AMERICA/MEXICO - “The encounter with Peter strengthens bonds of communion between our local Churches and the Church of Rome” says Archbishop of Durango on ad limina visit. Pastoral priorities include catechesis and parishes

Wednesday, 7 September 2005

Rome (Fides Service) - “The encounter with Peter, today in the person of Benedict XVI strengthens the bonds of communion between our local Churches and the Church of Rome and with the Holy Father” said Archbishop Héctor González Martínez of Durango Mexico, in Rome on the ad limina visit with several other Mexican prelates”. Speaking to Fides the Archbishop said: “I noted that the Holy Father is truly gifted with many qualities and charisma and that God has blessed the Church with this Pope. We know that God always gives the Church the right Pope for the times and this is true again with Benedict XVI. He is the Pope we needed, with his ability, his vision and his gentle kindness, respect and humility, as the vicar of Jesus Christ, Head of the Church”.
With regard to pastoral priorities in his area the archbishop mentioned a diocesan pastoral plan launched some years ago focused on six priorities: evangelisation, catechesis and liturgy, social pastoral, family, youth and formation ad gentes. “We have been working in these areas for the past few years and one important result is that the Plan is gradually building a mentality, a culture, of pastoral planning”. The Plan has several new projects for the coming years. “In 2006 we will launch a year long Diocesan Mission from 6 January to 12 December. We intend to involve our own parish and community pastoral operators in the mission - the Archbishop explained -. Rather than ask other priests and religious to come from outside. In 2007 we plan to launch an intense Campaign of Catechesis on the basis of the new Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church throughout the territory. In 2008 we hope to start work on parishes to help them gradually become a ‘community of communities’, that is, a series of small communities which vivify the parish community”.
Although in Durango compared to other parts of Mexico, violence is not such a serious phenomenon, there exists a problem of drug trafficking and drug abuse with peddlers even at school gates. The Archbishop said that his archdiocese “like many other parts of the country, feels the influence of ideological currents of weak post-modern thought including currents which attack the family, marriage and human life. In Durango the family institution is still valued in theory but in pratice there is a sort of division, on the one hand families bear the sign of baptism, but on the other they are subject to strong influence from outside and consume all society has to offer. This is why many dioceses including Durango, have the family as a priority because today it is the institute most threatened in its foundations, its nature. We urge parishes to encourage people to protect and promote families although not all our priests are really aware of the real danger in the present situation” the Archbishop concluded. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 7/9/2005, righe 34, parole 503)


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