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More than 1,300 missionaries from across the American continent, including numerous Knights of Columbus, gathered last month in Ponce, Puerto Rico, for the 6th American Missionary Congress (CAM 6). The Pontifical Mission Societies organized the event, typically held every five years, to support and develop mission and evangelization efforts in the Church.
From Nov. 19-24, missionary delegates from 22 countries participated in talks and workshops centered on the congress’ theme, “Spirit-filled evangelizers to the ends of the earth,” and discussed missionary challenges and experiences in their respective countries.
More than 12,000 people attended the congress’ opening Mass on Nov. 19, which coincided with the feast of Our Lady of Divine Providence, patroness of Puerto Rico. Papal representative Cardinal Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo, archbishop emeritus of Caracas, Venezuela, was the principal celebrant, and Archbishop Emilio Nappa, president of the Pontifical Mission Societies, and Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, were among the 50 bishops who concelebrated.
“We are a church on the move, that walks alongside others,” said Cardinal Cardoza in his homily. “[We must give] space to the calling and formation of lay missionaries. Only through their multiplication will we be able to respond to the missionary demands of the present moment. … [These days] are an opportunity to enrich our own missionary vocation, open to dialogue rather than confusion.”
Since its first meeting in Mexico in 1977, the congress has grown to span the entire Western Hemisphere. It has been hosted in several countries, most recently Bolivia in 2018, with each location providing new challenges and opportunities for missionary work. CAM 6 was the first such gathering in the Caribbean.
“The congress’ primary purpose is learn what missions of evangelization will be held in the coming years in these participating countries,” explained José Lebrón-Sanabria, the Order’s vice president of Hispanic sales and development, who helped lead the local Knights’ support for the congress. “Many of these people come from missionary areas, or territories the Church identifies as having a lot of challenges for evangelization. That is what happened in Puerto Rico and why they chose to have CAM 6 here — to show the powerful impact evangelization can have for the local Church.”
The Puerto Rico State Council, along with field agents and members of local councils, assisted the Diocese of Ponce in hosting the congress, and more than 100 Knights provided volunteer support during the event. About 55 missionaries — mostly bishops and priests visiting from different countries — stayed at the diocese’s Juan Diego Retreat House in Ponce, where the Knights helped provide breakfast, cleaning and security.
With additional support from Supreme Council headquarters, Knights were able to pass out copies of Parish Priest, the biography of Blessed Michael McGivney, as well as prayer cards for his canonization.
“It was a great way to extend the vision of Father McGivney to all the countries present at the congress, even where the Knights don’t have a formal presence,” said Lebrón-Sanabria. “It was important to tell them who Father McGivney was and who the Knights are.”
Attendees also had the opportunity to learn about Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago, or “Blessed Charlie,” a lay catechist from Puerto Rico and Knight of Columbus who was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2001.
Lebrón-Sanabria credited the late Eric Colón-Rodríguez, the state deputy of Puerto Rico who died suddenly in early October, with coordinating much of the state council’s preparations leading up to the congress.
In his message to the 6th American Missionary Congress, Pope Francis reminded participants that missionary strength is the fruit of prayer.
“You have the joy of participating in this sixth American Missionary Congress, precisely in the year that I wanted to dedicate to prayer, in preparation for the Jubilee of 2025,” the Holy Father said. “Listening to God and our brothers, we can perceive how at times [Christ’s] image appears blurred before our tired eyes, and it would seem that we lack the strength to walk on. We must not abandon our prayer, ceaselessly asking the Father to pour out his love, his life-giving Spirit, so that it renews the face of this earth, wounded by our injustices and the suffering we have caused.”
The pope concluded by pointing to the Blessed Mother as a model for evangelization.
“Imitating her example of self-giving and sustained by her maternal and provident care, let us always be her missionary disciples to the ends of the earth,” he said.
Indeed, throughout the congress, concelebrated Masses and designated times of prayer provided missionaries the opportunity to reflect on their roles in the life of mission within the Church.
During the final two days of the congress, the missionaries fanned out to over a dozen designated towns in Puerto Rico. Local councils and parishes hosted the missionaries as they visited towns Nov. 22-23 to evangelize and talk with community members. In Patillas, about 25 missionaries were welcomed by members of San Benito Abad Council 9572, who assisted Inmaculado Corazón de María Parish in hosting a lunch for the missionaries.
Working alongside Grand Knight Noel de Leon-Lozada of Council 9572 and Father Francisco Santiago Torres, pastor and council chaplain, to host missionaries in Patillas, Lebrón-Sanabria was most impressed by the joy of the missionaries visiting from various countries.
“When you see where they were sleeping, the number of hours that they were walking, and the time they put into workshops — it is amazing to see the joy that our faith brings to us,” he said.
The congress concluded on Nov. 24 with a Mass for the feast of Christ the King celebrated by Cardinal Cardoza, where Bishop Ruben González of Ponce announced that Brazil would host the 7th American Missionary Congress in 2029.
“One of the most important things from this congress, for me and my brother Knights, is that we have to reach out to the people in need,” Lebrón-Sanabria concluded. “We cannot expect the people to come to us and ask for us to talk about our faith. No, we have to go out and talk about how good God is.”