Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Burgos (Fides Service) – “The command given by Jesus ‘go into the whole world an teach the Gospel’ is the most important and we must all be aware that this is a task for all Christians. An experience, which is not communicated, is dead. The Church is not an NGO. It is good to work for solidarity, brotherhood but what is most important is mission, the proclamation of Christ. This is why the Congress will help all believers to be more missionary and to support generously those on missionary in other lands to proclaim the Gospel”. Bishop Francisco Pérez González, of Osma-Soria national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Spain said this to Fides Service on the eve of the National Mission Congress which will open on Thursday 18 September.
The Congress, organised by the Bishops’ Commission for Mission and Cooperation among Churches, is “part of the Spanish Bishops five year plan which affirms that one of the priorities for the Church in SPAIN is to give new impulse to mission”. The main objective of the Congress is “to increase awareness of the importance of mission and evangelisation of the world”.
“The Congress - Bishop Pérez tells Fides – is held in Burgos as a mark of gratitude for the 2.000 missionaries, about 10% of Spain’s missionaries, offered by the diocese at this moment. Moreover this diocese has always given great important to mission and proof of this are the famous “Mission Weeks”, held regularly for the past 56 years organised by the Bishops’ Commission for Mission with the Pontifical Mission Societies, the Joint Service of Mission Animation and the Spanish Institute for Foreign Missions. In fact in preparation for the national Mission Congress the 56th Mission Week is taking place from 16 to 18 September. The Congress is also an act of gratitude on the part of the whole Church in Spain to its 20.000 missionaries working in other countries and recognition of their work.”
“We have the good fortune, says Mgr. Pérez, to have the relics of Saint Therese of Lisieux, Patroness of the missions at the moment in Spain on a pilgrimage to various dioceses. On the 21 September the relics will be brought to the Congress. It will be a very special day and the closing Mass of the Congress will be televised throughout the country.”
The Congress will be important for its global vision in fact it will be attended by Bishops and Archbishops from all over the world. “Reports will focus on the Church in Africa, Asia, Europe, America and Oceania – says Bishop Pérez -. At the end of the work there will be a brief summary of the needs on each continent. So although the Congress is national it will have universal vision.” It is estimated that about 800 people will take part and some activities will be open to those who want to participate: Liturgical celebrations, mission exhibitions, recreational and cultural activities organised by “Youth without Frontiers” (R.G) (Fides Service 16/9/2003; lines 37; words 521)
