EUROPE/SWITZERLAND - Towards World Mission Day: support for missionaries who "remain" and announce the Gospel in difficult situations

Saturday, 19 September 2020 world mission day pontifical mission societies evangelization missionary animation

SWITZERLAND

2023-12-22
The Star Singers visit the Federal Palace: Justice, peace and protection of Creation

2022-12-23
The Star Singers, a tradition of very ancient origin

2022-10-01
In search of witnesses of Christ, in the footsteps of Pauline Jaricot

2022-05-25
In search of today's “Pauline Jaricot”

2022-04-01
Conference of Missionary Childhood of Europe on the theme of “holiness”

2022-02-05
Star Singers are growing in French-speaking Switzerland

Friborg (Agenzia Fides) - "We will not give up and we will stay here": this phrase, repeated in different languages by about thirty men and women on mission in more than twenty-five countries, is the heart of the message contained in the video #WeAreStillHere, the result of international synergy between different national Directions of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the world, some of which have chosen to identify themselves with the name "Missio". These missionaries are and remain in mission lands, on the path with the local people, announcing and living the Gospel even in the most difficult situations. The missionaries count on the closeness and the concrete presence of the universal Church especially during missionary October. "Missio in Switzerland is part of a global network, we are connected with all communities in all parts of the world", explains to Fides deacon Martin Brunner-Artho, director of "Missio Switzerland" who participated in the #WeAreStillHere project.
Everything has changed, everything is uncertain, the pandemic is producing an epochal change, but only one thing is certain: missionaries, women and men from all over the world, will not leave the land where they were sent on mission. "We will remain here… we have always been here… and we always will be… we will continue our mission… we will not give up… because we are missionaries", explains the campaign promoted in the PMS video.
"Missionary Month of October is the time when the Catholic Church around the world gathers to celebrate and support the mission of the Church", explains Martin Brunner-Artho. World Mission Day, will be celebrated in Switzerland on October 18 with special attention paid to the Church of Guinea-Conakry, in West Africa, and to its pastoral and social commitment.
Missio Switzerland recalls the role of the laity in the ecclesial community, both in Switzerland and in the Guinean one. As part of the national campaign to promote the Missionary Month, Missio Switzerland has made 12 short videos in which men and women of Italian-speaking Switzerland say what it means for them "to be missionaries, baptized and sent". The theme of the Pope's message for World Mission Day echoes in their words: "Here I am, send me". (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 18/9/2020)