Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Belém do Pará (Fides Service) - From 9-11 March one of Brazil’s two main Marian Shrines the Basilica of Our Lady of Nazareth in Belém do Pará will host a Symposium of Marian Pastoral. The Symposium, which will bring together rectors of Shrines from all over Latin America, is part of preparations for CELAM 5 the General Conference of the Council of Latin American Bishops’ Conferences to be held in Brazil in May at Aparecida. The president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Brazil Archbishop Angelo Geraldo Majella of São Salvatore dà Baia, underlines the importance of CELAM 5: "The college of bishops and the entire Church in America with gather with Mary the Mother of Jesus, as when the Church was born. With Mary she will invoke the Holy Spirit, strive to discern and recognise God’s calls and his plans for the life or our peoples so we may set out with great faith and courage for mission”.
The Symposium will be opened by CELAM president Cardinal Francisco Javier Errázuriz Ossa Archbishop of Santiago of Chile. Present also Cardinal Geraldo Majella, Archbishop Orani João Tempesta of Belèm, and apostolic nuncio in Brazil, Archbishop Lorenzo Baldisseri. Themes for reflection will include: "Mary, educator of disciples and missionaries in pastoral work in Latin America and the Caribbean"; "Aparecida: a Marian Shrine and the Catholics of Brazil. History, devotions and experience of the faith and the Church"; "The Rosary: Marian prayer to learn to be disciples and missionaries of Jesus Christ"; "Mary and the Latin American woman"; "Mary: faith, popular religiosity and devotion. The Ecclesial role of Shrines"; "With Mary on the way to CELAM 5". (RG) (Agenzia Fides 8/3/2007; righe 20, parole 282)
