News And Articles
Jubilee: a new direction
DIRECTION OF OUR JUBILEE YEAR AND THE YEARS THAT FOLLOW
Disciples and Missionaries of Jesus Christ, so that our people may have life in Him
“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life (Jn.14.6)
From May 13 to 31, 2007, the Fifth General Conference of Bishops of latin America and the Caribbean (CELAM) took place in Aparecida, Brazil. It was inaugurated by Pope Benedict XVI, with an inspiring speech and the scheduled program of work to be done during the entire Conference.
The conference focused on the efforts of the Church to continue walking on the road of renewal after the ideals of Second Vatican Council and other Conferences. At the end, all participants expressed a firm resolve to face the challenge of working together to give our continent a new impulse and vigor.
Each one of us is challenged to this new impulse and vigor based on the invitation of Jesus to be his disciple, to walk in his ways and to form his community. Our greatest joy is to be his disciple, because He has called each one of us by name, because He knows us intimately with insistence He tells us; “Follow me, I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE”
A disciple is one who answers the call of Jesus and follows the road of the Gospel step by step.
“To achieve the great Continental Mission will be a new Pentecost that will stimulate us to go, in a special way, in search for those Catholics who have distanced themselves and for those who know Jesus less or none at all. For us, who joyfully form the community of love of God the Father, that mission that must reach all people, and must be permanent and profound” (Aparecida Document)
bklet pg. 7
Jubilee Year: Possibility for reflection and arrival at a new direction.
The Jubilee Year gives us a special opportunity to reflect on our faith and our own religious participation. We want to avail ourselves of this Jubilee to chieve a personal and communal renewal, a new direction.
We have some questions that may help in this process:
- Where do we stand at the present as Catholics, as disciples of Christ? What is happening (actual pastoral realities) in our families, our parish, our community? Do we personally contribute to the coming of God’s kingdom in the world? Does our parish? Is our diocese active in this aspect?
- What kind of parish, church do we want? A community where we feel at home, in which we participate?
- What must we do in amore practical way to build a better community? Diminish aggressiveness, individualism?
- Do the lectures and homilies we hear help to change us? Do we practice them inour daily life?
We are wholeheartedly convinced that every member of our community has the capacity, the ability and the possibility to contribute to the Reign of God. Together let us reflect during our Jubilee Year 2008 on how we can build the community we hope for, a community of faith, hope and mission.
bklet pg. 10
