On Sunday 28 May, the archdiocese of Madrid celebrated Missionary Day 2006: “Madrid with its missionaries”. This year it had as its theme “Diocesan Church, missionary family”. The Day is dedicated by the Church of Madrid to its missionaries each year. The Cardinal Archbishop of Madrid, Antonio M. Rouco Varela, in a message, announced two forthcoming events: the World Meeting of Families with Benedict XVI in Valencia and the celebration of the 5th Centenary of the birth of the Patron of Missions, St. Francis Xavier. Prepared by the Council of Missions of Madrid with three Conferences of missionary animation, the Day was also marked by the celebration of missionary mandate with the handing over of the Crucifix to missionaries about to leave for the missions.
