Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lisbon (Agenzia Fides) - This weekend Catholic dioceses all over Portugal will begin a variety of initiatives organised to celebrate the Year of St Paul, convoked by Pope Benedict XVI. A Bishops' Conference statement recalls that during this Year of Paul a meeting of Synod of Bishops will be held in the Vatican on the theme of the Word of God and "Paul, the great Apostle of the Word, - the Bishops say - can guide us to discover the real place of God's Word in the life and mission of the Church ".
The Bishops hope the Year of St Paul will bear much fruit for the Church in Portugal. They say Saint Paul is an example for promoting new evangelisation. "As in St Paul's time the Church today may be tempted to announce the Good News only to the members of her flock who know her voice and her laws, and find it difficult to announce Jesus Christ to an ever more secularised world”.
The Year of St Paul should give new impulse to announcing the Gospel to lapse Catholics and non believers. "Paul was one of the greatest evangelisers of all times and he is still an inspiration and an example of enthusiastic evangelisation and the kerigmatic nature of this proclamation". The Bishops recall that "evangelising is not a programme it is love for Christ and for others …love for Christ is what drives St Paul to evangelise as a co-worker with God ”.
The Bishops say the year will be an opportunity to "improve catechesis and pastoral activity to intensify Christian formation of our people", because in his catechesis Paul "never separates the personal life of the Christian from the life of the Church". The Year of Paul is a time to reflect on the “truth of the Church and how to foster unity in the great variety of charisma which enrich the Church of our times " the Bishops affirm.
Among the material prepared for the year the Bishops propose a catechetical itinerary for "Walking the Year with St Paul". They encourage the faithful to live the Liturgy with more intensity. The National Liturgy Commission has prepared and distributed special material to help parishes work in this field. Faculties and Schools of theology will over special sessions on St Paul. On 25 January 2009, the feast of the Conversion of Paul, a national Mass of St Paul will be celebrated at Holy Trinity Church in Fatima.
Finally, 'Paul, Apostle of Jesus Christ', a travelling exhibition on St Paul, prepared by St Paul Publications, will travel the whole country during this Year of St Paul. The exhibition focuses on Paul's conversion, mission and letters, and apostolic journeys. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 27/6/2008)
