Church in America, Your Life is Mission
COMLA VI / CAM II
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Guatemala was the site of the Second Mission Congress of America (CAM 2). The first was held in Argentina in 1999 for all countries in North, Central, and South America.
Prior to that there had been five Mission Congresses of Latin America - that is, of South and Central America.
These Congresses are a response to the imperative of Jesus: "Go into the whole world and announce the Good News to all creation." Mk 16,15
Various events around CAM 2 were held in Guatemala City from November 20 to 30, 2003.
Nov. 20-22: Symposium of Missiologists (attendance was restricted)
Nov. 23: Central America - Closing of the Holy Year in Central America and Solemnity of Feast of Christ the King.
Nov. 24: Arrival of delegates in Guatemala City
Nov. 25-29: Congress Sessions
Nov. 30: a.m.: Closing Congress Fiesta
Dec. 1: Return to U.S.
The six countries of Central America: Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala were jointly responsible. A Central Commission to coordinate activities was set up in Guatemala.
They had the support of the bishops and Conferences of Bishops in Central America and the prayers of people in all these countries. So many countries here are affected by poverty, war, national disaster, large scale emigration. Nonetheless they wanted to share their experience of faith with all countries in America - North, Central, and South.
Central America is a bridge between north and south. This gathering was an opportunity for advancing communion and solidarity of all the peoples.
CAM 2 was an opportunity to see diverse peoples and cultures living out the experience of faith. It was an occasion to celebrate diverse forms of the inculturation of the Gospel in service to the same mission.
The people of the Church in Central America are often poor, but rich in a lively, deeply rooted faith. In this Congress special honor was given to the Little Ones, the Poor, and the Martyrs who characterize the pilgrim Church of Central America.
Each delegate to the Congress joined a working group to study in depth one or more issues within the preparatory working documents.
Registered participants had received copies of this document and they were reproduced as inserts in MISSIONS TODAY and were further discussed there.
The Congress sought to uncover:
- What will bring new life to the mission.
- What will help our local Churches to be transformed as missionary Churches.
- What animates the witness of a Church like those of Central America, where so many are poor, are little in the world's eyes, yet give testimony to their faith even to the point of martyrdom.
The grace of the Holy Spirit is so necessary and so the daily prayers of all - men and women, elderly and ill, children and youth, and in a special way of consecrated contemplatives - were asked for this grace.
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