Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – There have been 104 Bishops appointed in the last 2 years (2006-2008) in the ecclesiastical circumscriptions that depend on the Missionary Dicastery and who are now in Rome participating in a Study Seminar sponsored by the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. The workshops began with the recitation of Vespers on the evening of September 7, and will end on September 20 with a Mass at Saint Peter’s Tomb and an audience with the Holy Father Benedict XVI. The Bishops participating are from 44 countries: 24 from Africa (56 Bishops), 9 from Asia (31 Bishops), 8 from America (10 Bishops), and 3 from Oceania (7 Bishops).
The goal of the Study Seminar, which continues being a tradition since 1994 when the Dicastery began holding it, is to offer all the recently appointed Bishops an opportunity to pray, reflect, and deepen in their life and ministry as Bishops, especially in the first several years, where they can experience certain difficulties and problems. The talks will be given with this objective in mind. The speakers are highly accredited persons from the ecclesial world. Among the speakers in past years was the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.
The first talk in this year’s Seminar, which is taking place in the Pontifical School of Saint Paul the Apostle, was on “the relevance of the Mission Ad Gentes in the world and the Church today,” given by Monsignor Gianni Colzani. On Monday (September 8), Archbishop Robert Sarah, Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, spoke on the Universities and Schools that depend on the Congregation. On September 9, Fr. Vito del Prete, PIME, Secretary General of the Pontifical Missionary Union, explained the structures, capacity, and activity of the PMS. The Prefect of the Congregation, Cardinal Ivan Dias, will speak on the origin, development, and capacities of the Missionary Dicastery and will reflect on some of the challenges being faced in the missionary world today, on September 10. Other speakers during the Seminar include the following Cardinals: Angelo Comastri (Spirituality of the Bishop), William Levada (Munus docendi), John Njue (Munus gubernandi), Oswald Gracias (pastoral programs and diocesan structures for collaboration), Francis Arinze (Munus sanctificandi), Paul Josef Cordes (charitable organizations in missionary countries), Claudio Hummes (paternity and the priesthood), Zenon Grocholewski (formation for seminaries and the clergy), Renato R. Martino (Social doctrine), Jean Louis Tauran (interreligious dialogue), Attilio Nicora (administrative service). The following Bishops and Archbishops will also speak: Nicola Eterovic (the Synod of Bishops), Claudio Maria Celli (mass media for evangelization), Elio Sgreccia (family and life), Gianfranco Gardin (consecrated life), Velasio de Paolis (administration of justice), Dominique Mamberti (diplomatic relations). Other speakers include: Msgr. Scotti (author’s rights, publications…), Fr. Koonamparampil (praxis of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples), and Ms. Peeters (the family in the post-modern culture).
On September 14, the Bishops will take a pilgrimage to Orvieto and Bolsena, and on the 16, they will visit the Basilica of Saint Paul, where they will celebrate Mass. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 10/9/2008)
