Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bogota (Agenzia Fides) - A “Summary of input for CELAM 5” which will serve the Bishops taking part in the May general conference in Aparecida, has been presented at CELAM head offices in Bogota, Colombia. The document is the result of months of work to examine contributions from 21 Bishops’ Conferences, CELAM departments, Roman Curia offices and other bodies. The material was examined by a special commission of bishops, theologians, and biblical scholars appointed by CELAM presidency.
The Summary consists of an introduction, 3 chapters and a conclusion. The introduction traces the history of the arrival in America of the faith which made it the Continent of Hope enabling it to enriche the path of the universal Church, and recognises profound impact of the Catholic faith on the history of the continent. “Thanks to the powerful working of the Holy Spirit the faith was welcomed. Decisive was the missionary work of religious and lay missionaries deeply concerned for the life and destiny of individuals and peoples". However today the "Christian and cultural identity is still fragile", and "processes of evangelisation are incomplete in many places …our Catholic tradition and personal option for the Lord must be profoundly rooted in the peoples and hearts of Latin America as a vivifying and transforming encounter with Christ... or it will become ever feebler and disappear in vast sectors of the people and this would be a tragic loss for our peoples and all Catholicism". This is the challenge which CELAM 5 will strive to discuss and answer .
Chapter 1 "Looking at our Peoples in the light of the Father’s Plan”, speaks of God’s love for the peoples of Latin America, a love which is offended by the sins of man. The reality of sin in America in is seen in recent phenomena such as the impact of globalisation, hegemony of the economic and technical-scientific factor, crisis to the family, culture; chapter 2 "Jesus Christ source of the fullness of life", give guidelines and criteria for discernment and mission based on Revelation. Chapter 3 "The Holy Spirit impels us to be disciples and missionaries", deals with the evangelising reality of the Church which, prompted and encouraged by the Holy Spirit who calls all Catholics to mission, draws inspiration for the lives of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Apostles and all the Saints. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 31/3/2007; righe 32, parole 458)
