VATICAN: Instrumentum Laboris of Synod on New Evangelization
A press conference was held this morning in the
Holy See Press Office to present the “Instumentum laboris” of the
thirteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which is due to
be held in the Vatican from 7 to 28 October on the theme: “The New
Evangelisation for the Transmission of the Christian Faith”. The document
was presented by Archbishop Nikola Eterovic and Bishop Fortunato Frezza,
respectively secretary general and under secretary of the Synod of Bishops.
Holy See Press Office to present the “Instumentum laboris” of the
thirteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which is due to
be held in the Vatican from 7 to 28 October on the theme: “The New
Evangelisation for the Transmission of the Christian Faith”. The document
was presented by Archbishop Nikola Eterovic and Bishop Fortunato Frezza,
respectively secretary general and under secretary of the Synod of Bishops.
The Synod Fathers, Archbishop Eterovic said,
“will reflect upon the transmission of Christian faith, one of the great
challenges facing the Church which will be examined in the context of New Evangelization.
… The work of the Synod will be enriched by its association with the Year of
Faith”, which begins on 11 October.
“will reflect upon the transmission of Christian faith, one of the great
challenges facing the Church which will be examined in the context of New Evangelization.
… The work of the Synod will be enriched by its association with the Year of
Faith”, which begins on 11 October.
The secretary general of the Synod explained that
the “Instumentum laboris” includes a preface, an introduction, four
chapters and a conclusion. The Introduction brings together the views of
episcopal conferences, which concur “on the need for new tools and new
forms of expression to make the Word of God more understandable in the life of
modern man. The Synod will hopefully be an opportunity to discuss and compare
points of view and practical experiences, to be shared in order to provide
encouragement to pastors and particular Churches”.
the “Instumentum laboris” includes a preface, an introduction, four
chapters and a conclusion. The Introduction brings together the views of
episcopal conferences, which concur “on the need for new tools and new
forms of expression to make the Word of God more understandable in the life of
modern man. The Synod will hopefully be an opportunity to discuss and compare
points of view and practical experiences, to be shared in order to provide
encouragement to pastors and particular Churches”.
The first of the four chapters, entitled
“Jesus Christ the Good News of God to Humanity”, reiterates “the
central nucleus of Christian faith, of which many people are unaware, and
presents the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the Good News for modern man. … New Evangelization
is an expression of the internal dynamism of Christianity, which wishes to make
men and women of good will know the ‘depth of the riches and wisdom and
knowledge’ of the mystery of God revealed in Jesus Christ; it is not a weary
response to the crisis of faith and the challenges facing the Church in the
modern world”.
“Jesus Christ the Good News of God to Humanity”, reiterates “the
central nucleus of Christian faith, of which many people are unaware, and
presents the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the Good News for modern man. … New Evangelization
is an expression of the internal dynamism of Christianity, which wishes to make
men and women of good will know the ‘depth of the riches and wisdom and
knowledge’ of the mystery of God revealed in Jesus Christ; it is not a weary
response to the crisis of faith and the challenges facing the Church in the
modern world”.
Chapter two is entitled: “Time for a New Evangelization”.
It focuses chiefly on “identifying the challenges Evangelization currently
faces”, and on “describing the New Evangelization. … The new
challenges to Evangelization in the contemporary world are described in various
different scenarios. The Church is called to discern those scenarios, so ‘that
they might be turned into places for proclaiming the Gospel and experiencing the
Church’. …The work of new Evangelization aims at a renewal of the ordinary
pastoral activity of particular Churches while, at the same time, seeking to
arouse a new sensibility towards people who have left the Church. This requires
a measure of evangelical creativity and boldness”. The archbishop pointed
out that almost all the responses received when preparing the document
“highlighted the lack of vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life.
This requires, among other things, strong pastoral care of vocations”, he
said.
It focuses chiefly on “identifying the challenges Evangelization currently
faces”, and on “describing the New Evangelization. … The new
challenges to Evangelization in the contemporary world are described in various
different scenarios. The Church is called to discern those scenarios, so ‘that
they might be turned into places for proclaiming the Gospel and experiencing the
Church’. …The work of new Evangelization aims at a renewal of the ordinary
pastoral activity of particular Churches while, at the same time, seeking to
arouse a new sensibility towards people who have left the Church. This requires
a measure of evangelical creativity and boldness”. The archbishop pointed
out that almost all the responses received when preparing the document
“highlighted the lack of vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life.
This requires, among other things, strong pastoral care of vocations”, he
said.
Turning then to consider Chapter three,
“Transmitting the Faith”, Archbishop Eterovic noted that “the
purpose of New Evangelization is the transmission of faith. The Church
transmits the faith from which she herself lives, and all Christians are called
to make their contribution. … The obstacles to the faith can be within the
Church (faith lived passively or privately, refusal to be educated in one’s
faith, separation between life and faith) or outside Christian life altogether
(secularization, nihilism consumerism, hedonism). … The Year of Faith is a
pressing appeal to conversion so that, transformed by grace, each individual
Christian and each community may produce abundant fruits. This may include
ecumenical commitment, the search for truth, inter-religious dialogue, and the
courage to denounce infidelity and scandals within the Christian
community”.
“Transmitting the Faith”, Archbishop Eterovic noted that “the
purpose of New Evangelization is the transmission of faith. The Church
transmits the faith from which she herself lives, and all Christians are called
to make their contribution. … The obstacles to the faith can be within the
Church (faith lived passively or privately, refusal to be educated in one’s
faith, separation between life and faith) or outside Christian life altogether
(secularization, nihilism consumerism, hedonism). … The Year of Faith is a
pressing appeal to conversion so that, transformed by grace, each individual
Christian and each community may produce abundant fruits. This may include
ecumenical commitment, the search for truth, inter-religious dialogue, and the
courage to denounce infidelity and scandals within the Christian
community”.
The last chapter of the “Instrumentum
laboris” is entitled “Revivifying Pastoral Activity” and focuses
on “the transmission of faith … by again emphasizing the instruments
developed through Tradition – in particular the first proclamation, Christian
initiation and education – while seeking to adapt them to current cultural and
social circumstances. … From a theological point of view, we must better
understand the sequence of the Sacraments of Christian initiation, which
culminates in the Eucharist, and reflect on models to be translated into deeply
meaningful pastoral practices”.
laboris” is entitled “Revivifying Pastoral Activity” and focuses
on “the transmission of faith … by again emphasizing the instruments
developed through Tradition – in particular the first proclamation, Christian
initiation and education – while seeking to adapt them to current cultural and
social circumstances. … From a theological point of view, we must better
understand the sequence of the Sacraments of Christian initiation, which
culminates in the Eucharist, and reflect on models to be translated into deeply
meaningful pastoral practices”.
The Conclusion of the document reaffirms that
“New Evangelization means giving the reason for our faith, communicating
the Logos of hope to a world which seeks salvation”.
“New Evangelization means giving the reason for our faith, communicating
the Logos of hope to a world which seeks salvation”.
SOURCE: VIS
