Pontifical Mission Societies Annual Meeting

Sr Mariana Maramanicava is the National Director of Pontifical Mission Societies of the Pacific Islands.

Each year National Directors of Pontifical Mission Societies from around the world meet for their Annual Meeting. During May she attended this year’s meeting which was held in Rome.

A highlight of the meeting was the audience with Pope Leo XIV.

Sr Mariana writes
“I am privileged, that I am called by the Church of the Pacific to be part of that Ministry, as National Director of the Pacific Islands. Annually as part of our program is our audience with the Pope. The Pope addressed and thanked the directors for the great work that we are doing for the Church. He encouraged
us to be courageous in the face of violence, injustice, fear and poverty. The Poor are in whatever areas we are called to, either materially poor or spiritually poor. The face and the heart of Jesus is what we take to them. He described that Our identity as PMS Directors is to be in COMMUNION and UNIVERSALITY. We are called to cultivate and promote with our members the vision of the Church as communion of believers. Also challenged us to be leaven of missionary zeal within the people of God. As members of Christ Body, it opens us to the Universal dimension of the Church’s mission of Evangelization.”

The Pope’s address encourages and at the same time challenges us in our role
and ministry as National Directors of Pontifical Mission Societies. You can read the text of his address here.