Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Santiago de Chile (Agenzia Fides) – On July 14, the President of the Chilean Bishops’ Conference (CECH), Bishop Alejandro Goic, made a presentation before the press of the Pastoral Guidelines that will light the way for the Church in Chile for the next five years (2008-2012). “Missionary disciples of Jesus Christ, so that in Him our people may have Life”: this is the title of the new Guidelines that express the need to deepen in one’s own personal and pastoral conversion, so that the faithful can meet Christ, proclaim His love, and live in a permanent missionary spirit, working for a decent and wholesome life for all Chileans. In this light, the Church in Chile will join in the Continental Mission, in communion with the Diocese of Latin America and the Caribbean. These Pastoral Guidelines for the Church were revised and approved by the Bishops during the celebration of their most recent Plenary Assembly on April 14-18, 2008 (see Fides 15/4/2008 and 21/4/2008).
Bishop Goic pointed out that through these Guidelines, the Bishops hope to offer their contribution to building the country that they hope to see, “a country that respects people’s dignity, with defense of life in all its stages, with values and Christian traditions that are at the basis of our culture.”
Following the presentation of the text by Secretary General of the CECH, there is an Introduction that the describes the history of the Church on the continent including the Aparecida event and in Chile, with the discernment that has gone on in the diocesan assemblies and the National Ecclesial Assembly of last year (see Fides 12/10/2007), whose fruits are seen in the Guidelines. The first chapter is entitled, “The joy of being Christian” and is a reflection on the Lectio Divina (prayerful reading of the Word of God), on the Gospel passage of John 1:35-42, which meditates on Jesus’ encounter with the first disciples and on the Lord’s encounter in our time.
The Church has used the “See-Judge-Act” technique, that is: look at the reality, reflect on it at the light of the Gospel, and consequently, make concrete personal resolutions.
The second chapter has to do with “seeing.” It is entitled, “What do you seek? Where do you live?” and it offers a reflection on life and the situation of the people in Chile. The Pastors reflect mostly on what Chile is seeking at the dawn of this third millenium and on what the baptized Catholics of Chile seek, indicating some light and dark areas in the Church there.
The third chapter, which corresponds to the “judging,” is entitled “Come and see.” It focuses on the places where we encounter the Lord: the Word of God, the Sacred Liturgy, source and summit of the Church, community life, the poor, the marginalized, popular devotion, the presence of the Cross in our lives, and the Marian dimension.
The fourth and fifth chapter correspond to “act”. In the fourth chapter, entitled “They saw...and remained with Him,” there is a reflection on the Church that her pastors hope for, that is to say, a Church that leads to an encounter with the Living Christ, that forms missionary disciples, that nurtures the vocation of its members, that lives and promotes spirituality of communion, a Church of real disciples, a missionary Church. The fifth chapter is entitled: “We have found the Messiah,” and it focuses on the action of the human person in our society and culture, highlighting pastoral ministry as a promotion of an integral person.
The Guidelines present the main goals for pastoral ministry as working with the family, youth, educators, the poor and marginalized, workers, businessmen, social leaders, university professors, political leaders, and those working in communication, as well as lay pastoral agents, consecrated members of the Church, priests, fallen-away Catholics, non-Catholics, and non-believers. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 15/7/2008)
