Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Czestochowa (Agenzia Fides) - "Do not be afraid to be saints": this expression of Blessed John Paul II was the theme of the Second Congress of Missionary Childhood of the Archdiocese in Czestochowa, which was held on June 14 at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary, in Myszków Mrzyglód (see Fides 26/05/2011), which was attended by more than 2 000 children of different groups of children and young missionaries that refer to Missionary Childhood. According to information received by Fides, the Congress was attended by all the leaders of the Pontifical Mission Societies of the Archdiocese, along with the Diocesan Director, Jacek Gancarek, and Don Bogdan Michalski, national Secretary of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith and Pontifical Society of St. Peter the Apostle.
The Mass of thanksgiving for the beatification of John Paul II was presided by His Exc. Mgr. Stanislaw Nowak, Archbishop of Czestochowa. Some missionary priests concelebrated in Ecuador, Cameroon, Oceania, Papua New Guinea. The liturgy was animated by the musical group "Promyczki dobra" ("rays of goodness"). In his homily, Mgr. Nowak underlined that "the missionaries play an important role in the proclamation of the Gospel, and many times also offer their lives for the Gospel of Christ". The Archbishop then asked the children to always pray for missionaries, because "with your prayers you become small missionaries". During the Congress missionary catechesis on the theme "With John Paul II we learn to become saints", was presented and there was the opening of an exhibition dedicated to the missions of the Church. The first Childhood Congress of the Archdiocese of Czestochowa was held in 1999. (MF / SL) (Agenzia Fides 15/06/2011)
