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.