Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Antananarivo (Agenzia Fides)- “The priest of the third millennium: Witness of Christ and missionary in the Church and in society” was the theme of the 3rd Synod organised by the Catholic Church in Madagascar held in Antananarivo 31 October to 3 November, Don Bosco Radio in Antananarivo reported to Fides. The Synod opened with Mass presided by Cardinal Ivan Dias prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, special envoy of Pope Benedict XVI.
After the Mass Cardinal Claudio Hummes, prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy gave a conference on “The priestly life in the world today”, then Cardinal Dias gave a conference on “The indispensable qualities of the priest ”.
Other conferences focussed on the priest's life with Christ, the history of the Catholic Church in Madagascar, the importance of formation in seminaries, and two bishops gave testimonies on their life.
Besides conferences there were also discussion groups each presided by two bishops. Participants at the Synod included about 200 delegates, bishops, priests, religious and lay people from the country's 21 dioceses. The Synod was prepared with two years of reflection and then at the beginning of 2007, a questionnaire was sent out to parishes all over the country with sixty questions to be answered by the faithful. The initiative was welcomed by the people.
The Synod closed on 4 November with a Mass presided by Archbishop Fulgence Rabemahafaly of Fianarantsoa who is president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Madagascar. Concelebrants included Cardinal Gaëtan Razafindratandra, emeritus Archbishop of Antananarivo, the Bishops of Madagascar and the Apostolic Nuncio in Madagascar, Archbishop Agostino Kassuja. The Mass, celebrated city sports centre, was attended by some 50,000 Catholics and the president of the National Assembly Mr Jacques Sylla represented the President of Madagascar. The Mass was broadcast live by Don Bosco Radio through Madagascar's satellite network of Catholic radio stations.
During the closing Mass there was the reading of the final Message of the Synod of which the main points were: the Church and the nation must face a new international context of globalisation; the ministry of the priest changes and is renewed in function of this context; it is necessary to intensify on-going formation of priests, seminary formation must open to new fields such as capacity for leadership, management and human sciences; priests must also be familiar with the media and scientific questions. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 5/11/2007 righe 33 parole 438)
