Regional PMS Diocesan Directors meet for formation course in Zimbabwe

Fr. Wilbroad Musonda – Solwezi

In his presentation on “The PMS Diocesan Director Role Description,” Fr. Anthony Chantry, a Mill Hill Missionary, emphasised that a Diocesan Director needs a strong missionary spirit to promote the Church’s missionary activity. “Ideally, a Diocesan Director needs to have a strong missionary spirit, the ability to promote the missionary activity of the Catholic Church, a good grasp of the theology of mission with reference to current papal documents, fundraising, organisational and communication skills,” explained Fr. Chantry.

Four Pontifical Societies and the Four Pillars

The Missio England and Wales National Director also introduced participants to the four Pontifical Mission Societies, namely the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, the Society of the Holy Childhood, the Society of St. Peter the Apostle, and the Pontifical Missionary Union (PMU).

Fr. Chantry further highlighted the four pillars of PMS – Prayer, Charity, Formation and Information – while emphasising that the Pontifical Missionary Union is the “soul of PMS.”

He noted that his presentation echoed Pope Leo XIV’s recent call to the Pontifical Mission Societies during their Annual General Assembly, which drew participants from over 120 countries, to rekindle missionary zeal and strengthen global communion.

School of Missionary Animation in Zambia 

Meanwhile, the PMS Zambia delegation, led by newly appointed National Director Fr. Alfred Macheleta, presented a country report titled, “Zambia, the Catholic Church and PMS Activities.”

The report noted that the National Office continues to animate all eleven dioceses and archdioceses, participate in international PMS meetings, and manage and disburse funds from the Universal Solidarity Fund as directed by the International Secretariat.

The report highlighted, among others, the School of Missionary Animation (SOMA) Training Programme, through which Holy Childhood Animators, catechists, parish coordinators and teachers are equipped to animate children and communities in missionary spirituality.

The Induction and Formation Course brought together 19 PMS Diocesan Directors from Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe for prayer, formation, and sharing best practices in missionary animation in their respective countries.