Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Mexico City (Agenzia Fides) - As part of preparations in local Churches for CELAM 5, a Continental Meeting on Marian Pastoral has been organised render more profound the encounter with the living Jesus Christ, by means of Marian devotion. The meeting will take place 27 September to 1 October in Cuautitlán, birth place of Saint Juan Diego. Some celebrations during the Meeting will be held in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
In the context of the Meeting, there will be the closing of a Theological-Pastoral Marian Congress focussing on Latin American Catholics’ love and devotion for the Blessed Virgin Mary. Participants will seek to identify new ways for priests and other pastoral workers to encourage Marian devotion which leads to a more profound encounter with the Risen Lord Jesus, strengthens ties with the Church, gives new impulse to liturgical participation, catechetical formation, community life, missionary and charity work, and the evangelisation of culture, in other words all dimensions of Christian life.
The Theological-Pastoral Marian Congress will have four themes: “Mary, Mother and Model and formator of disciples and missionaries of Jesus Christ " (FR. Stefano Di Fiores, SMM); "The Marian principle: key to Marian pastoral and pedagogy in discipleship for mission" (Fr. Joaquín Alliende, SCH); "Dimensions and Growth of Marian Spirituality" (Fr. Jesus Castigliano Cervera, OCD); "Pastoral guidelines to illuminate and encourage Marian pastoral" (Fr. Francisco Petrillo OMD). Work shops will focus on key dimensions: Mary in the Church; Mary in popular piety and shrines; Mary "woman of the Eucharist"; Mary and women today; Mary and our social commitment; Mary in art; Mary in catechesis...
The invitation is addressed to the cardinals and bishops of Latin America, bishop presidents of Bishops’ Commissions for Popular Pastoral and Shrines, diocesan heads of Marian Pastoral, professors of pastoral theology in seminaries and institutes and those with special responsibilities in this area. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 17/6/2006; righe 30, parole 361)
