It was only few days after the National Mission Assembly in Cebu last June that the newly appointed Mission Director of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro , Fr. Harren B. Salon, SSJV, and his assistant, Rev. Santiago Panilagao, contacted the PMS National Office to ask if they could invite the National Director and one of his staff to the archdiocese for a mission animation talk. The arrangement did not take long and the date was agreed upon.
With the all-out support of the archbishop, His Excellency Most Rev. Antonio Ledesma, SJ, the planned mission animation talk/seminar took place on September 14, 2010 at the conference hall of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center in Cagayan de Oro City. It started in the morning with a talk by the PMS National Director, Fr. Socrates Mesiona, to the clergy of the Archdiocese. Fr. Mesiona gave an overview of the PMS as an important and leading instrument in the work of mission animation and promotion.
The seminar proper was done in the afternoon with school heads and student leaders from various Catholic schools within the archdiocese who were invited to attend. Archbishop Ledesma gave a warm welcome to the participants as he stressed the role of the baptized in the continuing mission of the church. Then, Fr. Mesiona presented the reason why we as a local church should be at the forefront of mission. It was followed by the lively talk of Bro. Anthony Dameg in which he challenged the participants to be modern missionaries by continuously telling the story of Jesus to others. He likewise explained the four Pontifical Societies as important means to promote mission. Though the weather was rainy and cloudy it was dispelled by the enthusiasm found in the faces of the participants.
