General Assembly of CELAM taking place in San Salvador

(Vatican Radio) The XXXVI General Assembly of the Latin American Episcopal Conference (Consejo Episcopal Latinoamericano, known as CELAM) is taking place this week from 9-12 May.

The Assembly gathers together the leadership of CELAM, along with heads of departments, as well as the presidents and delegates of the Episcopal Conferences of Latin America and the Caribbean.

The theme for this year’s Assembly is “A poor Church for the poor.” The meeting is taking place on the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Archbishop Oscar Romero, and is being held in San Salvador, the city of the martyred Archbishop’s birth.

In his presentation at the beginning of the Assembly, Bishop Juan Espinoza, the auxiliary Bishop of Morelia, Mexico, and Secretary General of CELAM, explained that the meetings will follow two general lines: a discussion on the work of the various departments and of the Episcopal conferences; and a reflection on the pastoral objectives of CELAM, following the proposals of the Aparecida Conference, which envision a missionary Church that is always “going forth.”

In addition to the 22 nations which comprise CELAM, the Episcopal Conferences of Canada and the United States are also sending representatives to the Assembly.