Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Caracas (Agenzia Fides) – Archbishop Ubaldo R. Santana Sequera of Maracaibo, President of the Venezuelan Bishops’ Conference, opened the 90th Ordinary Assembly for the Bishops’ Conference yesterday, July 7, with an address on the some of the themes that will be discussed during the Assembly. In his speech, the President began by mentioning the new religious group, the so-called “Reformed Catholic Church,” reaffirming that the Catholic Church, to which the majority of Venezuela’s population belong, has not divided. The Catholic Church, gathered and nourished by the Word and the Eucharist, exists and is manifest only in the archdioceses, dioceses, and vicariates in communion with the Bishop of Rome.” Thus, from their Bishops’ Assembly, the Prelates manifest their full ecclesial communion with His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, while they also express “with joy, our obedient adhesion to his person and Ministry.” They also invite all Catholics “to give reason for their hope to those that ask it of them and to respond, with respect but firmly, to all those who try to sow confusion and division.”
During the Assembly, the Bishops will dedicate two days to a Joint Assembly with the Venezuelan Confederation of Religious Men and Women, during which they will discuss the Continental Mission and the education problems in the country, discussing and supporting the initiatives and activities that are being carried out in private schools, many of which are Catholic, “to manifest their non-conformity with the mere 15% raise quota established by the official education organizations.” The President of the Bishops’ Conference asked that the authorities “reconsider this amount, as it places at risk the quality and the very existence of such an important public service.”
In addition, the Bishops will study and approve various documents during the Assembly. Among them are: a Message on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Medellin Document (1968-2008); a Collective Pastoral Letter (on behalf of all the bishops) on the renewed spirituality that should inspire the Christian people in the edification of a Church that is home, school and workshop for communion and solidarity, as well as a Collective Pastoral Letter launching the Pastoral Plan “Iglesia solidaria.” Two projects will also be studied: the Pastoral Committee for Petitions of Communion and the National Pastoral Institute. Both form “two efficient tools of fundamental importance in giving life to the spirituality of communion and mission, developing permanent formation programs for the entire People of God, renewing the current pastoral organizations, promoting new organizations, promoting Christian communion of goods, and fostering a pastoral ministry that is collaborative, integral, planned, and that favors participation.”
The Bishops will also discuss priestly pastoral ministry, with the goal of making an “in-depth analysis of the current situation of Venezuela’s clergy, in order to mark the profile of the priest in need of a renewed and profound evangelization effort of our people and indicate the criteria for organization that we should give our seminarians and centers for permanent formation, so as to guarantee as much as possible a sufficient number of priests and qualified persons.”
The President of the Bishops’ Conference expressed the joy of all for the release of the hostages in Colombia and mentioned the Venezuelan Bishops’ deep concern for “the uncontrolled climate of violence and insecurity that is taking over the social and political areas of Venezuela, without any concrete actions being taken to counteract it.”
He concluded his speech by reminding all faithful that the Bishops are always at their side, “not as activists, nor as political figures, nor as mere humanitarian agents, but in the name of Jesus Christ, as teachers of the faith and servants of charity; aware of our religious and evangelizing mission.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 8/7/2008)
