Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lima (Fides Service) – In his first statement of the new year Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani, Archbishop of Lima announced “a Great Lima Mission with which the Catholic Church will promote new evangelisation in the capital to convince everyone in the archdiocese to draw closer to the Word of God”. He said that the purpose of Great Lima Mission is “to help the people of Peru’s capital city to renew their life in Christ, to make him the centre of life and to obtain from him strength and light to put new effort into being authentic Christians”. “We intend to reach out to every family in Lima, visiting each one of them carrying them the Word of God to remind them that Jesus lives in their hearts. The Mission aims to restore values in our country” Cardinal Cipriani said. The Mission will involve the entire archdiocese, parishes, clergy, religious, church movements, chaplaincies, confraternities and lay people.
Great Lima Mission has been planned in three stages:
PREPARATION: October 2003 to March 2004.
Objective: organise the mission, form missionaries and acquire necessary means. Missionaries will take part in brief but intense formation to contemplate anew the face of Christ through study, reflection and fervent prayer.
MISSION to carry the Gospel to all city dwellers:
25 March 2004 Solemnity of the Annunciation: City Mission official opening day in Lima Cathedral; the date will also mark the beginning of celebrations for the 400th anniversary of the consecration of Lima Cathedral. This stage will last 12 months to close on 25th March 2005.
CELEBRATION April 2005 to 27 April 2006, Feast of Saint Toribio of Mogrovejo, and the 400th anniversary of his death. This will be a year of celebration, events and initiatives with the objective of helping people to live the mystery of the Church as a mystery of communion..
In view of the Great Lima Mission Cardinal Cipriani issued a special letter addressed to the clergy, religious and lay Catholics in Lima archdiocese in which he encourages every parish to prepare for the mission with prayer and reflection, indispensable for embarking on the new evangelisation of Lima. He said that each parish should try to form a group of at least a hundred ‘city missionaries’ of various ages and walks of life and help them prepare to be “living, convincing and responsible witnesses of Christ”. Moreover the Cardinal urged everyone “ to strive to be salt and light of the City Mission each in the way suited to his or her state and circumstances”. The Cardinal Archbishop of Lima concluded his Letter placing the mission under the protection of “Our Lady of Evangelisation” and recommending the faithful to pray the Rosary for a fruitful and successful mission. (RG) (Fides Service 15/1/2004; lines 33; words 465)
