On November 11, the National Directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies of the Americas met online. Fr. Mauricio Jardim, National Director of the POM in Brazil, was elected as the new coordinator of the institution for the Americas, for a period of three years.

The election took place after a statement by the National Director of the PMS in Uruguay, who presented his resignation to the National Directorate of his country. After nine years at the head of the organization in Uruguay and four years at the service of the continental coordination, Fr. Leonardo Rodriguez left this service when he decided to start an experience of hermit life.

Fr. Leonardo stressed the importance of continental articulation in the animation of the PMS service. “The continental coordination of the PMS is reflected in a strong commitment to the service of fraternity, in communion and in the spirit of animation of the initiatives that the Continental Assembly of National Directors carries out in its annual sessions, as well as in the accompaniment of concerns and needs through the link with the Presidency and the International Secretariat of the PMS. During the election, the directors, thinking of Fr. Mauritius for this service, considered his personality, experience and wisdom as a guarantee of a fruitful period, “he said.

Fr. Mauricio Jardim recalled the motivations for assuming this role at a time of important celebrations for the journey of the PMS. “With surprise and fear I accepted this new missionary challenge to the PMS of the Americas in a spirit of brotherhood, service and universal communion. This service comes on the eve of important celebrations that mark the founding charism of the PMS: the 200 years of the POPF, the 100 years of the pontifical character, the 150 years of the birth of Blessed Paolo Manna, the beatification of Pauline Jaricot and the 400 years of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. The year 2022, with all these celebrations, puts us in a continuous process of renewal that makes us look more closely at the witness of the Servant of God Pauline Jaricot. From a mature faith, she gives her life to the missionary cause open to universality, creating a network of prayer and solidarity to support the universal mission. In addition to these reasons that drive the continuous process of renewal of the PMS, we move towards CAM 6, which will be hosted in Puerto Rico in 2024. I am grateful for the trust of all the national directorates that have entrusted me with this new responsibility, which I hope to assume with passion for the missionary cause. May our life of faith, mission and universality mark the path of deepening our charism that is at the service of the Pope and the local Churches, “said Fr. Mauricio.