AMERICA/PARAGUAY - Crisis in the agriculture industry, Continental Mission going on in the country, and elections of new leaders are among the themes being discussed by the Bishops in their Plenary Assembly beginning today

Asuncion (Agenzia Fides) – The Bishops of Paraguay will meet to celebrate their 183rd Ordinary Plenary Assembly of the Bishops' Conference of Paraguay (CEP), from today, November 3, to Friday, November 7, in Asuncion. During the Assembly, they will be electing new leaders for the three-year term 2008-2011 and they will determine the members of the Bishops' Committees, the leaders, and the Executive Secretaries of the National Pastoral Coordinations, as well as their representatives to various public organizations.
The Bishops will evaluate their recent “ad Limina” visit to Rome, which took place this past September 6-13 and they will issue a statement on its spiritual and pastoral implications for the Church in Paraguay.
During the Assembly, they will also study various pastoral projects that will be implemented in the community in the upcoming years. One important theme will be deciding on how to carry out the Continental Mission in Paraguay, in the spirit of Aparecida. They will also analyze the country's situation, especially in regards to the agricultural crisis.
The Assembly will also receive reports from the Catholic University “Nuestra Señora de la Asunción,” the National Major Seminary, and the Higher Learning Institute for Theology; as well as from the Executive Secretaries of National Pastoral Offices.
Every day, there will be a press conference held at 11:30 to report on the themes addressed during the sessions of the Assembly. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 3/11/2008)