VATICAN CITY, MAR 5, 2004 (VIS) - Made public today was the annual message from the presidency of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America for the Day of Latin America which will be celebrated in Spanish dioceses on Sunday, March 7.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re and Archbishop Luis Robles Diaz, president and vice president of the pontifical commission, write in the message dated January 6, Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, that "the lands of Latin America were blessed with the gift of faith more than 500 years ago. Spain is responsible for that. Today, at the dawn of the third millenium, the continent of hope contains almost half of the world's Catholics, a culture forged on the fire of the Gospel and on a young, strong and lively Church; lacking in human resources and materials, but rich in enthusiasm and evangelizing dynamism."
"The achievement of the new evangelization, called for by John Paul II, encourages the Church in Latin America to always search for new and bold ways of making the Gospel present." In order to do so, the message continues, it is necessary "'to increase the number and promote the formation of evangelizers, consecrated persons and lay people.' . A specific response to this challenge has been the second American Missionary Congress which took place last November in Guatemala. . This evangelizing event has already begun to bear its first fruits, strengthening the missionary conscience of the Church in the Americas, looking toward the third millennium."
The president and vice president emphasize that "today, as in the past, the Church in Spain wants to help her sister Churches in Latin America in this important task. The thought-provoking theme for this year's Day of Latin America, 'We join in their missionary commitment,' expresses this desire well."
After stressing that "Spain has a rich and fruitful missionary tradition," Cardinal Re and Archbishop Robles affirm that "the evangelizing impulse cannot be suppressed; it must be permanently renewed, trying to respond to the new challenges of our time. A sign of this is the National Congress of Missions which took place recently in Spain on the emblematic theme, 'It is time to be missionaries'."
In conclusion, the message says: "The Pontifical Commission for Latin America encourages Catholics in Spain to effectively commit to this passionate endeavor, each person according to his or her own capacities; with prayer which is what sustains missionaries and the apostolic works that they promote, and with concrete participation in missionary activity. Church in Spain, it is time to be missionaries!"
COM-AL/DAY LATIN AMERICA/RE:ROBLES VIS 20040305 (430)
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