Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
New Delhi (Agenzia Fides) – Preparations continue for the first Indian Missionary Congress, set to take place in Bombay, October 14-18, 2009. The preparations are already underway: all the dioceses are working to prepare reflections, suggestions, and projects that can be included in the preparatory document of the Congress, which will enumerate the challenges and proposals for the mission in the vast Indian nation. Each diocese will hold a meeting for the Missions Commission, examining the relationship between the clergy and the mission, religious and the mission, and the laity and the mission.
The event is entitled: “Yesu Mahotsav (Jesus Festival) – Let your light shine.” The Congress has been organized in the spirit of the Asian Missionary Congress and hope to update and contextualize the indications and challenges that arose in the great event celebrated in Thailand in 2006.
The Organization Committee is in contact with the Pontifical Mission Societies in India, which have alerted all diocesan offices as to the preparation of a list for the entire national territory.
Funding for the Congress will be promoted during Lent with special collections in all the parishes, schools, associations, institutions, and religious congregations: Sunday, March 1 is the day on which all the offerings collected by the faithful will be presented to the Congress' organization committee.
“Evangelization is not one of the Church's tasks, it is her only task,” organizers say, explaining that the Congress will be an opportunity to increase missionary awareness among the Church in India. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 13/2/2009)
