Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lima (Agenzia Fides) - During Mass on January 1st, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani, Archbishop of Lima, announced the start of a Great Mission of Lima, an initiative to respond to the call for continental mission proposed by 5th General Conference of the Council of Bishops' Conferences of Latin America and the Caribbean held in Aparecida. A Mission, the Cardinal said, which will “bear fruits of holiness, wellbeing, support for the family, for youth, for education all over the world”. The Great Mission will begin on 27 April the feast of Saint Toribio de Mogrovejo, the second archbishop of Lima and the patron saint of Latin American Bishops. One of the goals of the Mission is to “help the sons and daughters of the Catholic Church deepen their identity”. “We wish to offer - the Cardinal said during his homily - the marvellous treasure which we have received, as members of the Church, identity with Christ”.
The Great Mission of Lima will focus on religious formation in all its many dimensions: “We need not only to learn and teach catechism - the Cardinal said - we must have models of reference, people, young people, men and women, married and celibate, religious and civilians... In this regard this sowing of Christian values in the life of society will be an exciting, important, and demanding commitment”. The Archbishop of Lima asked the media to help diffuse information on the initiatives planned for the Great Mission of di Lima which will be announced from time to time.
The Great Mission of Lima will follow three main lines: doctrine, witness of life and volunteer work. “We must make doctrine known: who is Jesus, what is the Church, what are the sacraments, what is prayer, what do we believe in, why do we believe, what is eternal life, what is sin, what is grace, and we must share the message of Jesus” said the Archbishop of Lima. Another important element will be witness of life “promotion of experience, to help each person encounter Christ, meditate on Christ. In this experience of life we must strive to be better people, we must strive for holiness”. Lastly Cardinal Cipriani spoke of a "generating of a spirit of volunteer work, for every believer to be ready to help others; to give one's self, one's time, one's money, one's heart for others”. The Great Mission of Lima will culminate in 2010, with a Eucharistic and Marian Congress. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 8/1/2008; righe 29, parole 425)
