AMERICA/MEXICO - “We urge you all to prepare to undertake the Great Continental Mission, to go out to those most distant from the Church and to take up the challenge to re-evangelise the baptised more deeply ”: Message from Mexican delegation at Aparecida

Mexico City (Agenzia Fides) - A call to "renew the fire of the Holy Spirit to experience a personal encounter with the living Jesus Christ and, as disciples follow Him with constancy and dynamism" was launched by the Mexican delegation present in Aparecida for the 5th General Conference of the Council of Bishops' Conferences of Latin America and the Caribbean in Aparecida which concluded 31 May. The delegation was composed of 17 bishops, 2 priests, one permanent deacon, one lay consecrated woman and two lay men. The message urged all the Catholics of Mexico, especially the pastoral agents, to enhance their identity as disciples and missionaries of Jesus Christ "so that the whole nation may have life in Him".
The delegation called on "priests to respond to their vocation with enthusiasm and, faithful in their mission and confident in the primate of grace, dedicate more time to finding ways to fortify the faith of baptised Catholics". They say that the commitment assumed during the Conference to live as a continent in a permanent state of mission, must involve every diocese and parish. "In harmony with the 5th Conference- the Message states- inspired by Our Lady of Guadalupe, perfect disciple and missionary, with the example of our holy martyr and confessor saints, we urge you all to prepare to undertake the Great Continental Mission, to go out to those most distant from the Church and take up the challenge to re-evangelise the baptised more deeply…We welcome with enthusiasm the final Document and hope it will orient, renew and strengthen our pastoral work " the message concludes. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 4/6/2007; righe 19, parole 277)