Pontifical Mission Societies:
(PMS) in the Archdiocese of Kampala:
There are four Pontifical Mission Societies: The Society of the Propagation of the Faith (POF), founded in France by a young lady Pauline Marie Jaricot, in 1822 for adults; the Pontifical Mission Society of Missionary Holy Childhood (MCH), founded again in France in 1843 by Bishop Charles Augustine Marie de Forbin-for children up 14 years; the Pontifical Mission Society of St. Peter the Apostles (SPA), founded also in France by a young lady called Jeane Bigard in 1889-for the youths; the fourth is the Pontifical Missionary Union (PMU), founded in Italy in1916 by blessed Paolo Manna-for priests, religious and seminarians. Almost a century they have been recognized as official instruments in the Church’s missionary works and their patron is the Holy Father, the supreme Pontiff of the Church; hence the name Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS).The major objective of these Societies is to sensitize the baptized at the various stages to cooperate in the mission of the Church.
After Vatican II
Before the Second Vatican Council, the Societies were operative in the Church but mainly sensitizing old Churches mainly in Europe and America to cooperate in the mission of the Church in regard to its evangelization works in mission lands. Money and other materials were being collected and sent into mission countries. A change of mind came with the Second Vatican Council, which in its document Ad Gentes, declared that the Church is missionary buy its very nature. Thereafter the missionary works of the Church was to be a concern of every baptized in the Church. Every baptized is to cooperate in the mission. It was in this way that the Pontifical Mission Societies became a department of every Church, wherever it is found and at all level. All have to cooperate.
The Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in the Archdiocese of Kampala
In the 1980’s PMS became a department in the Archdiocese and since then it has been sensitizing the faithful to realize that they are part of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. They are being sensitized to cooperate in the mission of the Church offering prayer and whatever material support they can for the mission of the Church. Every year, three Sundays dedicated to the Pontifical Mission Societies are marked throughout the Archdiocese, they are: Vocations Sunday, Missionary Childhood Sunday and Mission Sunday. On these Sundays prayers are offered and offerings in form of money are collected in support of the mission of the Church.
Impact
For a long time the Archdiocese of Kampala was and is still a recipient of financial assistance from PMS for its evangelizing works. We are very grateful for PMS in Rome for this assistance which has helped the Church of Kampala Archdiocese to grow. But the Archdiocese is no longer only a recipient in this missionary enterprise of the Church; it is also a contributor to the universal missionary Solidarity fund.
