PMS AMERICA: Lenten retreat

The online Lenten retreat promoted by the Pontifical Mission Societies of America ended yesterday. The retreat for ordained ministers and consecrated life, took place from March 23 to 25 under the theme "On the Way to a Missionary Conversion".

“There were more than 200 participants from different backgrounds - commented Father Maurício da Silva Jardim, coordinator of the PMS America and National Director of the PMS in Brazil -. What touched me most on the journey of missionary conversion is the testimony of faith, ardor and boundless missionary passion of the founders of the four pontifical Societies”.

“There were over 200 participants from different backgrounds - commented Father Maurício da Silva Jardim, coordinator of the PMS America and national director of the PMS in Brazil -. What touched me most on the journey of missionary conversion is the testimony of faith, ardor and boundless missionary passion of the founders of the four pontifical works ”.

As part of this year's Jubilee celebrations (see https://www.ppoomm.va/it/celebriamo-il-2022.html) the Pontifical Mission Societies of America wanted to dedicate this retreat to deepen the charism of the Pontifical Mission Societies and its founders: Venerable Pauline Jaricot, Msgr. Forbin-Janson, Jeanne Bigard and the blessed Fr. Paolo Manna. 

"The genesis of the PMS began with the young Pauline Jaricot who founded the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith in 1822 and created the first worldwide network of prayer and solidarity to meet the needs of the Ad Gentes missionaries", emphasized Father Mauricio Jardim. 

The retreat, guided by two daily meditations, was opened by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, who dealt with the theme "A people of Pilgrims and Evangelizers", followed by Father Dinh Anh Nhue Nguyen, OFM Conv, Secretary General of the Pontifical Missionary Union, who spoke about the "Vocation and missionary conversion in St. Paul the Apostle and Paul Manna, founder of PUM". On the second day, Fr. Guy Bognon, PSS, Secretary General of the Pontifical Society of St. Peter the Apostle, spoke about the theme "The missionary vocation of Jeanne Bigard, founder of POSPA" and, immediately after, Sr Roberta Tremarelli, AMSS, Secretary General of the Pontifical Society of Missionary Childhood with the theme "The missionary vocation of Bishop Charles de Forbin-Janson, founder of POSI".

Yesterday Father Tadeusz Jan Nowak, OMI, Secretary General of the Pontifical Missionary Society for the Propagation of the Faith, spoke about "The missionary vocation of Pauline Jaricot, founder of POPF", while Archbishop Giampietro Dal Toso, President of the PMS, concluded the retreat with a reflection on "The Christian Vocation and Missionary Conversion".