Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Santiago de Chile (Agenzia Fides) – Beginning Sunday, September 27, for 4 weeks the Church in Chile is working on the transcription of the New Testament and the Psalms, as part of the project “The Gospel for Chile.” It is an initiative of the Chilean Bishops' Conference (CEC), as part of the Continental Mission and as a preparatory activity for the upcoming 200th anniversary of the birth of the nation. As a statement issued by the promoters explains, “the greatest contribution that the Church can offer Chile for the celebration of its 200th anniversary, is to preach Christ, the greatest treasure. This is what the Continental Mission is for, as a time of grace that the Church is living as a fruit of the Aparecida event and that, among many other activities, includes the 'Gospel for Chile.'”
Nearly 8,000 people (men, women, youth, and children) from all the different parts of the nation, until October 18, will be transcribing verses from the New Testament. “It will be a religious sign for the bicentennial celebrations, thus confirming the Christian roots of our nation,” Nicolas Bar, Executive Director of the project, said. In fact, the “Gospel for Chile” “was conceived as an initiative to promote unity and communion among the Chilean people, rooted in the Word of God.” The idea of organizers is that each one copies verses “so they may reach out to a larger audience, involving all the members of the same community...” The Executive Director adds that the project “not only requests the participation of practicing Catholics, but also those who have fallen away from the faith or who are members of other Christian churches.” In fact, members of the Jewish community will transcribe passages from the Psalms. The goal is to have all Chile represented.”
At the end of the transcriptions, all the parts will be published in three volumes, along with drawings done by children and many well-known artists. Starting next year, the books will travel through all the regions of the country along with the traveling statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. (GT) (Agenzia Fides 5/10/2009)
