EUROPE/SPAIN - Missionary activity of European Church in Latin America

Madrid (Agenzia Fides) – This past October 27-28, the annual encounter of the European Bishops' Organizations for Latin America was held in Madrid. This encounter, that boasts of a 10-year tradition, is attended by representatives from across the continent of Europe who work in areas of formation, sending, and accompaniment of missionaries present in Latin America, especially those linked to missionary cooperation among local churches (Fidei Donum priests and laity).
Representatives from Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium, and Italy, along with others from Poland, Germany, and Ireland who were unable to attend, participated in an encounter with Archbishop Octavio Ruiz, Vice-President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, and Bishop Baltazar Porras, Vice-President of CELAM (Latin American Bishops' Council). Agenzia Fides asked Fr. Alberto Brignoli, leader of the Latin American Commission of the CUM Foundation of Verona, who participated in the encounter in representation of Italy, to offer a synthesis of the main themes addressed.
“Bishop Porras spoke of the missionary commitment of the Church in Latin America following the launching of the Great Continental Mission. From his presentation, it was seen that the Church in Latin America has decisively made the step from 'evangelized' to 'evangelizer.' Through various parts of its history, recently marked by the documents published by CELAM, the Church in Latin America and the Caribbean has now understood the need to maintain itself in a 'permanent state of mission,' whose main objectives are the promotion of a profound conversion (personal and pastoral), the increase of permanent formation, the need to reach every marginalized sector of the continent with the Gospel and communication of fullness of life in Christ as a place for reconciliation and peace.
Through the attentive study that comes from his privileged observation, Archbishop Ruiz presented the challenges and hopes now present in Latin America. His words showed the situation on the Latin American continent from a political and economic viewpoint...the social-cultural viewpoint (characterized by the phenomenon of globalization accompanied by relativism, secularization, heightened violence...), and from a religious viewpoint (in which you see a Church that has benefited from 500 years of evangelization but that has suffered a great weakening in Christian life due to various internal and external factors).
In this context, there are also signs of hope in the Latin American Church, such as the growth of an ecclesial protagonism, in social sectors formerly marginalized, the appreciation of faith and tradition, the rediscovery of the family as a small domestic Church, the daily, silent, and self-giving witness of many priests, religious, and laity, the constant energy of the smaller parishes, the preferential option for the poor and younger generations, the reinforcement of the lay associations, apostolic movements, and itineraries of Christian formation.
In the dialogue that followed, the European representatives determined several guidelines that – taking into account the reality presented – can offer points of reference in the missionary activity of the European Churches. Among these were: the centrality of formation before going on the mission and constant renewal in the places of mission, with a particular attention to the laity; greater coordination among ecclesiastical institutions with their dioceses, the missionaries, etc; exchange of ecclesiastical and missionary experiences among various European Churches; the need for a reflection of the new ecclesial movements and missionary communities; the accompaniment of pastoral workers (especially priests and religious) that come from Latin America to work in Europe; determining priorities in the places and situations in Latin America, in sending new missionaries.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 5/11/2009)