AMERICA/MEXICO - “The Bishop must never let himself be so concerned by local problems as lose sight of openness and universality”, the president of the Mexican Bishops’ Conference said in his address to open 78th Plenary Assembly

Mexico City (Fides Service) - Yesterday, November 8 at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe the Catholic Bishops of Mexico gathered for the opening Mass of their 78th plenary assembly. The Mass was presided by the President of the Bishops’ Conference Bishop Jose G. Martin Rabago of Leon. The plenary assembly will be held at Cuautitlan Izcalli 8-12 November.
In his homily the Bishop said the assembly will reflect on the recent Church documents with regard to the ministry of the Bishop “Apostolus Suos”, “Pastores Gregis”, “Apostolorum Succesores”. Considering the vast amount of material, reflections will focus on the theme “The significance and importance of communion among the bishops and its consequences on the structures of the Bishops’ Conference ”.
With regard to the importance of communion, he posed a question to his brother bishops: “Could the spiritual poverty of some of our particular Churches be due to a lack of openness and sharing? Perhaps we lack the courage to offer the little we have? “Communion cannot be merely a vague sentiment, instead, like the concrete actions of the Good Samaritan, it should lead us to offer brotherly help to those most in need sharing material resources and church personnel.”
“Our behaviour will be an educational example especially for our priests and will help them change a mentality which takes into account only the needs of their respective Particular Churches” the Bishop said.
“Although the best way to serve the Universal Church, is to serve one’s Particular Church to help it grow in faith, love and unity, a Bishop must never let himself be so concerned with local problems as to lose sight of openness and universality”, the President of the Mexican Bishops’ Conference concluded. (Agenzia Fides 9/11/2004 righe 33 parole 338)