Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Santiago (Agenzia Fides) - In view of World Mission Day, the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) of Chile have prepared a full calendar of activities at a national level, with a clear aim: "To awaken and renew the commitment, as Church of Chile, with the Universal Church through prayer and, according to one’s possibility, with a contribution to help the missions and missionaries in the 5 continents". According to information sent to Agenzia Fides by the National Headquarters of the PMS, the material prepared for the celebration of the Missionary Month of October is the subsidy "Prayer leads to Mission", for the PMS in fact, prayer is one of the columns to build commitment and missionary spirit. It is all about "Praying with the Father to become true missionary disciples". The PMS of Chile printed more than 500 000 posters with the invitation to pray for the Missions.
Among the activities that have the greatest impact in the Chilean Catholic communities, we can cite the Missionary Rosary Campaign: "A Rosary of Missionary Love for the Evangelization". In at least 1500 homes a small box was sent with the Missionary Rosary built by the inmates of a penitentiary center of Chile
The celebration gave a start to the Missionary Month and was presided by the Archbishop of Santiago, Mgr. Ricardo Ezzati, in coordination with the PMS, in the metropolitan Cathedral of Santiago. On this occasion, the Archbishop gave "the candle of the Mission", which started the "Mision Joven", according to the pastoral plan for 2011 and 2012.
Among other initiatives related to the Missionary Month, we remember that at the Diocese of Santa María de los Ángeles the First Missionary Formation Day for Youth (JOMIS) was celebrated. At the Diocese of Osorno, the National Director of the PMS, Fr. Gianluca Roso, gave a lecture entitled "The missionary dimension of the Church", which was attended by a large number of pastoral workers of the entire diocese.
Even in Seminars around the country there were different activities under the guidance of the theme: "Seminarians of the Chilean Church are committed to becoming missionary disciples following the example of Christ". At Christ the King Seminary of the Diocese of Rancagua, there was a meeting of the National Seminar on this subject, which was attended by the seminarians of the 8 major seminaries in the Country. On
Saturday, October 15, in the city of Santiago, there was the "Missionary March" with the slogan "The joy of being Catholic", which was attended by more than 50,000 faithful, with the presence of people coming from other regions, such as Rancagua, Melipilla, Talagante, St. Bernard and Viña del Mar. Also Holy Childhood convened a meeting for the different groups of its members.
One new feature this year is the First Missionary Congress of Higher Education (CMES), which will take place on October 21 under the theme "Apostles of a New Evangelization", organized by the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Chile with different university pastoral groups. Among the personalities who will offer a reflection or a conference are: Fr. Gianluca Roso, National Director of the PMS, His Exc. Mgr. Ivo Scapolo, Apostolic Nuncio in Chile, His Exc. Mgr. Octavio Ruiz, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, who will present the theme: "Challenges of the New Evangelization", His Exc. Mgr. Ricardo Ezzati, Archbishop of Santiago and President of the Episcopal Conference.
The main celebration of World Mission Sunday, on October 23 will be held at the National Shrine of Maipú at 12pm, presided by His Exc. Mgr. Octavio Ruiz, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion the New Evangelization. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 20/10/2011)
