Bogota (Fides Service) - At the conclusion of the second continental meeting of American missionary laity organised by the Missions Department of the Council of Latin American Bishops Conferences (CELAM), in Bogota Colombia, 20-23 March, the participants renewed their commitment to promote mission ad gentes ad intra and ad extra. At the meeting there were members of missionary institutions, the Pontifical Mission Societies and representatives of dioceses from 13 countries. "In union with our pastors and the American pilgrim people of God we want to testify to our missionary vocation by taking part and assuming the commitments taken by CAM 2 and COMLA 7 to be held in Guatemala City 25-30 November 2003. We want to tell the world with our testimony: <Church, our life is mission ad gentes>.". The Congress members declare: "Our situation today in the world challenges us, and as baptised Christians, we vow to commit ourselves with priority in the mission of the Church:
- Through missionary activity ad gentes addressed to those who do not know Jesus of Nazareth as the Son of God'
-Renewing ordinary pastoral addressed to those who already believe in Jesus Christ;
- Reaching out through new Evangelisation to those who no longer follow Jesus and have abandoned the Church.
In consequence of these commitments missionary laity trace certain lines of action: plan and carry out service of communion and participation in the particular Churches and with missionary instances of animation, formation, cooperation and organisation of the existing lay missionary forces; engages in anthropological, pastoral and missionary reflection to outline gradually the identity and profile of missionary laity; foster a service of communion and exchange of information and missionary support to answer the questions and needs of the particular Churches; keep a network of information and communication that animates, updates and stimulates progress in reaching prefixed objectives; plan short term operative plan in view of the participation of missionary laity in the 2nd American Missionary Congress. RZ (Fides Service 28/3/2003 EM lines 30 Words: 350)