Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Mexico City (Agenzia Fides) - Cardinal Norberto Rivera, Archbishop of Mexico, presented Pastoral Guidelines for 2008, with the title “Formation for Christian Life” which aim to re-launch a permanent state of mission involving all available resources. The guidelines were drafted on the basis of suggestions made by auxiliary bishops, the clergy, religious and laity during the 13th Diocesan Assembly held in November 2007. Priorities are summed up in the words “Being the Light of Christ in the City”.
“I wish to encourage all the baptised to give new impulse to the mission of witness to the name of Jesus, there where the Lord has placed them - the Cardinal says in the introduction -. If all the baptised are aware of their vocation and mission in life and at work, then the light of Christ can be more present in society”.
Cardinal Rivera said that to meet the real needs of the country it is necessary to opt for Christ and to heed indications contained in the Document of Aparecida. “The Christian has a twofold call- he said -: to follow Jesus and to be ready to be sent. The proof that we are living the radical call of the Gospel, is that we put our life and our plans at the service of the Kingdom of God”. In this sense the Archbishop of Mexico appeals to parishes, deaneries, territorial vicars, commission, families of consecrated life, lay movements, to strive for creativity in communion and more active collaboration for evangelisation in specific sectors and for works of apostolate. He asks for the formation of a “team dedicated full time to the preparation of handbooks and material necessary for the formation of operators and realisation of respective programmes”.
For Cardinal Rivera, a major priority is greater pastoral attention for the nucleus of society, the family “it is fundamental to give more systematic attention to the family since it is here that children first encounter the faith”. In the meantime the Archdiocese of Mexico has begun to prepare for the next World Meeting of Families which will be held in Mexico in 2009. In this regard the Archbishop said he hopes 2008 “will be a year of in-depth revision of family pastoral and an opportunity to promote deeper communion which will help improve attention for our families. Family pastoral should be a means of giving certainties to our Christian communities”.
Relying on these Pastoral Guidelines, the Archbishop of Mexico urges the whole city to be on a state of mission, an ecclesial reality attentive to the Holy Spirit “ present in every reality of the world”; a Church which learns to welcome and accept everyone, especially poor and humble people; an institution which believes in the power of the Holy Spirit present in all the baptised”. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 23/1/2008; righe 33, parole 476)
