Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Administrative Council of the Populorum Progressio Foundation will meet from 20 - 23 July to deliberate the financing of projects in support of poor indigenous, mixed race, African-American, and rural communities of Latin America and the Caribbean. According to a communique made public today, it is emphasized that "this is the first time that the annual meeting of the Administrative Council is being held in a Caribbean country, a geographical area with significant cores of African-American and rural communities".
On 20 July in the Cathedral of Santo Domingo a solemn celebration will be presided by Cardinal Nicolás de Jesús López, Archbishop of Santo Domingo and on 21 Archbishop Alberto Taveira of Belem do Para, Brazil, will preside a celebration of the Eucharist at the parish church of Santa Monica run by the Augustinian Fathers. On 22 July the delegation will make a visit to Haiti, planned earlier before the earthquake this year, where they will visit homeless people living in camps run by the Catholic Church and in one camp celebrate Mass with the local Church in Haiti. In the afternoon at the Apostolic Nunciature, there will be a meeting representatives of humanitarian organisations working in the country and a visit to Caritas Haiti. On this occasion the President of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes, will present, on behalf of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, a gift of US$ 250,000, the first instalment of funds for the project of rebuilding the Saint Francois de Sales School in Port-au-Prince, which was destroyed during the earthquake. He will also deliver, again in the name of the Holy Father, an offering to Caritas Haiti.
This year, 230 projects pertaining to 20 countries have been presented. They will meet needs in various areas: production (agricultural and livestock, craftwork and micro-business); community infrastructures (clean water, latrines, community halls); education (training, school equipment, publications); health (preventative campaigns, medical equipment for dispensaries); and construction (educational and health centres). (SL) (Agenzia Fides 16/7/2010)
