Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Buenos Aires (Agenzia Fides) – On February 2, 2009, the 27th John Paul II Missiology Course began in the National Headquarters of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Argentina, according to a report sent to Agenzia Fides from Sister Mariel Robledo, HJ National Secretary for the Propagation of the Faith. The Opening Mass was presided by the Archbishop of Buenos Aires and President of the Bishops' Conference of Argentina, Cardinal Jorge M. Bergoglio, SJ. In his homily, the Cardinal mentioned that “today's feast reminds us of how Jesus went out to the encounter of His people, manifesting Himself to them, as they awaited Him and today He waits for us to go out to meet Him. Encountering Christ and being encountered by the Lord, this is the intense experience had by Saint Paul, whom the Lord “stopped in his path.” Jesus comes out to meet his people and defines our activity as missionary disciples. Jesus does not call us to stay in our house, but to go out – not to spread ideas or plans, but to take Christ to others. He calls us to be bearers of Christ.”
Fr. Osvaldo P. Leone, National Director of the PMS, gave the welcome address to all those present at the Course, from Argentina as well as from Colombia, Bolivia, and Venezuela. He thanked his team of National Secretaries from the 4 Missionary Societies, who accompany and support each of the activities, along with the PMS personnel. He especially thanked Victorina Ramos, the coordinator of the Missiology Center. The Missiology Course is at the service of the missionary formation of laity, priests, and religious. It depends directly from the Pontifical Missionary Union, whose objective is to offer missionary formation to pastoral care workers. The National Secretary of this Society is currently Fr. Dante De Sanzzi, priest of the Diocese of San Justo.
There are nearly 60 students who spend three weeks at the national headquarters, studying, praying, and reflecting on missionary themes. Each of the course topics will be given by a qualified professor. The teachers this year are: Msgr. Julio D. Botia Aponte; Fr. Carlos A. Taubenschlag, Fr. José D. Jiménez; Fr. Hugo R. Safa; Fr. Pedro Brassesco; Fr. Robert E. Mosher; Fr. Luís A. Lahitou.
The missionary training that the participants will receive in these three weeks will be complemented by other workshops on key topics like “communications media,” “sects,” etc. which are of great importance in missionary life in the Americas. Lastly, there will be a missionary service/testimony experience held in one of the poorest and most needy areas in the Buenos Aires region, which is one of the 8 largest pastoral regions of Argentina. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 05/02/2009)
