Pontifical Mission Societies hold general body meeting in Rome

(May 17, 2010) The Pontifical Mission Societies, that promote the missionary spirit and activity in the Catholic Church, began their annual general assembly in Rome on Monday. The national directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) from around the world, together with the President and the Secretaries General of the PMS are meeting May 17-21 at the Salesian headquarters in Rome. The meeting will conclude on Friday with an audience with the Holy Father. In all there are four Pontifical Mission Societies. The Society for the Propagation of the Faith, the Holy Childhood Association and the Society of St. Peter Apostle invite Catholics to express their missionary commitment by offering their prayers, personal sacrifices and financial support for the work of the Church in the Missions; whereas the Missionary Union of Priests and Religious aims at deepening mission awareness among priests, men and women Religious, catechists, and educators so that they are fully prepared to take on the mission formation of the faithful. These four Societies each received the title “pontifical” in 1922 to indicate their status as official instruments of the Holy Father and of the Universal Roman Catholic Church.