AMERICA/PERU - Continental Encounter of Pastoral/Social Ministry: “to respond from our existence as Church to the challenges of our modern day, in the context of the Continental Mission”

Lima (Agenzia Fides) - “Reflect at the light of Aparecida on the vision and mission of the Pastoral-Social Ministry and Caritas on the continent, to respond from our existence as Church to the challenges of our modern day, in the context of the Continental Mission.” This was the objective of the encounter for Presidents and Directors of Pastoral-Social Ministry and Caritas in Latin America and the Caribbean and Caritas of North America, which was held September 14-19 at the “Hermaise Paget” Spirituality Center of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart in Lima.
The encounter, which was organized by the Department for Justice and Solidarity (DEJUSOL) of the Latin American Bishops' Conference (CELAM) and the Secretariat of Caritas of Latin America and the Caribbean (SELACC), and was inaugurated with a Mass presided by Cardinal Julio Terrazas Sandoval, Archbishop of Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia) and President of the Justice and Solidarity Department of CELAM.
The initiative, according to a statement sent by the Justice and Solidarity Department to Fides, takes into account the present context in which the Church in Latin America and the Caribbean is living and is meant to reflect “at the light of Aparecida and the Continental Mission, on the present social, political, economic, cultural, and religious issues related to our people and that demand a decisive commitment from the Missionary Disciples of Jesus Christ.” The main goal is that of determining “Pastoral-Social activities” to make a “preferential option for the poor, through an active effort to establish the Kingdom of Life, where there is room for everyone.” (GT) (Agenzia Fides 16/9/2009)