Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Itaci (Agenzia Fides) - The Brazilian Bishops will be holding their 46th General Assembly in Itaci, April 2-11. The central theme for the assembly will be the new General Guidelines for Evangelization Activities in the Church. These new guidelines have been in the process of being elaborated since the end of 2007. The Commission in charge of the editing sent the Bishops a first draft of the Document and once the necessary additions have been made, it will be presented to the Assembly. The Guidelines include orientation for “the new evangelization” that the Church in Brazil has been working on since the Second Vatican Council in communion with the Church, keeping in mind its personal pastoral needs and its social situation. Since 1975, the Guidelines have been renewed every four years. According to this pattern, they should have been updated last year, however the Bishops decided to wait until this year, on the occasion of the Fifth General Conference of the Latin American Bishops that took place in May 2007, allowing the Conclusions from the Conference to be incorporated into the text of the Guidelines.
In addition, the Bishops will also discuss the following: the family and bioethical questions; the African-Brazilian pastoral activity; the National Evangelization Project; practical applications of the conclusions from the Fifth General Conference; the Continental Mission; and the Pauline Year. They will also publish a statement on the city elections taking place this year and will elect representatives from the Church in Brazil to participate in the Synod of Bishops, set to take place October 5-26 in Rome. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 26/3/2008; righe 20, parole 261)
