VATICAN - The Pope receives a group of Bishops from New Zealand: “pressing need for Christ’s liberating message in a society experiencing the tragic consequences of the eclipse of the sense of God”

Tuesday, 14 September 2004

Vatican City (Fides Service) - “New Zealanders look to you to be men of hope, preaching and teaching with passion the splendour of Christ’s truth which dispels the darkness and illuminates the true path of life”. This was how Pope John Paul encouraged a group of Bishops from New Zealand in Rome for their ad limina visit whom he received in audience on 13 September at his Summer Residence in Castel Gandolfo.
Greeting the Bishops and their communities the Pope said: “Coming to see Peter (cf. Gal 1:18) from an island nation so distant, you attest to the strength of that communion which "safeguards legitimate differences and yet is vigilant to ensure that particularity not only does not harm unity but serves it" (Pastores Gregis, 57).)”. With regard to the situation in New Zealand, marked by secularism the Pope said, “The weakening in Sunday Mass observance, of which each of you has spoken with profound concern, dims the light of witness to Christ’s presence in your country. When Sunday becomes subordinate to a popular concept of "weekend" and is unduly dominated by entertainment and sport, rather than being truly sanctified and revitalised, people remain trapped in a relentless and often meaningless pursuit of novelty and fail to experience the freshness of Christ’s "living water" (Jn 4:11).”
From the sacred Liturgy “the Church draws strength for her mission of evangelisation”: this is a duty for every Christian which cannot be neglected. “Sent by the Lord himself into the vineyard - the home, schools, the workplace, civic organisations - Christ’s disciples find no time for "standing idle in the marketplace" (Mt 20:3), nor can they be so absorbed by the internal aspects of parish life that they are distracted from the command to evangelise others actively”. Challenges facing the Church in New Zealand include to defend of the sanctity and uniqueness of marriage “any attempt to equate marriage with other forms of cohabitation violates its unique role in God’s plan for humanity.”
At the cultural level the Pope expressed his appreciation for the “exceptional” contribution offered by Catholic schools to the evangelisation of culture, and he thanked numerous lay people and religious who devote themselves to catechesis and religious education, calling on religious of apostolic life in particular to strengthen their commitment for educational and scholastic apostolate, and he said “I urge Religious to propose afresh to young people the ideal of consecration and mission found in the various states of ecclesial life which together exist "that the world may believe" (Jn 17:21).”. Lastly the Pope said he joined them in thanking God for the generous cooperation and pastoral commitment of their priests.
In his address to the Pope on behalf of the Bishops at the beginning of the audience, the President of the Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Denis George Browne of Hamilton, said that the Conference is a closely knit group of Bishops who know that distance calls for a great depth of support and prayerful communion with you as the Vicar of Christ. I can assure you, Holy Father, that the Bishops of New Zealand consider themselves to be your loyal collaborators. They are dedicated Bishops who take to heart the strong teaching that you give to the whole Church and call upon their own people to make that teaching their own.” In 2001 the Bishops met to reflect on the apostolic Letter “Novo Millennio Ineunte”: after a week of prayer and reflection each bishops returned to his diocese determined to refresh the life of his diocese and to work in close communion with the other Bishops. One of the fruits was an assembly for all of the diocesan priests in Aotearoa New Zealand which was a great success. Bishop Browne also told the Pope about the generous commitment of local priests, religious and laity in the life of the Church and in vocation promotion who face many serious challenges in the secularised society of today. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 14/9/2004 - Righe 43; Parole 597)


Share: