Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) - This morning 16 March Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples (CEP), presided a special Mass in the chapel of Propaganda Fide, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Portuguese Mission Society Missionários dà Boa Nova. Concelebrants were PIME Missionary Father Massimo Cenci, CEP Under Secretary, Father Antonio José da Rocha Couto Superior General of the Missionários dà Boa Nova and 10 priests members of the society. A large number of lay members of the Society were also present.
In his homily Cardinal Sepe said that the 75th anniversary of the Society was a “reason for jubilation and special thanksgiving also for our Congregation”. He underlined the importance of the mission which the Lord entrusted to his Church “obedient to the command and propelled by the charity of the Holy Spirit, she announces Christ and bear witnesses to Him to all men and women all over the world". This was the original inspiration of the Society and - the Cardinal said - “this is the reason for your apostolic labour of the past and of the future to which you continue to be called”. The Cardinal quoted Pope John Paul II’s latest book "Memory and Identity": "In her mission received from Christ the Church must be tireless. She must be humble and courageous like Christ and his disciples...When accused in various ways, for example of proselytising, she must not be discouraged. The imperative to proclaim the Word of God is born of the knowledge that there is no other name, under heaven given to mankind except the name of Christ, by which we can be saved. He reminds us of the ‘sublime vocation and grave responsibility to make the proclamation of the Good News resound with joy, stressing that we find the strength for his commitment in the Sacrament of the Eucharist which must have a central place in the life of every individual and every community”. Lastly Card. Sepe urged the missionary present: "to continue to carry the Good News of Salvation to all men and women, to the ends of the earth."
The “Missionários dà Boa Nova” is a society of Apostolic Life whose members are clergy and lay men involved in missionary activity. Its charisma is evangelisation. It was founded on 3 October 1930 at the request of Portuguese Bishops who felt the need to direct the Church in Portugal to work in the missions. Today is has 130 members, priests and lay persons, in Portugal, Mozambique, Brazil, Angola, Zambia and, since 1998, in Japan.
Tomorrow Fides will publish and interview with the Superior General of the Missionários dà Boa Nova, Fr. Antonio José da Rocha Couto. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 16/3/2005; righe 26; parole 346)
