Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) - The Pontifical Council for Culture and the Conference of Catholic Brazilian Bishops inaugurate today the first meeting for Catholic Cultural Centres in Brazil, taking place in Joao until October 7-8 when it will move to Sao Paulo. The theme of the meeting: “Catholic Cultural Centres: un forum for dialogue between Catholic identity and globalisation, non belief and ethnic pluralism”.
This is the first meeting in Brazil with these traits and it is a continuation of the Pontifical Council for Culture’s activity to build a network of these centres on the continent of America.
The first part of the Seminar will focus on challenges to Catholic identity in rural areas. In his opening address the President of the Pontifical Council for Culture Cardinal Paul Poupard, will speak on the mission of these centres in the light of three important events for the Church in America: Santo Domingo, the Synod for America and the document issued by the Pontifical Council for Culture “For a Pastoral of Culture”. These documents help analyse the challenges delle rural world in America, dove il rapid process of urbanisation impoverishes rural areas robbing it of its resources. At the same time the invasion of sects contributes to the loss of identity of the Catholic communities.
From 7 to 8 October the Seminar will move to Sao Paulo. This second part will be devoted to the Catholic identity in urban areas. Cardinal Poupard will speak about dialogue as a means of evangelisation in cities.
In conclusion on October 11 October Cardinal Poupard will be in Bogota in Colombia to open a new House for the formation of Cultural Pastoral Workers promoted by the Council of Latin American Bishops’ Conferences CELAM in view of the next CELAM Meeting in Rome in 2007.
(AP) (4/10/2004 Agenzia Fides; Righe:27; Parole:302)
