EUROPE/GERMANY - “The challenge of missionary pastoral work” - Conference sponsored by the new Office for Missionary Pastoral Work of the German Bishops

Erfurt (Agenzia Fides) – September 6 to 8, there will be a conference on "Challenges of the pastoral mission, organized by the Office for Missionary Pastoral Work (Arbeitsstelle für Katholische Missionarische Pastoral, KAMP) based in Erfurt in eastern Germany. The new office was created earlier this year by the German Bishops (see Fides 14/01/2010).
According to a statement from the German Bishops' Conference (DBK), at the focus of this debate are the premises, difficulties, and possibilities of missionary apostolate today. Participants will address the topic from the point of systematic, ecumenical, and pastoral theology, based on the concrete experiences of the delegates present at the meeting. A second goal of the conference is the creation of a network among those involved in missionary apostolate and the new evangelization in the diocese, in religious orders, associations, and in Catholic communities.
Nearly 50 delegates, representing 20 German dioceses, 6 religious orders, 5 ecclesial communities, and 4 Catholic associations, will participate. There will also be a delegation from the German Protestant Church (Evangelische Kirche Deutschland, EKD). (MS) (Agenzia Fides 08/10/2010)