Bishop Clausura Meeting of Ecclesial Movements encouraging to continue evangelizing Colombia

With a call to continue evangelizing Colombia in the midst of current culture, the National Meeting of Ecclesial Movements and New Communities concluded on July 31.

The three -day event was held at the San Pedro Claver Encounters house with the assistance of some 80 delegates of laical movements and religious congregations, and ended with a Mass presided by Mons. César Alcides Balbín, Bishop of Carthage.

In the meeting, the Association of Cooperators, the Legion of Mary, Loos de Amor Mariano, the Movement of Cursillos de Cristiandad, Mission Fátima Colombia, Regnum Christi, the Catholic charismatic renewal, among others, were represented.

The objective was “to promote the missionary force of the laity in a synodality key, renewing its role as a sign of hope for the country in the jubilee year,” the Colombian episcopate reported at the time.

“Christ asks us to continue launching the networks”

During the closing Mass, held in the chapel of the House of Encounters, Mons. Balbín reflected on the miracle of miraculous fishing and indicated that “the Lord continues to ask us to launch the network.”

“That we continue to launch the network, that we should not be discouraged, that despite the world and the culture that we have to live, there are people, there are people who are eager, thirsty for the word and thirsty of God,” he said.

The Bishop of Carthage said that Christ “wants to count on us for that work, for that mission, for that apostolate of bringing this message through our testimony” and the word, for which “we have to constantly prepare.”

In his homily, Mons. Balbín said that it is also important to prepare people who “must continue in the wonderful work” of the movements and new communities so that they are last.

He indicated that otherwise there is a risk of disappearing because whoever leads “did not know the precise and exact moment to set aside to say: you continue and I continue here”, in the shadow, praying and ensuring the experience and wisdom that the years give.

The bishop concluded his homily encouraging ecclesial movements and new communities to “continue at work” to build the kingdom of God. “

“May the Lord help us all to be the best testimony that we can be in front of others, with words, but especially with our works,” he said.

During the congress a diagnosis of the current situation of the movements and new communities in Colombia was made and reflected on the role of the layman in a synodal church.

Likewise, the promotion and defense of life and family was addressed. On July 30, the participants attended the Eucharistic worship and the next day they had a reflection on the centrality of Jesus Eucharist in the life of the person.