Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Oaxaca (Agenzia Fides) - In preparation for 5th General Conference of the Council of Latin American Bishops’ Conferences CELAM which will take place in May 2007 at Aparecida, Brazil, the Mexican Bishops’ Commission for Pastoral Care of Indigenous Peoples has organised a series of meeting for indigenous priests, religious and laity, we are told by secretary adjunct of the Commission Sister Celsa Hernández.
From 5 to 8 June in Oaxaca there will be the 13th meeting for Indigenous priests with the presence of the president of the Bishops’ Commission Bishop Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel. The central element of the meeting will be the presentation of a Participation Form to be sent to the CELAM offices. Follow this on 19 and 21 June in Mexico City there will be the 6th meeting for Indigenous laity on the themes: "Longing for happiness, reality, brotherhood and peace"; "Since the arrival of the Gospel in America we live our faith with gratitude"; "Disciples and missionaries of Jesus Christ"; "At the start of the third millennium" and "That our countries may have life in Him". In the framework of the Guadalupe Holy Year being celebrated in Mexico to mark the 475th anniversary of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in that place, on 20 June there will be Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe presided by Bishop Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel. Also planned is a 9th meeting for Indigenous women religious to be held in Orizaba, which will focus on deepening awareness of indigenous Christian spirituality to enrich religious consecration in order to offer indigenous communities ever better pastoral care. The participants will focus on two themes: Spirituality of Indigenous life in the light of Revelation and the Teaching of the Church; Signs and symbols of indigenous spirituality. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 30/5/2006; righe 21, parole 286)
