Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - Archbishop Raymundo Damasceno Assis of Aparecida, President of CELAM (the Latin American Bishops’ Council), and Auxiliary Bishop Victor Sanchez Espinosa of Mexico City, Secretary General of CELAM, are in Rome for the May 9th celebration of the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. They have also presented members of the Roman Curia with the most recently published documents of CELAM. Among them was CELAM’s Global Plan for the 4-year term of 2007-2011, as well as the Document of the Continental Mission and the commemorative video of Aparecida.
The Document on the Continental Mission, which was recently published in preparation for the Great Continental Mission, has been carefully revised and the ad hoc committee compiled all the suggestions that were made and finally, it was approved by the Presidents of the Bishops’ Conferences as an orientation guide and instrument of synchronization in this great missionary urge of the Spirit. The document unites the spirit, objectives, and basic plan outline, for the visible effect of communion. It is divided into three chapters: A Missionary Church on the Continent, The Continental Mission, and Pastoral Suggestions for the Continental Mission.
According to Bishop Sanchez, the Bishops’ Conferences and dioceses from each country will be responsible for concretizing the process of the Great Mission that will be launched August 17, in the Third American Missionary Congress (CAM 3). However, some signs and actions will be in common, as an expression of their communion - such as the handing-out of Bibles and a brochure with a brief catechesis on the meaning of the Mission; a common Mission prayer, the logo, the formation material for missionaries, and the material that is distributed. All the countries will also hold several special celebrations on the important feast days of the liturgical year, such as Epiphany, Easter, Pentecost, and the Marian feast of each country. Each country is asked to make a significant contribution in the form of activity, on a social level.
The celebration on Friday of the 50th anniversary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the proclamation of Saint Toribio of Mogrovejo as Patron of the Latin American Bishops by Servant of God John Paul II, will take place in an Academic Event at the Pontifical University Urbaniana. In the event, there will be talks from Bishop Octavio Ruiz, Vice-President of the CAL, who will speak on the 50th anniversary of the CAL, and Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani, Archbishop of Lima (Peru), who will present the figure of Saint Toribio de Mogrovejo. In addition, during the event there will also be a presentation of the book on the General Conference in Aparecida, one year after its occurrence. In the afternoon, there will be a Mass held in a Church in Rome. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 7/5/2008; righe 37, parole 469)
