Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Aparecida (Fides Service) - During a report on the activity of 5th General Conference of the Bishops' Conferences of Latin America and the Caribbean on Monday 21 May the bishops presented ideas for the final document. Present at the media conference Archbishop Orani Joao Tempesta of Belen de Pará in Brazil, Bishop José Luis Lacunza of David diocese in Panama and CELAM 5 Executive Coordinator Father David Gutiérrez.
Bishop Lacunza said that in the first week the presidents of Bishops' Conferences had presented the situations in their countries. Some also reported on local reflection on the theme in preparation of the Conference. Keeping in mind these contributions and following the working paper the bishops indicated priority themes for final document to focus on three main areas: disciples, missionaries and life.
The Bishops presented a schema with seven subtitles: 1 - Latin America and the Caribbean today - will focus on the epochal changes, the socio-cultural situation, environmental damage and globalisation, indigenous and Afro-descendent cultures, and the Church in modern times. 2. The joy of being disciples and missionaries of Jesus Christ - the initiative of God the Father, the gift of Jesus Christ, creation and responsibility for the environment, the gift of the family, life and hope. 3. - Our vocation as disciples and missionaries - reflection on the call to holiness, discipleship and the different paths of vocation; 4. The Community of the disciples and missionaries of Jesus Christ - the call to Trinitarian communion, the Church as school and home of communion and ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue. 6. Itinerary of Missionary Disciples, the mission of missionary disciples. 7. Pastoral conversion and different areas of pastoral work : mission ad gentes, pastoral of culture, urban pastoral and Catholic universities. These themes chosen for the final document will be examined and studied by commissions and sub-commissions created within CELAM 5. (F.P.) (Agenzia Fides 22/5/2007; righe 27, parole 374)
