Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bogota (Agenzia Fides) – Last week, in Bogota (Colombia), CELAM held its 3rd General Coordination Meeting for the present 4-year term (2007-2011). The event was attended by the President of CELAM, the presidents of the various departments, the Bishops in charge of the various sections, the Economic Committee, and the Centers and Secretaries of the 22 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. At the end of the meeting, the Bishops wrote a Letter to the Holy Father, for the celebration of the Year for Priests and the publication of the encyclical, “Caritas in Veritate; a message of solidarity to Archbishop Oscar Andres Rodriguez Madariaga of Tegucigalpa; and a message to Cardinal Re in this Year for Priests.
In the letter sent to the Holy Father Benedict XVI, the Bishops show their communion and gratitude for the celebration of the Year for Priests and for the publication of the encyclical “Caritas in Veritate.” The text reads: “We consider it a grace that we can focus our gaze on the ministerial priesthood and intensify our attention to our priests, indispensable collaborators in our pastoral responsibility.” They also showed their profound gratitude “for the recent encyclical 'Caritas in Veritate' which will be a guiding light in responding to the great challenge to live Gospel values on our continent and develpo a more just and fraternal society, in such a way that we reach the goal Your Holiness indicated to us in Aparecida, becoming not only a continent of Hope, but also a continent of Love.”
The text concludes with a demonstration of their communion and prayers that the Lord “may guide you, give you strength, and maintain you in good health so that you may continue leading the Church with the prudence and wisdom of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.”
As for the message sent to Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, the Bishops inform that during the Assembly, they have “reflected on the Year for Priests and the challenges presented by Aparecida, through the Great Continental Mission. During the Meeting, the Departments and Centers began planning the second part of the 4-year term, which lasts until May 2011.” They conclude by showing their communion “with the Holy Father, with the Universal Church, with His Eminence, and manifesting our desire to intensely live this year of grace dedicated to priestly renewal: “fidelity of Christ, fidelity of the priest.”
“The Bishops, participants in the General Reunion of Coordination of CELAM, have been observing the difficult situation being experienced in our beloved Honduras and the Church of that dear country,” says the message of solidarity sent to Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Madariaga in regards to the crisis taking place in the country of Honduras. Thus, through this message, they send Cardinal Madariaga “a fraternal greeting and sincere manifestation of solidarity” and also assure him of their prayers “for your Eminence, for the members of the Bishops' Conference, and for all the Honduran people, that the Lord of Life may grant them wisdom and courage so that, in using constitutional means, through sincere dialogue, the peace and reconciliation desired by all may come to pass.” The Message concludes with a prayer to Our Lady of Suyapa, Patroness of Honduras, asking that she accompany “the Church there during this difficult time in her history.”
During the encounter, the work guidelines for the Global Plan 2007-2011 were marked out in terms of the fortification of the Great Continental Mission, with a special attention towards priests in this Year for Priests. Likewise, the various departments and centers have discussed the projects that will be used during 2010 and that refer to the recommendations that the Bishops made in CELAM's Ordinary Assembly in Nicaragua, this past month of May. These projects will be filled with the spirit of Aparecida and will reflect on this Year for Priests and the bicentenary anniversary being celebrated in 9 countries of Latin America.
In the Meeting, the brochure prepared by the ad hoc Commission of the Continental Mission, entitled “Itinerary of the Continental Mission,” that is a continuation of the first brochure: “The Continental Mission, for a Missionary Church.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 27/7/2009)
