Vatican City (Fides Service) – “Be examples of brotherhood and prayer. Let us continue along this path of fraternal friendship, aware of our call to holiness. Getting to know each other personally facilitates building relations and keeping in touch. Thank you for your availability and cooperation: we will pray for you but you must pray for us. I assure you of the Holy Father’s affection and closeness”, Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples affirmed when he said goodbye to the 170 newly ordained Bishops from English speaking mission territories who had taken part in special Seminar in Rome 8-21 September.
On the last day the Bishops voiced satisfaction for the Seminar: “We lived an experience of communion and have realised that this is the path for relations between us and the universal Church” some said. “This encounter revealed to us the paternity and maternity of God, it reminded us that we are called to be holy and to be new creatures, new Bishops. Strengthened in faith we will return to our countries to carry ahead the mission of the Church”. Bishop Angelito Limpon, Vicar Apostolic of Jolo AP. Vicariate southern Philippines voiced his sentiments: “Our hearts are overflowing with joy. We pray to the Lord to grant that we may always be witnesses of the truth, worthy servants of Jesus Christ. We hope to meet again soon” The Bishops agreed that the initiative produced fruits of communion and will be useful for evangelisation, because it allowed them to get to know the situation in mission Churches all over the world and gave helpful indications for pastoral duties as shepherds of their flock.
Father Jozef Kuc, rector of the San Paolo College where the Seminar was held, said “the experience was a great joy also for us: we are always happy to cooperate with initiatives organised by the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples”. PA (Fides Service 22/9/2003 EM lines 32 Words: 332)