Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bogota (Agenzia Fides) – The Colombian Bishops' Conference has sent Fides the letter issued by the ethnic section of the Conference. This letter is distributed as a conclusion of the National Encounter of Priests, Religious, and Indigenous Lay Leaders held last week. (See Fides 15/10/2010)
The letter begins by presenting the concerns that appear in the dialogue with Bishop Edgar Hernando Tirado Mazo, President of the Commission of Missions of the Episcopal Conference, and in the context of the meeting held October 18 to 20 and highlights the missionary work of the native priests. It also confirms the process of evangelization in the various communities.
"We are very pleased to have been called to the task of evangelization as disciples of Jesus in the Catholic Church. We feel like a home and refuge for the people we represent," reads the first part of the letter. "We believe it is a great responsibility to be able to faithfully and honestly administer the grace we have received,” the text continues.
"We are willing to look critically at the various processes of evangelization that occur in our communities, in order to promote a new evangelization, new methods, and new expressions. We see with concern the challenges imposed on us by the global culture that is influencing our ancestral cultures, undermining our identity. Thus, we feel motivated to work vigorously for the consolidation of a pluralist society, which excludes no one and that is open to intercultural dialogue."
In the second part of the letter, they thank the efforts made by the indigenous community and the Episcopal Conference, and invite all the pastors of the Church to enter into the dynamics of diversity in pastoral care, to ensure that the treatment of indigenous peoples can respect and consider our spirituality and cultural traditions.
"We believe it is important to strengthen the use of media (web pages, Internet, etc.) and build a database of peoples, indigenous people and indigenous pastoral staff, to promote fellowship in the Church. We are encouraged to assume responsibility for the missionary work of the Catholic Church, for the welfare of our native peoples, and in order to clearly present a Church with an indigenous face and heart," concludes the letter. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 10/27/2010)
