Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Sydney (Agenzia Fides) – The Archdiocese of Sydney is preparing to celebrate the Diocesan Congress of the New Evangelization (SCENE) in July 2009. The event will mark the first anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Australia for World Youth Day 2008. The Congress will take place this July 18-26, and calls families, parishes, young people, catechists and teachers, priests and the religious, communities and individuals “to experience anew the call of the Gospel and to show forth the riches of Christ which have been given to the Church.”
The Congress will be held in St. Mary's Cathedral in Sydney and will feature prayer, talks, testimonies, etc. centered on the theme of evangelization. During the week, there will also be a special “Christ in the City” mission, especially designed for youth to get involved in evangelizing in the area.
“A Congress of the New Evangelization is a coming together of people from all parts of the Catholic Church in order to focus upon the great movement which is happening in the Church in our era - that which John Paul II and Benedict XVI have called 'the New Evangelization' - a movement in which the Church is being renewed upon the basis of the great Commission which she received from her Lord and in finding new ways of proclaiming Christ,” says a statement from the local Church.
The Congress is organized by the Archdiocesan Office of Evangelization and will feature speakers from all over the world. The office reminds the faithful that the idea behind the Congress came from the words of Pope Benedict XVI in Sydney last year: “Empowered by the Spirit, and drawing upon faith's rich vision, a new generation of Christians is being called to help build a world in which God's gift of life is welcomed, respected and cherished - not rejected, feared as a threat and destroyed...the Lord is asking you to be prophets of this new age, messengers of his love, drawing people to the Father and building a future of hope for all humanity.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides 2/6/2009)
