Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Mexico City (Agenzia Fides) – “We reaffirm the importance of culture in the life of our peoples, encouraging incarnated pastoral care, which understands and uses symbolic language to make room for God in the life of our communities. The respect and support demanded by this activity includes the ability to listen and to nurture true love for culture. We must encourage the formation of the laity and accompany them in their mission helping them be animators of the inculturation of the Gospel in their reality”: these are some main points of a document, sent to Fides, issued at the end of a meeting held in Mexico City for bishops, heads and members of national Commissions for Catechesis and Pastoral for indigenous peoples. The meeting focused on “ Inculturated Catechesis ” and brought together pastoral workers from different countries: Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, as well as members of CELAM, and the Mission and Spirituality Department.
As in other gatherings the meeting began with an exchange of experience which, according to the final statement, was most fruitful. The participants then analysed the different situations of indigenous pastoral care and last of all formulated guidelines for evangelisation. The final statement included advice for bishops, priests and laity active in this specific field and affirmed “the ability to be, to live and to accompany the people to encounter Christ ”; “employ the means offered by our modern society: radio, television, press, internet, all kinds of communication, to make Christ ever more widely known”; “promote social commitment, which verifies the authenticity of our faith in Jesus Christ”. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 17/06/2010)
