AMERICA/PARAGUAY - First National Congress of Pastoral Workers commemorates 50 years’ work with a reflection on “The Challenges of the Church’s Social Commitment”

Asuncion (Agenzia Fides) – The First National Congress of Pastoral Workers is being held this week in the Emmaus Retreat House in Asuncion, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the foundation of Pastoral/Social Ministry in Paraguay.
The central theme for the gathering is “The Challenges of the Church’s Social Commitment.” The Congress will be feature a talk given by Bishop Fernando Bargallo, President of Caritas of Latin America and the Caribbean, who will speak on the Church’s Social Commitment in Latin America. The event is scheduled to be attended by about 120 delegates from various diocese that will participate in the debates held during the Congress and offer booths on the history of the pastoral/social work in each diocese. The Congress hopes to respond to the interrogative on the role that the church community should play in the country. The debates and conclusions of the Congress will be centered on this issue, in an effort to analyze the challenges of the Church’s social commitment in Paraguay.
The Church also looks forward to celebrating these 50 years of service to the poor and marginalized of Paraguay’s society. In 1958, the institution began, almost at the same time as the Bishops’ Conference itself (in 1956), as the first widespread effort in terms of social service on the part of the Church on a national level.
Right now, the Social/Pastoral Program has 13 Diocesan Centers, with volunteers, mainly women and young people who are present throughout the country, attending to the needs of the people and participating in activities on personal initiative or in collaboration with other organizations. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 24/9/2008)