Germany, 5000 projects” “” “

Various Catholic aid organizations, each with its own specific aims, exist in Germany. Under the name “Missio”, the Pontifical Mission-Aid Society coordinates German missionary activity. Founded in Aachen over 160 years ago, it was flanked by a similar institution founded simultaneously in Munich. The twofold structure of Missio is still maintained. Approximately half a million people are members of it and support the young Churches of Africa, Asia and Oceania with contributions and donations that are distributed to about a thousand episcopates throughout the world. Each year Missio collects roughly 100 million euros to finance almost 5000 projects aimed at evangelization. The German Evangelic Church also runs its own structures for mission support. We asked Msgr. Franz Grave , member of the Commission for questions of the universal church of the Episcopal Conference to describe the missionary commitment of the German Church. How is the missionary activity of the German dioceses expressed? “On ordination, each bishop assumes co-responsibility for the development of the universal Church. The mission ‘ad gentes’ is therefore the task of each diocese. This takes various forms, e.g. twinnings between episcopates. The missionary works of the universal Church are also particular ways of helping the bishops to perform their pastoral and social tasks in the universal Church. This aspect is becoming increasingly important and Germany has become a missionary country once again: the bishops’ involvement in the new evangelization is growing. To this end, I think that the experiences of preaching the gospel in other continents may be very useful also for the ‘new evangelization’ of Europe. Mission aid is not a one-way street but bridges for the exchange of gifts and reciprocal enrichment for the Church in the various countries”. What’s the situation of missionary vocations in Germany? “It’s especially the young priests who show a great interest in mission. Many of them would like to spend some time serving in the poor continents but the reduced number of new vocations limits the possibility of assigning priests to these tasks. Missionary involvement also attracts the laity: many young people get involved in ‘short-term missionary’ projects and at the end of this experience recognize that they have been changed and have become more mature. Periods of service in the poor countries and the contact with the faith of the local people are often decisive and formative for them”. How has the German experience of priests of “Fidei donum” been developed? “Pope Pius XII’s appeal for priests to be sent to the countries of Latin America, afflicted by a grave vocational crisis, as ‘gift of faith’, met with a prompt response from the German dioceses. The priests ‘Fidei donum’ are for the German Church important intermediaries between the continents and contribute significantly to exchange. The pastoral involvement of German priests in Latin America has borne abundant fruit. Normally, at the end of a first five-year phase of activity, priests ask to be able to remain in the mission field and many of the first priests of ‘Fidei donum’ have permanently dedicated themselves to the task, and achieved self-fulfilment in it”. What specific measures are being promoted in Germany during the missionary month of October? “The inauguration of the missionary month is being officially celebrated in many dioceses. Courses of formation for parish assistants are being provided; visits of representatives of the Churches of the southern hemisphere organized; press conferences and interviews held. Lastly there’s the Sunday dedicated to missions, celebrated in a special way and accompanied by a collection of funds for missionary activity in Africa, Asia and Oceania. In Germany, the slogan chosen for Mission Sunday this year is: ‘Give us hope!’ and our attention goes in particular to southern Africa, suffering so profoundly from the spread of AIDS. A variety of activities of the Church to relieve the despair caused by this scourge are being presented on this occasion”. Mercede Succa