EUROPE/SPAIN - Spanish-American Day: "Not all of our brothers and sisters in Latin America can receive the sacraments regularly"

Saturday, 6 March 2021 missionary animation  

Madrid (Agenzia Fides) - On the first Sunday in March, this year on March 7th, the Spanish-American Day, which focuses on relations with the local churches in Latin America. The day, organized by the Spanish Bishops' Conference, commemorates all missionaries, but above all the diocesan priests who set out on the missions through the Spanish American Work of Priestly Cooperation (OCSHA).
"On this day we become more and more aware that even today our brothers in Latin America sometimes have difficulties living their faith, receiving the sacraments regularly and receiving an education due to the lack of resources and people to accompany them", says Fr. José María Calderón, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies of Spain and Secretary of the Episcopal Commission for Missions and Church Cooperation, in the note sent to Agenzia Fides.
In this year's message, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, underlines that "the Covid-19 pandemic has restricted, distanced and terrified us, but we are not desperate, since the faith of the People of God looks to Heaven to survive and overcome this unprecedented trial". The Cardinal recalls that we are "all in the same boat" and wishes for "fraternal bonds, selfless cooperation, generosity and mutual care towards our Latin American brothers and sisters".
The Spanish-American Day has been celebrated in Spain for 62 years and places particular emphasis on the service carried out by Spanish diocesan priests sent to exercise their ministry in the local Churches in Latin America. Most of the Spanish missionaries are active in Latin America (68%) and there are currently 178 priests serving in Latin American dioceses through OCSHA initiatives. The Latin American country with the highest number of Spanish missionaries is Peru (47), followed by Chile (20), Venezuela (16), Ecuador (15), Brazil (12), Argentina (11), United States (9), Bolivia and Honduras (8), Cuba (6), Uruguay (5), Colombia, Guatemala, Dominican Republic (4), Puerto Rico (3), Mexico and Paraguay (2), Costa Rica and Nicaragua (1).
The Episcopal Commission for Missions and Cooperation with the Churches will provide information material and a video in which Fr José María Calderón explains the importance of this Day. The offerings collected during the holy masses this Sunday will help to support the Spanish priests in Latin America. The Mass dedicated to this Day will be broadcast on La 2 de RTVE from Santa Águeda de Veganzones (Segovia), presided over by the Bishop of Segovia, Mgr. César Franco, member of the Episcopal Commission for Missions, and concelebrated among other priests also by Father José Maria Calderón.
Veganzones is the place where the former National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Spain, Mgr. Anastasio Gil was born and buried. (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 6/3/2021)


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