2012 Synod Assembly to focus on New Evangelization

There was a press conference on Friday to present the lineamenta – the working outline for the XIII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which is set to take place in 2012.

The upcoming Synod Assembly is to concentrate on “The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith.”

The lineamenta is a broad-strokes overview of the chosen theme, which is sent to various Church organs including the synods of bishops of the Eastern Catholic Churches sui iuris, the various bishops’ conferences and the unions of religious superiors-general, all of which are asked to review the document and make suggestions, which in turn will be incorporated into the instrumentum laboris – the Synod Assembly’s working document.

The outline is organized under three chapter headings that address the nature, the timeliness and the scope of the “new evangelization”, the challenges of technique and organization in proclaiming the gospel, and initiation into the Christian experience.

The document also has a concluding section that looks at Pentecost as the basis of the new evangelization, articulates a vision for the Church of today and tomorrow, and celebrates the joy of evangelizing.

“The new evangelization” explained the Secretary-General of the Synod of Bishops, archbishop Nicholas Eterovic, “ought to rekindle the original fire in Christians – a new missionary consciousness that involves all the members of God’s people.”

The responses to the lineamenta are due by November of this year, and the instrumentum laboris will be presented ahead of the Synod Assembly, which is scheduled for the Fall of 2012.

Listen to Chris Altieri's report: