Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bogota (Agenzia Fides) - From Tuesday to Friday (March 7), the meeting of Secretary Generals from the 21 Episcopal Conferences of Latin America and the Caribbean was held in the headquarters of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM), in Bogota (Colombia). The purpose of the meeting was to present CELAM with the current interests of the Bishops’ Conferences, as well as, to recognize what it is that this Latin American entity has been working on since Aparecida, in regards to the Great Continental Mission.
The President of CELAM and the Archbishop of Aparecida, Archbishop Raymundo Damasceno Assis, gave the opening talk, where he spoke of the many serious challenges to be met in Latin America and the Caribbean today. “During these days of intense confrontations among three countries,” he said, “we realize the fragile nature of these ties between nations and how much has changed and continues to change, even today. The internal conflicts in our countries, the tensions caused by commercial trading, immigrants and economic interests, the hopeless ideological solutions that upset the balance of institutions and democracies, are just a few of the contributing factors that prevent us from reaching a continental fraternity for an America of justice and peace, for the life of our people.” He later mentioned that the main objective of the meeting was to reflect on the Aparecida Document and its reception among the various Conferences of Bishops, as well as, present the plan for the Continental Mission prepared by the “ad hoc” committee of Bishops.
During the first workshops, there were presentations of the statements on the situation in each country and on the CELAM entities and the Global Plan 2007-2011. The Secretary Generals overlapped on the themes of the family, life, apostolate, the need for a process of evangelization that leads the men and women of our day to a personal and intimate encounter with Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. With these statements, the various countries present could deepen their awareness of the situations of other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, opening the way for integration among the Bishops’ Conferences and creating an environment of ecclesial fraternity, without forgetting the internal conflicts and tensions of Latin America, that require that the Church offer a pastoral and evangelizing response: “There are Churches that experience more difficulties than others, for example, Bolivia. Right now, we are observing a high level of tension that is effecting the pastoral life of the Church and its evangelization work,” Archbishop Damasceno explained.
The two last days of the meeting will be dedicated to the Continental Mission, presenting the progress that has been made in terms of recent meetings held by the “ad hoc” committee. There will also be a time for comments and suggestions. The Episcopal Conferences, aware of their responsibility in the Continental Mission, have already drawn up strategies for the promotion and extension of the Mission, that will include all baptized and that is meant to be permanent. With that in mind, the Archbishop of Aparecida said that, “the Churches in Latin America are working in an increasingly organized manner, developing a pastoral work carried out in a spirit of collaboration. For the President of CELAM, the Continental Mission “is a special opportunity to give a second wind to the missionary zeal of the pilgrim Church in Latin America and the Caribbean.” He also mentioned the “positive reception of the Aparecida Document and the great effort being made by every Conference and every Diocese in distributing the Document, as well as, in the profound study of the Document and the use of its text in their pastoral work.” A proposal has been made to maintain some of the signs of ecclesial communion, such as the hymn, the prayer, the logo, the theme, etc, that can all positively contribute to a profound experience of belonging to the Church. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 6/3/2008; righe 50, parole 646)
