|
|
|
Reflections on the Meeting of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Rome (January 28-February 3, 2008) |
|
|
|
Wednesday, 12 March 2008 |
Msgr. Francis Blood is the Director of the Archdiocesan Mission Office in Saint Louis, Missouri. He is a former missionary, serving in La Paz, Bolivia from 1988 to 1993.
 It was with a sense of excitement that I prepared to travel to Rome to participate in the national meeting of Directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies from the U.S.A. While it was a wonderful meeting, little did I realize how hard the journey there would be!
I had flown to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport to join the international flight on Alitalia Airline from Chicago to Rome. There were 24 passengers in our group. Alitalia cancelled the flight due to mechanical problems. Finally, late that night, we flew on American Airlines to London’s Heathrow Airport. We spent the day in the airport in London and that night flew on Alitalia to Rome’s Fiumacino Airport. Our luggage would not make it to Rome for another 24 hours. After filling out lost luggage claims we were taken by bus to a late evening meal served at 11:00 p.m. and finally reached our hotel, the Michelangelo, shortly after midnight – 40 hours after I had left the rectory in Saint Louis to begin the journey.
 It was a short night. Following a 7:00 a.m. breakfast, we walked from the hotel nearby to the Pope Paul VI papal audience hall to attend the weekly audience with His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI. It was a thrill to be seated in the third row from the front of the audience hall. Our group of 140 persons was presented to Pope Benedict XVI during the papal audience. The Monsignor who presented us to His Holiness mentioned that the occasion for our meeting was the one hundredth anniversary of the U.S.A. no longer being considered a missionary country in need of subsidies from the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, or the other Pontifical Mission Societies.
Among his remarks in English, Pope Benedict XVI said, “I am pleased to welcome all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present at today’s audience…I greet especially the representatives of the Pontifical Mission Societies and…upon you and upon your families and loved ones, I invoke God’s blessings of joy and peace.”
Following the audience, Pope Benedict XVI greeted our National Director, Msgr. John Kozar, and the editor of Mission magazine, Monica Yehle. While the rest of us did not have the chance to greet the Pope in person, we did enjoy seeing him near us.
 Later that day, our group of the Pontifical Mission Societies met at the world headquarters, located near the Spanish Steps in Rome. Following lunch, Archbishop Hoser, the President of the Pontifical Mission Societies, welcomed us to headquarters. Thereafter the Secretaries General of each Pontifical Mission Society gave a talk. Included were: Father Patrick Bryne, S.V.D., Secretary General of the Holy Childhood Association; Father Jan Dumon, Secretary General of the Society of St. Peter Apostle; and Father Vito del Prete, Secretary General of the Missionary Union of Priests and Religious.
Being in Rome, and having been with His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, along with the Secretaries General of the Pontifical Mission Societies, was a wonderful privilege. The following day it was our privilege to attend two talks: the first was given by Mr. John Favis, the Vatican Press Correspondent for Catholic News Service in Rome. Mr. Favis has held this position for over 25 years. The next talk was given by Sean Patrick Lovett, the head of Vatican Radio’s English language section. He has held this position for 30 years. We accompanied Sean for a tour of Vatican Radio. We also saw staff members at work broadcasting live on Vatican Radio. There was also an excellent video that we saw that traced the history of Vatican Radio from its beginning in 1931 to the present.
That evening we attended a wonderful dinner in a restaurant on the outskirts of Rome. The restaurant was large enough to accommodate our gathering of 140 persons.
 The following day we took a bus trip to Assisi, the home of St. Francis and St. Clare. It was a joy to return to Assisi, and my first time back since the earthquake had happened. Much reconstruction had to take place at the Basilica of St. Francis. We celebrated Mass there and also were able to visit his tomb. Earlier in the morning, we visited the Basilica of St. Clare. Assisi remains one of my favorite places in the world. There is a serene feeling of God’s presence. The beauty of the medieval city remains largely unchanged. Being able to visit La Porziuncula inside the Church of St. Mary of the Angels in the lower town of Assisi where St. Francis died was also a privilege.
On Saturday morning, we were free to tour Rome. I joined a tour of the Major Basilicas of St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. John Lateran Basilica and St. Mary Major Basilica. The tomb of St. Paul is in the crypt underneath the main altar in St. Paul Outside the Walls. St. John Lateran is the Cathedral of Rome. It also contains many relics. Nearby are the Holy Stairs (La Scala Santa) brought to Rome by St. Helena. They are said to be where Pontius Pilate condemned Jesus to death in Jerusalem. In St. Mary Major Basilica are wooden planks said to be of the manger in Bethlehem. Just the thought of each of these relics is quite amazing!
In the afternoon, I visited the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Museums. I wanted to see it since it had been restored to its pristine beauty. The frescoes of Michelangelo of “The Last Judgment” and “The Creation” were more beautiful than I had ever seen them. I had visited the Sistine Chapel many times during the 4 years I had lived in Rome at the North American College.
 While the content of our meeting in terms of new information was not quite as worthwhile as other national meetings of the Pontifical Mission Societies that I have attended since 2005, nonetheless, being in the presence of His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, and also seeing the Secretaries General at the headquarters of the Propagation of the Faith in Rome was worth the effort. Being able to pray at the tombs of St. Paul, and at the tombs of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare of Assisi was inspiring. Just 100 years ago the United States of America ceased to be a country that receives funding from the Pontifical Mission Societies. We grew up and began to support missionaries in other countries through the Pontifical Mission Societies. The United States of America supplies 40% of the world’s funding of the Pontifical Mission Societies.
Through the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, missionaries in 1,150 mission territories receive funding for their work of evangelization. The Holy Childhood Association is present in 120 countries and involves “children helping children” in the work of evangelization. The Society of St. Peter Apostle provides funding for the formation of over 30,000 seminarians in major seminaries worldwide, primarily in Africa and Asia. The Missionary Union of Priests and Religious helps cultivate a missionary spirit in those responsible for the formation of clergy and in religious education.
Please join me in continuing our efforts to support missionaries worldwide through the Pontifical Mission Societies. To learn more, or how you can help, visit the links on our website: Society for the Propagation of the Faith, Holy Childhood Association, Society of St. Peter Apostle, and Missionary Union of Priests and Religious.
 At the papal audience, His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI imparted his Apostolic Blessing to us who attended the audience. May God’s blessings be yours for the support you give to the universal missionary work of the Church through the Pontifical Mission Societies.
Sincerely in Our Lord,
Monsignor Francis X. Blood
Director, Pontifical Mission Societies
Archdiocese of Saint Louis
 |
Archdiocese of St. Louis: Mission Office
20 Archbishop May Drive, Saint Louis, MO 63119 • missions@archstl.org
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed