Rome (Italy) On October 31, 2019, for the conclusion of the Extraordinary Missionary Month, a Missionary Vigil took place at the Basilica of St. John Lateran on the theme I heard your cry, promoted by the Center for Missionary Cooperation between the Churches of the Roman Diocese.
The celebration, presided by the Cardinal Vicar Angelo De Donatis, gave time to 5 testimonies representing the voice of the reality and people of Latin America, Europe, Syria, Africa, and Asia.
For this occasion, Sister Mariluce dos Santos Mesquita, Daughter of Mary Help of Christians of the Bará Ethnicity, a participant in the Panamazon Synod, was invited to tell her personal story and experience at the Panamazon Synod. In her testimony, Sr. Mariluce touched on topics discussed during the Synod and that now the final document should be addressed in the local communities.
Some of these topics were: the geographical reality of Amazonia with its problems, such as land demarcation, the poor, the destruction of the environment; human trafficking, violence, drug trafficking, forced migration; the rights of the natives, their identity, language, and culture; enculturated celebrations. In addition there is the reduced number of priests, the difficulty of having the celebration of the Eucharist, the defense of the common home for the benefit of all humanity.
The Basilica of St. John Lateran was packed despite the rain. During the celebration, 10 people – including lay and religious – received the missionary mandate, the cross, and the bible. They are sent by the Diocese of Rome to the various continents as missionaries ad gentes. Among the laity, there is a couple with 5 children. The songs were performed by the Congolese community, the choir of the Syrian community, and the choir of the parish of St. Hippolytus.
Sr. Carmelita Conceição, Provincial of Laura Vicuña Province of Manaus, also a participant in the Panamazon Synod, and Sr. Maike Loes, Collaborator of the FMA Mission Sector participated in the missionary vigil.
