Missio Malta attends Annual General Assembly of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Rome
Missio Malta National Director Rev. Victor Agius attended the Annual General Assembly of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Rome, last month. The annual meeting is attended by 120 National Directors from all Pontifical Mission Societies from around the world to discuss matters of policy and strategy related to the operation of the world-wide organisation.
This year, the theme centred around the importance of evangelisation as part of every Christian’s everyday life. “It is the responsibility of every baptised Christian to live and preach the Gospel with their actions every day,” said Rev. Victor Agius Missio Malta National Director. “At a time when there is so much need for healing in the world, organisations like Missio take the lead to provide both spiritual as well as material comfort to those in need. The Annual General Assembly provides us with an excellent opportunity to rekindle our inspiration and passion towards the true calling of Missio. Ultimately, the take-away message of the assembly was that we should all strive to strengthen a sense of family and understanding around the world,” Rev Agius said.
This was also the central message bestowed by the Holy Father during his audience with the Directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies. Pope Francis made a reference to the beloved feast of the Sacred Heart, which celebrates the love of God for humanity, and which should inspire us to behave in the spirit of God’s infinite love. In fact, he invited members of Missio to continue bringing the mercy and compassion flowing from Jesus’ Heart to everyone, remembering that “the Christian community is missionary by its very nature”.
“Every Christian has received the gift of the Holy Spirit and is sent forth to continue the work of Jesus, announcing the joy of the Gospel to all, and bringing his consolation to the various situations of our often-wounded history.”
The heart of the evangelical mission of the Church is, therefore, “to reach all through the gift of God’s infinite love, to seek all, to welcome all, to offer our lives for all, excluding no one,” the Holy Father concluded.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle presided over Holy Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica after which Pope Francis recieved members of the congregation in a special private audience. Missiologist Rev. Andrew Recepciòn from the Pontifical Gregorian University delivered a conference titled “Synodality and Mission”, at the Mater Ecclesiae College of Castel Gandolfo in the afternoon. A pilgrimage for participating members of the assembly to the Franciscan Greccio Sanctuary in Umbria concluded the assembly.
Edward Bonello
