Church in Colombia concludes missionary congress with sending priests to other countries

With the missionary sending of the local directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies within the country, and of six Colombian priests to nations in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean, the XIII National Missionary Congress culminated yesterday in Bogotá, which was attended by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, from the Dicastery for Evangelization.

This is Father Kevin Lemus Hinestroza, who from the Diocese of Istmina will be sent to Kenya; the priests of the Diocese of Zipaquirá, Harrison Arévalo and Donato Garza, who will move to Pinar del Río (Cuba); and the priests of the Diocese of Ipiales, Adrián Bastidas Vallejo and Andrés Lasprilla Ocampo bound for Matanzas (Cuba) and Father Carlos Alfaro Delgado who will travel to Cambodia.

The event took place at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana from July 5 to 7 with the in-person attendance of about 1,200 people, including priests, religious and lay people from all over the country, as well as dozens of bishops. In addition, about 300 people connected virtually.

During the day, Cardinal Tagle presided over the closing Mass and the missionary sending. Previously, Father José Andrés Gómez Caballero, delegate for Children’s Ministry of the Archdiocese of Bucaramanga, read part of the conclusions, which will be published in full in the following days.

God wants witnesses

In the dialogues between the participants, Father Gómez reported, the conclusion was reached that the effectiveness of the mission does not have its source in personal or group programs and expectations, but that its fruitfulness is “in the total and humble openness to the grace of God, as a gift, union, presence and life in abundance.”

In this sense, he pointed out that among the challenges that missionaries face are putting aside selfish voluntarism, narcissism, pastoral comfort and analyzing reality from a pessimistic point of view.

Missionaries, he indicated, must trust that evangelization is achieved through grace, selfless service, “heroism in facing new challenges” and seeing reality from the “joyful commitment to knowing that the Kingdom always flourishes, even in the setbacks and the persecutions.”

As missionaries, expressed Father Gómez, we must “move from cowardice to boldness in the Spirit. Enough of making excuses for not going out because we are not sufficiently educated, God does not want professionals, but witnesses.”

A girl told me: I want to meet your friend Jesus

Before the missionary sending, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect of the section for the first evangelization and the new particular churches of the Dicastery for Evangelization, presided over the closing Mass in the sports center of the Pontifical Javeriana University.

The Eucharist was concelebrated by the Apostolic Nuncio, Mons. Paolo Rudelli, the president of the Episcopal Conference of Colombia, Mons. Francisco Javier Múnera; the Archbishop of Bogotá, Cardinal Luis José Rueda; and the Archbishop Emeritus of Bogotá, Cardinal Rubén Salazar.

Cardinal Tagle also called to maintain humility, since “pride destroys the mission,” and recalled that even in ordinary meetings and events we can “bring the Good News of Jesus to the people.”

Furthermore, he warned that if the Word of God is only preached to those who “love us,” the Church will become “a club of mutual appreciation, not a prophetic community.” “Although it is painful (…), we must bring the Gospel even to those who refuse to listen,” she noted.

The Filipino cardinal assured that “the Holy Spirit has a way of touching even stubborn hearts.”

In that sense, he recalled that during a visit to a refugee camp, where there was not a single Christian, to bring food, medicine and other objects, an elderly man approached him to ask the reason for his presence.

“He told me: ‘We are not Christians, we are different from you, but why do you take care of us? Why have you traveled long distances for us?’ I replied, ‘Our teacher Jesus taught us to love and serve everyone, even those who are different from us.’ A girl tugged on my sleeve and said, ‘I want to meet your friend Jesus,’” she said.

Cardinal Tagle encouraged Congress participants to trust in the power and grace of Jesus, despite their personal and community weaknesses and failures, because “the truth is that God often chooses small people and apparently insignificant to reveal his saving plan.”

During the Eucharist, 78 directors of the PMS of Colombia and the priests who will work pastorally in other countries and dioceses different from their own were called to the altar. The cross was imposed on all of them as a symbol of their evangelizing commitment.

The cardinal asked the Lord to guide the steps of these missionaries and strengthen them with the strength of his grace. “May his words be an echo of the words of Christ,” said Cardinal Tagle.