EUROPE/ROMANIA - In the Footsteps of Jeanne Bigard: Supporting priestly and religious vocations in mission territories

Bucharest (Agenzia Fides) - The Society of St. Peter the Apostle and its commitment to priestly vocations and consecrated life were the focus of the visit of Father Guy Bognon, Secretary General of the Pontifical Society of St. Peter the Apostle (POSPA), to Romania and the Republic of Moldova. The visit, prepared by Father Eugene Blaj, Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Romania, provided an opportunity to meet with the bishops of the countries and diocesan directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies, to discuss the theme of supporting priestly vocations and consecrated life in mission territories, and to strengthen the commitment of the local Church in its missionary dimension. "I have traveled to these countries as a pilgrim to make known the work of the Society I represent, recalling the commitment of the Society's founder, Jeanne Bigard, who, in her time, with tenacity and perseverance, knocked on the doors of those who could help her support vocations in mission territories," emphasizes Father Bognon.
The visit took the Secretary General to Latin and Greek Catholic dioceses and began at the Nunciature in Bucharest with a meeting with the Apostolic Nuncio to Romania and the Republic of Moldova, Archbishop Giampiero Gloder. Meetings with the bishops of the various dioceses took place throughout the week, with the aim of raising awareness among the clergy and the faithful about the importance of the work of the Society of St. Peter the Apostle. The bishops were asked to identify parishes capable of organizing missionary outreach activities to promote vocations in the mission territories and to contribute specifically to the Society of St. Peter the Apostle.
The visit was characterized not only by discussions with the bishops, but also meetings with the faithful, the children of the Holy Childhood Society, and some seminary formators. Furthermore, the Secretary General of the Pontifical Society of St. Peter the Apostle explained the essential importance of supporting priestly vocations in mission territories in an interview with Radio Maria.
"The meetings with bishops, priests, children of the Holy Childhood Society, and the faithful served to strengthen the will to support priestly vocations and promote solidarity with the churches in mission countries," said Father Blaj. At the same time, the National Direction of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Romania proposed to the bishops the appointment of a diocesan coordinator for the Holy Childhood, who would be responsible for encouraging and developing missionary work with children in the parishes. "There are currently many groups with whom we organize weekly virtual meetings and regular get-togethers," explains Matilda Andrici, head of the Holy Childhood in Romania. "We took the opportunity of Father Guy's visit to ask each of these groups to designate a nun as a contact person in the diocese. This would help us organize regular missionary formation sessions with them, so that they can then go to the parishes to form new groups and encourage missionary work with children," she emphasizes. (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 22/3/2025)

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