Xavier Ilundain: "We have distributed 13 million stars".Spain is the second country that donates the most to missionsThe ceremony of the missionary awards ceremony of the Pontifical Mission Societiespresented by María Ruiz, from Trece TV, took place in the "All in one" space of CaixaBank (Plaza de Colón), with the participation of José María Calderón, director of Pontifical Missionary Works in Spain, the nuncio of the Holy See, Monsignor Bernardito Auza, and the auxiliary bishop of Madrid, Juan Antonio Martínez Camino.
Juan Antonio Peña, director of the Institutions Center of the Madrid Territory of CaixaBank, said he was "very excited to participate in the event" and to have the presence of two bishops. He also pointed out that the meeting place where the awards were held is "the largest bank office in Europe".
Then, the director of OMP, José María Calderón, explained that the Paolo Manna Award was designed to recognize the work of people who work "so that the missionary spirit is maintained in Spain," while the Pauline Jaricot Award is given to "a missionary representative of the work done by our missionaries around the world" and of what "the Church is doing through them".
Spain is the most missionary country
The Pauline Jaricot Award was presented by Monsignor Bernardito Auza, Nuncio of the Holy See, who greeted all those present on behalf of the Holy Father. He also recalled the Pope's last apostolic exhortation, "C'est la confiance", about St. Therese of Jesus, underlining that she is the patroness of the missions even though she never left the convent. "Everyone could be a patroness of the missions," he said. He also pointed out that "the Christian vocation is a vocation to the mission", and that this call is also inserted in the nucleus of the Trinity: "The Father evangelizes by sending us his Son, and the Son sends us all to proclaim the Gospel".
The Apostolic Nuncio also had a few words of thanks to Spain: "Thank you. Spain has been through the centuries the cradle of thousands and thousands of missionaries (...) I am also a fruit of Spanish missionaries". On the other hand, he pointed out that "the Church in Spain continues to be a great missionary church", and that, despite secularization, Spain has "always been the most missionary country, the most missionary local church" and "also the second country that donates the most money to the missions, behind the United States, and being second behind the United States in terms of money is no small thing".
"God reward you for your generosity," said Fr. Bernardito at the end of his speech, "may the Domund may it always be an occasion for all of us to proclaim Jesus Christ the Savior with greater vigor and enthusiasm, encouraged by the intercession of St. Francis Xavier and St. Therese of the Child Jesus".
"It is a privilege to live in India."
This was followed by the presentation of the Blessed Pauline Jaricot Award. Sister Primitiva Vela is 78 years old and has been a missionary in India for 52 years, where she continues to be today. For health reasons, she was unable to travel to Madrid to receive the award and instead, Sister Gracy, of the same congregation, received it.
A video was shown explaining the work of "Sister Primi" in India, and then Sister Gracy addressed a few words to those present, with which she wanted to "share what I have lived with her since I was 15 years old", even though she felt "unable to find the right words to convey all that Sister Primitiva Vela is for us in India". The sister highlighted the work of the award winner in giving herself to the most disadvantaged, "girls from the slums of Bombay", street children, lepers, etc.
"Today, at 78 years of age, she continues to teach us to do good at all times, to live and do exactly what Jesus did in society: to be an announcement and gesture of the good news to the poor and to make the glory of God transparent," the sister explained. She also commented that when Sister Primitiva Vela completed 50 years as a missionary in India, she addressed a few words to the Congregation in which she said: "At the end of these 50 years I can only say that it is a privilege to live in India: in its simplicity, it teaches us values; in its poverty, compassion".
The crab cross of St. Francis Xavier
The Paolo Manna Award was presented by the Auxiliary Bishop of Madrid, Juan Antonio Martínez Camino, who recalled the figure of St. Francis Xavier and recommended reading his letters. "St. Francis Xavier continues to be the driving force of the mission today," he said. Father Xavier Ilundain, founder of "Sembradores de Estrellas", to whom we have interviewed in Omneswas also unable to attend the awards ceremony because he is ill with covid. In his place, the award was collected by his sister.
The figure that is given to the award winners in recognition of their work consists of a crucifix held at its base by a crab. The origin of this symbol, explained José María Calderón, goes back to the 16th century, when in a storm during a voyage Saint Francis Xavier, patron saint of the missions and one of the greatest missionaries of all times, threw a cross into the sea asking God to calm the waters. The storm ceased and the ship docked at one of the Moluccan islands. The next morning, on the beach, a crab came out of the sea with the crucifix of St. Francis in its claws.
The OMP director pointed out that the cross is currently located in the Royal Palace in Madrid.
