Bolivia: VIII National Missionary Congress encouraged to be witnesses of Christ in society

With the purpose of “reviving the faith of Catholics and the mission,” the VIII National Missionary Congress was held in the Diocese of Oruro (Bolivia) from July 8 to 12.

With the motto “Bolivia, with the power of the Spirit, witnesses of Christ”, the meeting brought together more than 500 people around four axes: “Communion on the synodal path”, “Missionary spirituality”, “Custodians of Creation” and “Language and style of the digital environment.”

During the four days of the congress, presentations were given, testimonies were heard, and the missionary exhibition took place. There were also workshops, celebrations of the Eucharist and moments of prayer, reflection and Adoration.

Among the purposes of the CMN was to “strengthen missiological reflection and missionary commitment.” To nations of the Church, through the exchange of missionary experiences of the eighteen jurisdictions, to respond effectively to the pastoral challenges that come with reaching out to others and caring for the environment as witnesses of Christ to the ends of the earth,” he stated. Sister Cintia Vasquez, General Secretary of Pontifical Mission Societies in Bolivia, according to the website of the Bolivian Episcopal Conference.

Mons. Aurelio Pesoa Ribera, Bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Beni and President of the Bolivian Episcopal Conference, considered that this instance is “an opportunity and above all an instrument to revive the faith of Catholics, to go a little further, walking together , as we have lived this time of the Synod of Synodality.”

The Congress ended this Friday with the celebration of the Eucharistchaired by the Apostolic Nuncio in Bolivia, Mons. Fermín Emilio Sosa Rodríguez, within the framework of the preparation of the Jubilee Year for the 100 years of the Diocese of Oruro.

Centered on the Gospel, it highlighted the mission that God entrusts to the Church, ensuring the accompaniment of Christ until the end of time.

“All of us, according to our own condition of life, are called to commit ourselves to this great mission,” said the Nuncio, and maintained that “that faith that begins with the Apostles is the same one that we want to live with zeal.”

“The Church, through its faithful, your dear brothers, must be present in the society in which you live,” he exhorted the missionaries, with a call to demonstrate with the example of their life and the testimony of their word, to the new man united to Christ.

“In a world where division is present through ideas and thoughts, the disciple of Christ is called to seek unity and the good of the community,” he added.

The papal envoy hoped that what they learned would be an important instrument for their life of dedication to God, and help them better carry out the mission that Christ entrusts to them through his Church: “Remember that you reach where priests and religious do not reach.” , he indicated.

The director of Missionary Works, Mons. Adolfo Bittschi, announced that the headquarters of the next National Missionary Congress, which will be held in 2028, will be the Diocese of Tarija.