Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Quito (Agenzia Fides) - In view of the 3rd American Mission Congress (CAM 3) in August 2008, the diocese of Quito in Ecuador hosted in August this year the 1st Missiology Symposium attended by 90 delegates from 14 Latin American countries. The Symposium, 1 - 5 August (see Fides 11/7/2006), focused on in-depth reflection on mission in view of the world today, preparation of contents to contribute to CAM 3 working paper and contributions in a missionary key for the 5th General CELAM Conference.
Osvaldo Fierro Teran, executive CAM 3 secretary told Fides that the Symposium focussed on three basic subjects: Pentecost, Discipleship and Evangelisation with two conferences and a work group for each theme. The Symposium opened with Mass presided by the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Ecuador, Bishop Néstor Herrera of Malachia, who in his homily said the Symposium was an opportunity to reflect on the Church and her missionary discipleship. Bishop Herrera also stressed the great importance which Ecuador attributes to the preparation and celebration of CAM 3.
Pentecost and “Community guided by the Holy Spirit”, was the theme treated by SVD Fr Lauren Fernandez, Bishops’ Conference secretary who said the aim of the working of the Spirit is to give life to the Church founded by Jesus Christ and he added that every sign of life in the Church is the work of the Holy Spirit. Missiology expert and missionary in Bolivia Fr. John Gorski spoke about the relation between the Gospel, culture and inculturation and the theology of revelation. Colombian Fr. Hugo Martinez, a Biblical scholar presented a biblical vision of discipleship “ongoing listening to God and his will”, starting with Adam and Eve to the disciples of Jesus, with applications for mission. Bishop Vittorino Giraldi of Tilaran (Costa Rica) also spoke of Discipleship in relation to the world of today marked by cultural and religious change, increasing secularisation, detachment from cultural and religious roots, focussing on: prayer life, evangelisation, prophetic aspect of charity and hope … in the context of the reality of families today.
The last day was devoted to the theme of Missionary Community for Evangelisation. The questions “How to evangelise today” was answered by Brazilian Biblical scholar Fr. José Ademar Kaefer, SVD, who said the gift of the Spirit brings joy and also a duty to mission with often difficult consequences. Once received the Spirit impels us to reach out to others. He said it should not be forgotten that the Church in Latin America is formed of lay people. Prof. Oscar Arango, a lay man who teaches theology at the Javeriana University of Colombia, spoke about the difficulty of being Good News for the suffering world of today.
Discussion groups focussed on the conference themes and proposals for a slogan for CAM 3. In the closing address Bishop Luis Sanchez Armijos of Tulcan said the meeting had been an opportunity to grow in awareness that the Church works with the power of the Holy Spirit who impels us along the line proposed by Pope John Paul II: “work with renewed ardour”. Bishop José Vicente Conejero Gallegos of Formosa (Argentina) president of the Argentinean Bishops’ missions department presided the closing Mass of the Symposium. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 1/9/2006; righe 48, parole 639)
