the PMS, in the guide prepared by his office for World Missions Day. The theme in the country this year is: “The Word of God, source of life for the missionary disciple.” Various events have led to this theme being chosen. Firstly, there is the Year of Saint Paul, which presents Paul as “model of apostolic commitment” and gives us the opportunity to “become familiar with this great apostle, who in an extraordinary manner received the mission to preach the Gospel to those who did not know God.” The second event is the Third American Missionary Congress (CAM 3), celebrated August 12-17 in Quito (Ecuador) and the third event, is the Synod of Bishops taking place October 5-26, which will “strengthen the practice of encounter with the Word of God as the source of life in every aspect of our lives.”
With the publication of the Missionary Guide, they hope to accompany the faithful and offer them material for living the Missionary Month and celebrating World Missions Day this coming October 19. Firstly, they offer recourses for discovering the theological-pastoral content of the message written by His Holiness Benedict XVI. It is a “brief and simple message; however, one with a theological content focused on the mission, that the baptized person should be familiar with.” Thus, the guide contains a work instrument on the Message from the Pope. The guide also offers several themes on the missionary dimension that should include all Christian life. “We hope it will be a didactical instrument that can help all those assisting our baptized faithful to grow in their faith, open their hearts to their neighbor, and commit their lives in solidarity, beyond our country’s borders.” In fact, the guide has missionary themes for children, youth, families, the sick, in addition to the readings, etc for the Mass for World Missions Day, the celebration of a missionary holy hour, and an explanation of the Missionary Rosary.
According to the National Director, in the presentation of the guide, it is not intended for the general public, but rather for those who have some pastoral responsibility, in such a manner that the priests, their collaborators, religious, and pastoral agents “may have a working instrument to help Christians to live the Missionary Month and celebrate World Missions Day, in union with all our brethren on the planet.” However, it has been thought of only for the celebration of the missionary month, or for a particular feast, but “in order to form ourselves as baptized faithful, with the goal of renewing or awakening our missionary awareness and then acting in our daily life, in accord with our convictions.”
Fr. Raul also recalls another important event for the Church in Honduras: the celebration of the Holy Childhood Association’s 20th anniversary in November. “During the last two decades, HCA has sown the mission in the hearts of many girls and boys in our country. Today, they are the youth actively committed in the missionary life of their parish.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 13/10/2008)