Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Madrid (Agenzia Fides) – On May 2-3, Madrid will host the III National Encounter for the children participating in the Holy Childhood Association in the “Casa de Campo,” with the theme “Missionaries Today and Tomorrow!” It will be an event for both fun and learning, which will be attended by nearly 10,000 children from all over Spain, who will share their friendship with Jesus with other children in the world. The event is being organized by the National Office of the Pontifical Mission Societies, along with the Bishops’ Commission for the Missions and cooperation from the various dioceses, missionary institutions in the Church, the Vincentians, Christians Without Borders, and other educational institutions like “FERE” and “CONFER.”
Among the objectives of the Encounter are: helping children become active in missionary activity, to respond to the Missionary Campaign “Children Helping Children”; living a celebration with children from other dioceses; present the children with the situation on other continents so they can realize that there are other children that have the same hopes and dreams as they do but often without the same opportunities; promote family, catechist, priest, and teacher involvement in the missionary formation of children. The Encounter has had various stages of preparation. In February, there was a presentation of the material and hymn of the Encounter. In March, meetings were held with catechists and participants and in April, there will be an official “sending” before the Encounter.
The Encounter begins on May 2 with orientation and presentation at 11am. As the participants arrive, they will be assigned a color that corresponds to a continent and will be sent to their places. As the Holy Childhood Association in Spain began at the Basilica of Our Lady of Atocha, Her image will appear throughout the Encounter. She will enter in a procession, accompanied by the children representing the continents of the world. This awareness will encourage them to share their life with other children. This is the way for them to become “little missionaries.” The HCA program for the next 5 years will be presented, so that the children can become familiar with the upcoming themes, etc.
The Encounter will conclude on Sunday, May 3 with a Mass that will be aired on Spanish Public Television (TVE) at 10:30 am, presided by Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, Archbishop of Madrid. There will be a small pilgrimage for the children from “Avenida de Portugal” to the pavillion, which will begin at 8:30 am. During the Mass, the children will renew their commitment to be missionaries according to the theme of the Encounter: “Missionaries Today and Tomorrow!”
In the presentation of the Encounter, which took place yesterday, April 15, the Director of the PMS in Spain, Archbishop Francisco Perez of Pamplona, mentioned his hope that this will be a joyful event, not only from a Catholic-Christian point of view, but also for society in general. He also mentioned that the children are worthy of our applause and closeness, as oftentimes their childhood is neglected. Lastly, Archbishop Perez observed that Spain has the potential to continue being a land of missionaries, as the mission is something that runs through their veins. He added that there are currently over 18,000 Spanish missionaries throughout the world. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 16/4/2009)
