Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne, Archbishop of Lima, was recently in Rome for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. In an interview with Agenzia Fides, during his stay in the city, he explained the meaning and progress of the Great Mission of Lima, which he himself has organized.
Your Eminence, could you explain what the Fifth General Conference of Aparecida has implied for the Americas, one year later?
Aparecida is a voice of hope, of encouragement, and a call to action. That is to say, Aparecida tells us: “Wake up, the Lord is calling you.” I think that Aparecida had a very unique character and that is why we can call it the “experience of Aparecida.” It was an experience motivated by the place, the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the daily Mass. All these aspects contributed to a climate of prayer that took shape in the final document. Aparecida has been an invitation to come to meet the Lord. A person begins to be Christian from an experience of meeting the Lord and that is exactly what was experienced in Aparecida. There are three main aspects that I would point out from the Aparecida experience. First, a serious call to formation, to the Catholic identity on all levels. Second, a strong call to the spirituality of communion, the sacramental life, a Eucharistic life with a strong spiritual tone. And third, a clear resolution to love one’s neighbor, as charity should be the distinctive quality of the Church’s social action in all areas.
The Fifth Conference concluded, moreover, with a call to a Great Continental Mission. However, this mission must begin in the heart and mind of each Pastor of each local Church. In the end, he is the one ultimately responsible for the mission in his Diocese.
Lima has been the first diocese to begin this Great Mission. How is it being carried out? What are its goals?
Exactly. We began the Great Mission in Lima with a Mass celebrated in the Cathedral on April 28, feast of Saint Toribio of Mogrovejo, Patron of the Latin American Bishops. The main task of the Great Mission is to intensify our evangelization effort in reaching out to the people with renewed zeal and simple expressions, as it is the principal mission of the Church. We have also placed emphasis on the parish formation courses for the laity and catechesis in preparation for the Sacraments of Christian Initiation. The Mission is made up of various phases. The first phase is to form schools of formation in parishes and movements. The movements and religious congregations that carry out pastoral activities in the Archdiocese, remaining faithful to their own charisms, should also organize schools of formation, with particular emphasis on the religion classes in schools, high schools, and universities. We have published a guide for reading and putting into practice the content of the conclusive document of Aparecida, in its 6th chapter: “The itinerary for formation of missionary disciples” and during these first few months we are making a special effort in the formation of missionaries.
Then, we will move into the stage of visits, not only homes, but hospitals, prisons, and schools, so that everywhere there can be a “cenacle,” that is to say, a place where the family can receive formation. There will also be “cenacles” formed on a local neighborhood level, which will meet twice a week, meditating on the Word of God. In the visits, we distribute pamphlets that we have made with the various themes and then “cenacles” are formed.
All of this will imply a great effort during the first year. The second stage, which will begin April 27, 2009, will offer a series of events for various different groups of people. For example, we are planning a Youth Encounter, a Symposium on the Family and Mass, a Marian Symposium and Mass, an Encounter with the World of Culture, a Giant Catechesis Contest for school children, an Encounter with the world of Health Care, a Symposium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, and an Encounter with the Working World.
Finally, in the Third Year, we are planning a Eucharistic and Marian Congress. With that in mind, there will be Eucharistic and Marian feast days celebrated in anticipation.
Therefore, in this Great Mission, we have tried to bring everything down to a practical level. There are not so many structures, just a central Commission that is in charge of setting dates, themes, and a Pastoral Commission that responds to the needs in each moment.
We are trying to make it a mission for all and of all. We have also held preparatory meetings with each movement.
What fruits are to be expected from this activity?
We ask that God grant us five fruits from this Mission. First, the participation in Sunday Mass followed by an encounter with the Living Christ in the Eucharistic Adoration and with that in mind, place special care in the Chapels of Eucharistic Adoration. Second, the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation, that is, foster the right conditions for the administration of the sacraments, so that they are received after a thorough formation, without unnecessary delays, and with an effort to adjust schedules so that parents and godparents can attend the preparatory talks. In this sense, it will also be important that the priests dedicate time in administering the Sacrament of Reconciliation so that the hope and joy of conversion can be a source of strength in living the Christian life. We also encourage the recitation of the Rosary in the family, and lastly, volunteer work as an expression of charity. There are an abundance of ways to serve others, whether it is in visiting the neighbors, with catechism classes, visiting the sick, the elderly, those in prison...We do not want to limit ourselves to a sort of ideology, but rather encourage them to give of their time, give of themselves. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 13/5/2008; righe 85, parole 997)
