Preparing the Way to CAM 6
What is a CAM?
The acronym “CAM” refers to the American Missionary Congress (in Spanish, Congreso Americano Misionero). Each CAM takes place every five years in one of the countries on the American continent.
What is so unique about them?
A CAM is the only continental gathering in the world dedicated entirely to Mission.
Are they for me?
The most important prerequisite for taking part in a CAM is to be someone who, on behalf of their faith, feels called to commit themselves to serve others in their respective country and environment.
What is the CAM’s goal?
The Congress has three main purposes:
- To gather people committed in their faith
- To learn and discuss about missionary challenges, and share experiences
- To celebrate Mission together amidst the host country’s cultural backdrop
Where and when will the next Congress take place?
The city of Ponce, in Puerto Rico, is host of the sixth American Missionary Congress. It will take place from the 19th to the 24th of November 2024. During CAM 5, it was announced that the next gathering would take place in 2023. But due to the pandemic, the Congress had to be postponed for a year.
Theme and Symbols of CAM 6
Theme
Every CAM has a theme and a slogan.
The theme for CAM 6 is: “Spirit-filled evangelizers to the ends of the earth.”
The slogan is: “America, witnesses of Christ with the power of the Spirit!”
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1: 8)
The Symbols of CAM 6
The Torch of Faith
It consists of a candleholder whose shape, which reminds us of the American continent, represents the transmission of faith in America during its history. The light reminds us of the light of Christ, a fire that burns and sets aflame.
The Logo
The Anthem
This musical work titled Witness of the Living Christ, is part of the theme, the slogan, the biblical text and the general objective of CAM 6.
The CAM’s History and Dynamic
History of the American Missionary Congresses
The American Missionary Congress is an inter-ecclesial meeting organized by the Pontifical Mission Societies, that takes places every five years and gathers people who are committed to Mission in different ways.
The Continental Church began this path in Mexico in 1977, gathering countries from Latin America and the Caribbean, and organizing what was then called the Latin American Missionary Congress (COMLA).
In 1999 in Argentina, 22 years later, Canada would take part in this Congress for the first time, opening the door to continental meetings, hence the “American Missionary Congress”. Since then, Canada and the United States have taken part in CAM 2 Guatemala (2003), CAM 3 Ecuador (2008), CAM 4 Venezuela (2013) and CAM 5 Bolivia (2018).
It is important to understand that all CAMs are a process rather than an end in itself. That is why our brothers from Puerto Rico have prepared and organized different missionary animation activities at the diocesan and national levels, as well as virtual continental meetings for biblical, theological and missiological formation. They also chose to officially launch CAM 6 outside their country, in Mexico.
The goal of these activities is to maintain missionary zeal and, through missionary animation and formation, create spaces of fraternal union within a continental Church rich in cultural diversity.
Watch Cœur missionaire (Missionary Heart), a documentary film that reflects on Mission, focused essentially on the path leading to CAM 5 in 2018, in Bolivia.
Preparatory Path to CAM 6
CAM: A Continental Missionary Itinerary
Activities organized as part of the path leading to CAM 6:
- Continental meeting of missiology and ecclesiology professors, from the 14th to the 16th of February 2020, at the Pontifical Mission Societies office in Mexico
- International Missiology Pre-Symposium
- 1st International Missiology Symposium (virtual meeting). This Symposium took place from the 8th to the 10th of November 2022. The theme was: “Promoting the Church’s ad gentes mission with new zeal, while walking together as we listen to the Spirit”.
- 2nd International Missiology Symposium. Canada’s first continental meeting
- The Missionary Rosary. It took place in the most important Marian shrines of the American continent
- Biblical missionary itinerary. A formation based on the Acts of the Apostles
Watch coverage from Canada’s first ever International Missiology Symposium that took place from the 24th to the 26th of October 2023.
Videos
Watch conferences, testimonies and other events that took place on the 2nd International Missiology Symposium, that took place in Canada for the first time ever.
(NOTE: You can find the English translated versions here)
CAM 6 Prayer
Pope Francis gave us this beautiful prayer inspired by the Holy Spirit. Share it with everyone!
Prayer for the 6th American Missionary Congress
O merciful Father,
who revealed in your Son the “Good News,”
announced in these lands of America
by so many missionaries, in word and deed;
help us to rediscover our vocation as baptized people
in order to give renewed life to our missionary activity
proclaiming, like them, the joy of the Gospel.
O God,
you pour out your Holy Spirit to renew the face of the Earth,
wounded by injustice and suffering;
give us strength to walk, as God’s people,
in synodality and mutual listening,
towards the next American Missionary Congress,
witnessing together the love that conquers the world.
O God and Father,
you chose Mary as model of Evangelization
to offer Christ to all humanity;
grant that, imitating her example of dedication
and sustained by her maternal and providential care,
may we always be your missionary disciples
to the ends of the Earth.
Amen