Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Buenos Aires (Agenzia Fides) - 200 works of social service for 200 years of justice and solidarity: this is the proposal that has emerged following the workshops at the 12th Day for Pastoral-Social Ministry (see Fides 17/9/2009), which took place on September 19, in Buenos Aires, to “reflect together and renew our commitment to evangelization of social relations,” in light of the Bicentennial of the Nation. The eradication of poverty and the integral development of all are the challenges being set for the upcoming years. The concluding document sent to Agenzia Fides says that “the 200 works should be symbolic gestures and yet concrete, for solidarity, support, human and social promotion, contributing to uniting, linking, placing in contact, and building bridges between various entities in the city.”
Politicians, businesses, NGOs, parishes, and religious congregations were all invited to make their contribution to plan and present concrete ideas. Among the suggestions were: schools, professional training centers, youth centers, libraries, cultural centers, work co-ops, micro-businesses, prayer centers... “We need a community that organizes itself to work against inequality and poverty in our country with creativity and participation,” the document says, placing the initiative under the protection of Saint Martin of Tours, Patron of Buenos Aires, “model to be imitated for his missionary love and works.”
Thanking God for the gift of the bicentennial anniversary of their nation, the participants in the 12th Pastoral-Social Ministry Day highlighted in the conclusive document that they could not ignore “the growing problem that our brothers face and that have worsened conditions of marginalization and exclusion.” The society is always more “fragmented and weakened in its capacity to maintain links... “The eradication of poverty calls for social justice,” the text says, highlighting the fact that this is an “ethical demand” in that the poor have a right to participate and enjoy material and spiritual goods. “In order to eliminate poverty, we need to rebuild a social fabric and social ties among Argentineans,” the document continues, asking the State to protect the rights of the most vulnerable. They call for a “culture of encounter” and the promotion of dialogue in order to identify problems and create consensus in responding to the worst problems society is facing. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 22/9/2009)
