Course for priests at Missionary Cultural Center focuses on the missions

From Fides ServiceAugust 3, 2010

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Fr. Stefano Raschietti, second from the left, executive director of the Mission Cultural Center in Brasilia

Missionary formation today requires an intense human, spiritual, intellectual, and practical preparation. With this in mind, the Mission Cultural Center of Brasilia (CCM) held a course in missionary theology and spirituality (July 22 to 31) for priests, on the theme: “Consecrated and Sent to All Peoples."

The purpose of this course was to rediscover the priestly ministry in light of the missionary perspective, enhance the study of theology and spirituality of the mission in order to address the fundamental issues, strengthen the missionary consciousness of the participants, and guide them towards a practice of an evangelization increasingly inculturated, taking the universal horizon into consideration.

According to the Executive Secretary of CCM, Father Stefano Raschietti, the course has fostered the rediscovery of the priestly ministry in the mission today. "The mission is intimately related to the identity of the priest and the mission also regards the essence of the Church." Fr. Raschietti sees the positive effect of Vatican II in the growing missionary activity. "In fact, the Vatican II says that the pilgrim Church is missionary by nature. It is no mere coincidence, therefore, that the missionary practice represents a privileged dimension in the exercise of priestly ministry."

The National Secretary of the Pontifical Missionary Union and one of the speakers, Father Savio Corinaldesi, told participants that the priest is a thermometer of society and that is why the priest should always be motivated in his life and in missionary work. "The priest should not 'settle in' or 'accommodate himself.' We must always be awake, ready, prepared. This means doing our best in our work, which is evangelization and mission."

There were 15 participants in the course which lasted 10 days. The CCM promotes missionary training in accordance with the Bishops' Commission for Inter-ecclesial Pastoral and Missionary Cooperation, the Bishops' Commission for the Ordained Ministry and Consecrated Life, the Bishops' Commission for the Amazon, the National Missionary Council, the Conference of Religious of Brazil, the Pontifical Mission Societies, the National Commission of Priests, and the organization for Seminaries and Institutes in Brazil. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 08/03/2010)