Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vienna (Agenzia Fides) - The European national directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies are meeting this week in Heiligenkreuz, near Vienna. Thirty-two participants attended this event, organized by the Pontifical National Direction in Austria (“Missio Austria”) which began on Monday with a Holy Mass presided over by Father Tadeusz Nowak (OMI), coordinator of the PMS. The discussions and group work have alternated with moments of prayer, fraternal sharing, and cultural visits to discover the city of Vienna and its surroundings. The theme of the days was the spirituality of the Pontifical Mission Societies in light of the important anniversaries scheduled for this year. The sessions were opened by the Director of the Polish PMS, Father Maciej Będziński, who spoke on the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Living Rosary Movement. Father Anthony Chantry, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in England and Wales, then gave a presentation on the revision of the statutes of the Pontifical Societies in preparation for the upcoming General Assembly. Yesterday, the Eucharistic celebration was held with Bishop Franz Scharl, who invited the National Directors and the faithful to "pray for the mission in Europe, so that we may move forward and proclaim the Word of God and his love." Following this, a meeting took place with the Apostolic Nuncio to Austria, Archbishop Pedro López Quintana. The Apostolic Nuncio thanked the Pontifical Mission Societies for their work and also shared personal childhood memories in Spain linked to the Pontifical Society of the Holy Childhood and emphasized: “Be missionaries and proclaim the faith. Donations alone are not the most important thing. They support the work of the Pontifical Mission Societies.” Today, Thursday, February 26, the meeting continued with a lecture by the Secretary General of the Pontifical Missionary Union, PMU, Father Dinh Anh Nhue Nguyen, who placed the discussions of these days within the broader context of this year's significant jubilee celebrations: the 100th anniversary of World Mission Day, established on April 14, 1926, by Pope Pius XI; the 110th anniversary of the Pontifical Missionary Union; and the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Living Rosary.
Referring to Pope Leo XIV's message for World Mission Day 2026, entitled "One in Christ, United in Mission," published on January 25 (the Feast of the liturgical memorial of the conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle), Father Anh Nhue described it as the cornerstone of all the initiatives being launched in honor of the upcoming jubilees. The Secretary General of the PMU not only explained the founding history of the Pontifical Society he heads, but also addressed the planned initiative to reinstate active membership. He drew on the example of numerous bishops, priests, and religious who have been active members in the 110 years since the Pontifical Society was founded (Pope Pius XI was the first member of the Roman clergy, and Pope Paul VI also joined the PMU as an active member).
"Cardinal Tagle has already agreed to be made an honorary member of the Society," said Father Nguyen, "and we thank him most sincerely for this." Among the many missionary and formation initiatives planned, there are numerous opportunities to delve deeper into the content of the Pope's message for World Mission Day 2026. The missionary and missiological formation courses, which were welcolmed in 2025, will continue to be promoted, and a series of conferences will be organized to deepen evangelization on every continent, starting with the five post-synodal apostolic exhortations dedicated by John Paul II to the condition and mission of the Church on each continent. Furthermore, an international conference is scheduled for October 29-31, 2026, to celebrate the 110th anniversary of the PMU, entitled "From Italy to the World with Love: The History and Spirituality of the Missionary Union from its Foundation to the Pontificate of Pope Leo XIV." The continental meeting in Vienna, which concludes on the morning of Friday, February 27, with the concluding Eucharistic celebration, provided National Director Father Karl Wallner with the opportunity to announce the launch of the new Missio Austria website. (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 26/2/2026)
EUROPE/ENGLAND - Cardinal Marengo's testimony in the United Kingdom and the risk of taking the presence of the Church for granted
AMERICA/HONDURAS - Father Cardenas on the Bishops' Conference's “Somos Misión” message: missionary work must become a permanent activity for every parish, movement, and ecclesial group
EUROPE/ITALY - “Hiraya,” the “certain hope” for the mission of Filipino Catholics in Rome