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MSP FATHER MODERATOR ATTENDS MISAL MEETING IN NIGERIA

FR. SOCRATES C. MESIONA, the MSP Father Moderator, represented the MSP at the continental MISAL meeting last April 1-5, 2008 held in Abuja, Nigeria. MISAL is the acronym for Missionary Societies of Apostolic Life, a group composed of missionary societies within the Catholic church with special interest and commitment to mission ad gentes.Topics discussed in the meeting included Climate Change and Mission of Reconciliation in the Context of the 2nd African Synod. Fr. Sean McDonagh, SSC and Fr. Matthew Kukkah were invited as resource persons on the said respective topics.

A visit to the headquarters and the seminary of the Missionary Society of St. Paul, the host Missionary Society, was also included in the program in which Fr. Patrick Ebito interestingly shared on the aims and activities of their Society. The last day of the meeting was allotted also for a quick visit to two orphanages and a primary school in a local village.

The gathering was not all about work though; it was also most importantly a time for camaraderie and fellowship of fellow missionaries. A meal on separate occasions with the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Renzo Fratini, and the Local Ordinary of Abuja, Archbishop John Onaiyekan, also took place. Elected new MISAL President was Fr. Jack Lynch, Superior General of Scarborough Fathers whose base is in Canada. He will also be the host of the next MISAL meeting in 2010.

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