A Symposium on the encyclical “Fidei donum” on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its publication. It has been organised in Warsaw today by the Bishops Commission for the Missions with the Papal Missionary agency of Poland. The subject chosen for the meeting is “Fidei donum the main challenges of Pius XII’s encyclical and its accomplishment in Poland”. Some reports were given in the morning about the theology of the document and the challenges tackled over the last 50 years by the Church of Poland. The afternoon session will address the practical aspects, such as the participation of the Fidei donum in the mission ad gentes, the training of the future Fidei donum missionary priests and lay people, some experiences. According to data from the international agency Fides, there are at present over 300 Polish Fidei donum missionary priests and 55 lay people working in 35 countries across the world. The diocese of Tarnów, southern Poland, is one of the richest in missionary callings. For 47 years it has sent over 110 Fidei donum priests, 50 are currently working in 9 countries across the world. This year 22 diocesan priests are getting trained at the Missionary Training Centre of Warsaw.
