Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Mexico City (Agenzia Fides) - “In this week that is beginning, we the Bishops, in collaboration with the Vicars of Pastoral Ministry, will: discern the path of pastoral renewal in parishes at the light of the Aparecida Document and the impulse of the Continental Mission in Mexico, in order to offer directives for Provinces and Dioceses.” With these words, Archbishop Carlos Aguiar Retes of Tlalnepantla, President of the Mexican Bishops' Conference (CEM), in the opening Mass conveyed the obejctives of the 87th Plenary Assembly that began yesterday April 20 and will last until April 24, in the CEM headquarters. Yesterday, the Bishops celebrated two parallel events of great relevance in the life of the Church. The first of them is the Renewal of Mexico's Consecration to the Holy Spirit, a celebration that is taking place for the third time in the history of the Church in Mexico and that is especially meaningful in these moments of difficulty that it is experiencing. Thus, the Bishops have considered the need to renew commitments and unite themselves in prayer. The second event was that of the Pope's anniversary of his 4th year of Pontificate. The Bishops wrote a letter congratulating Pope Benedict XVI. During the Opening Mass for the 87th Assembly, over 120 Bishops of Mexico came together, in addition to representatives from the various dioceses.
The President of the Bishops' Conference mentioned that, “our intention is clearly that of renewing parishes and making them places for encountering Christ, homes and schools of communion, where formation and spiritual growth is offered to Christians, where there is an opportunity to foster the life and mission of the community of disciples.” There is a desire to “clarify, renew, and strengthen the Continental Mission in Mexico, establishing guidelines, so as to promote the mission through the laity, in the economy, in politics, and in the media.”
The Bishops consider that the Catholic Church in Mexico “should intensify her positive presence in society, in order to rebuild and strengthen it, forming the Catholics and accompanying them in their parishes and dioceses, so that the Catholic faithful can make the love of the Father present in the world today, being led by the Holy Spirit and the example of Christ our Lord.”
However, aware of the fact that this work is only possible through a gift of the Holy Spirit, “the Bishops of Mexico here in the house of Tepeyac, at the feet of Our Mother of Guadalupe...upon unanimous agreement, will renew the Consecration of Mexico to the Holy Spirit.” Thus, they renew the act carried out by their ancestors on October 12, 1924, in the celebration of the first National Eucharistic Congress, “concerned for the serious signs of social decadence and hoping to proclaim Christ who has overcome evil, with the hope that this experience may be repeated once again in our beloved homeland.” And thus, the entire country was consecrated yesterday to the Holy Spirit, and later each Bishop (in his Diocese) will consecrate his own Diocese, on Sunday, May 31, feast of Pentecost.
This consecration, according to what has been explained has a profound sense of hope, so that the country may overcome the great challenges that are presented by the present climate of insecurity, excessive violence, and drug-trafficking.
During this Assembly, according to information released by the Secretary General of CEM, Bishop Leopoldo Gonzalez, the leaders of various political parties will present their agendas to the Bishops, upon their invitation. “The purpose is to listen to them, to see what they stand for and encourage them in all that concerns the good of the nation and human values,” Bishop Leopoldo commented. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 21/04/2009)
