AMERICA/MEXICO - 80th anniversary of Catholic Action in the country: “the Church needs laymen who are faithful to their vocation, willing to work together with their Pastors in the daily task of evangelization in all environments”

Puebla (Agenzia Fides) – Catholic Action of Mexico recently celebrated its 80th anniversary of evangelization, spreading the values that allow an authentic development of the person and of communities. With this motive, an encounter was held in the city of Puebla, July 24-26, on the theme “A fruitful past, a demanding present, and a hopeful future.” The event was attended by AC members from the country's 50 dioceses. In the final statement after the encounter, the participants recall that “Catholic Action of Mexico is a community of freely committed laity who live the Gospel personally in its entirety and thus, carry out their Christian mission in the apostolic mission of the Church with a close bond with the Hierarchy.” They acknowledge, however, that the numerous presence of Catholic Action has decreased, “impeding a more wide-reaching and efficient evangelization” and there is now a “change of times in a multi-diverse Mexico that profoundly affects our world and brings challenges that we have not known how to respond to.”
Thus, they make an appeal to analyze the situation in Mexico an objective and critical glance, to present responses inspired by the Gospel; to work with the criteria of the Church's Social Doctrine, which demands respect for the life and dignity of every human person; to defend the family as one of the “most important treasures” of humanity; to see education as a determining factor in the development of peoples; to value the advances in science and technology, being on guard to make sure that they do not infringe upon the nature of the human being; contribute to a spirit of communion that will help us to overcome our egoism and build a more just and human society, and unity efforts with the authorities and government in fighting violence and corruption in our country.
In the Mass celebrated for the 80th anniversary, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio in Mexico, told the faithful: “the Church needs laymen who are faithful to their vocation, willing to work together with their Pastors in the daily task of evangelization in all environments.” And he reminded them that “what makes Catholic Action more than just another Church association, but rather a gift of God for the growth of ecclesial communion, is its close tie to the Diocese and the Bishop, with the parishes and their Pastors...”
Archbishop Pierre concluded his homily by launching an appeal to all those present, asking that they assume and manifest in every task and everywhere, their “commitment to evangelization, with a renewed missionary fervor” and let themselves be “enlightened, touched, and moved by their history which is marked by the luminous example of the saints and blesseds.” “May you be a prophetic presence in the world and work so that our world can recover the true sense of man and his dignity, the value of life and the family, of peace and solidarity, and justice and mercy. Fix your gaze intently on Jesus, and in an authentic spirit of renewal, launch yourselves with hopeful optimism to conquest the world for Jesus Christ,” he concluded. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 29/7/2009)