Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Caracas (Agenzia Fides) – The Bishops of Venezuela officially launched the Great Continental Mission in the country yesterday, January 14, in Barquisimeto, in a Mass presided by Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino, Archbishop of Caracas. In his homily, the Cardinal made a call to value and strengthen the Church's unity, as in the world, “amidst the many forces of division, the Church offers the brotherhood of faith, love, and sacramental grace.” Precisely in order to fulfill this mission, all the Bishops of the country “renew our commitment before God and the Virgin Mary, to dedicate our lives to all Venezuelans, to announce the gift of salvation and the joy of the faith to them.”
The Cardinal mentioned that Venezuela would be a very different place if all the Catholics lived their faith to the fullest. “How much pain, tears, blood, anxiety would be avoided! The practice of the faith, the Christian virtues, cast out violence, hate, murder, kidnapping, and drug-trafficking; lies and betrayal, religious indifference and idolatry. The practice of the religion promotes a unified, faith-filled, and stable family, and casts out sexual promiscuity, adultery, and divorce, abortion. It goes against any form of evil: crime, murder, drugs, terrorism, and political violence.” Thus, he made an appeal to all Catholics to pray to God for the spiritual renewal that the Venezuelan Bishops proposed in the document “Let us renew our minds and hearts,” published in July 2008.
“In order to promote this spiritual renewal,” the Cardinal said, “in union with all the Bishops of Latin America, we are going to hold this great process, this great plan of renewal in our institutional, pastoral, personal, and community life that we call the Great Continental Mission.” He then asked everyone to “participate with enthusiasm and joy in this great plan of renewal for our Church.”
“From now on, in all Venezuela, the theme of the Continental Mission will resound: “People of God, listen and preach the Gospel,” inviting all Venezuelans to open their hearts to Jesus Christ, so that all of us may enjoy the gift of the faith, just like Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd and Our Mother,” the Archbishop of Caracas concluded. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 15/1/2009)
