Missionary Congress in October 2014 in South Africa

Greetings in our Lord!

“The pilgrim Church is missionary by her very nature” (Vatican II)

Indeed, this striking statement is found in the Decree on the Mission Activity of the Church, Ad Gentes, N^o 2. This should propel us into action with the realisation that such is our Mission in the Church: to go out of our sacristies and our rectories together with our parishioners and reach out to those at the peripheries, to use a favourite expression of Pope Francis.

About two years ago, a group of Missionary Congregations/Institutes started to meet together in order to prepare the annual Mission Month (October). This year, with the approbation of his Grace Archbishop Buti Tlhagale, we have started planning for a Missionary Congress to take place on the last weekend of Mission Month, (Saturday & Sunday, 25^th & 26^th October). It will take place at St. Benedict’s School in Bedfordview.

We have decided to use the theme of this year’s Lenten Season: “Belonging to Christ Committed for Mission”

Our confrere Bishop Jan DeGroef has been a real source of inspiration for many aspects of the Congress (he is the Bishop in charge of the Department of Evangelisation for the Bishops’ Conference). Seán O’Leary will also give a conference on the situation of South Sudan.

“Enlarge the space of your tent” (Isaiah 54:2) will be our main sub-theme. We shall base our presentations (talks, group discussions, liturgies, testimonies, PowerPoint/films, etc.) on Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium. We will have very interesting and fiery testimonies by Missionaries (religious and lay) who are already very committed in their parishes here in South Africa or outside (ad extra).

For the time being, I think these few pieces of info will give you an idea of what we are planning. I will write more later on.

Michel Meunier, M.Afr