The Tribune

THE hallowed hills of the Emmaus Centre and St Augustine’s Monastery at Fox Hill will come alive as the Most Reverend Patrick Pinder, Archbishop of Nassau and President of the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC) welcomes Pontifical Mission Societies’ (PMS) Directors of AEC to The Bahamas for their annual meeting from February 3 to February 7. 
The AEC’s membership includes five archdioceses, fourteen dioceses, and two missions, which ministers to more than 2.1 million Catholics in the Caribbean from current and former British, Dutch, and French colonies and dependencies, Central America, and northern South America.

Within their own dioceses, the PMS Directors, under the supervision of their bishops, are responsible for increasing Christians’ awareness of their baptismal call to be missionaries in everything that they do and to continually highlight the fact that the Church by its very nature is missionary.
When the directors convene, the discussions will point to significant issues which have greatest impact on mission work through the four Societies (the Society of the Propagation of the Faith; the Society of Missionary Childhood; the Society of St Peter Apostle and the Society of Missionary Union of Priests and Religious).

As they evaluate the effectiveness of their efforts thus far, they will also reset goals and address thematic strategies which will “Animate and Deepen the Missionary Conscience of Every Baptised Christian”.

At the meeting’s conclusion, the directors expect to return to their home dioceses renewed, revitalised, and bursting with the energy required to mobilise people.
Thirty-one representatives will come to New Providence.

Among them are His Excellency, Archbishop Nicola Girasoli, Apostolic Nuncio (the Pope’s ambassador to the region), bishops, priests, religious and lay people.

All priests, deacons, parishioners and the public are invited to participate in the celebration of Mass each evening next week at 6.30pm.
Monday, February 3; St Francis Xavier Cathedral; main celebrant: Most Rev. Patrick C. Pinder, STD., CMG, Archbishop of Nassau.

Tuesday, February 4; St Anselm’s Parish, Bernard Road; main celebrant: Most Rev. Gabriel Malzaire, Bishop of Roseau, Dominica.

Wednesday, February 5; St Joseph’s Parish, Boyd Road; main Celebrant: His Excellency, Archbishop Nicola Girasoli, Apostolic Nuncio.

Thursday, February 6; Holy Family Parish, Robinson and Claridge Roads; celebrant: Most Rev Neil Tiedemann, CP, Bishop of Mandeville, Jamaica.

While they are here, the directors will also take in the sights and sounds of New Providence, visiting places and people.