Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service)- “Duc in altum, Catholic Action. Take hold of the future with courage!” This call which the Pope John Paul II addressed to delegates attending the 11th Assembly of Catholic Action Italy on 26 April 2002, was chosen as the theme of the 1st Catholic Action International Congress which opened yesterday in Rome. The event, organised by Catholic Action Italy in collaboration with the Pontifical Council for the Laity, is part of a week of celebrations in preparation for a meeting with the Pope in Loreto on Sunday 5 September, (see Fides 31 August 2004). The Congress was introduced by Archbishop Stanislao Rylko, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity together with Bishop Francesco Lambiasi, Ecclesiastic Assistant of the International Catholic Action Forum FIAC and Catholic Action Italy, Beatriz Bozzetti Thomson, FAIC co-ordinator and Paola Bignardi, national president of Catholic Action Italy.
“Looking to the future with courage is an attitude born not of a decision of the will but of awareness and impulse of the memory of the precious gift which Catholic Action has been since it was founded” Pope John Paul II wrote in a message to the Congress participants. In his message he recalled the definition given by Pope Pius XI to Catholic (“a fruit of providential inspiration”) and said that thanks to this lay association “generations of faithful have come to realise their vocation through an itinerary of Christian formation which led them to fuller awareness of their responsibility for building up the Church, and stimulating apostolic activity in all the different environments of life”.
“If Catholic Action wishes to be the Spirit’s gift to the Church of our day, if it wishes to undertake a journey of holiness at the start of this third Christian millennium, it cannot fail to feel that it is authentically missionary” Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, said in his homily when he presided the open Celebration of the Eucharist. “As members of Catholic Action you learn to breathe at the school of holiness. In a few days time in Loreto the Holy Father will beatify two lay people and a priest who belonged to Catholic Action. Their lives provide the best evidence of the necessity of your Association in the Church” Cardinal Sepe concluded.
“We consider Catholic Action a pillar of lay apostolate in the Church of today and tomorrow” Archbishop Rylko told those present. Beatriz Bozzetti Thomson said during the Congress delegates will compare the different ways in which Catholic Action has taken root in various countries all over the world.
The Congress is attended by 200 representatives from about 30 different countries. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 1/9/2004 righe 38 parole 450)
