From May 14 to 16, the Meeting of Pastoral Processes was held at the headquarters of the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (Celam) in Bogotá Colombia, convened by the Center for Pastoral Action Programs and Networks (Ceprap). The participants described the experience as “absolutely unprecedented.”

During the event, each pastoral reflected on its own actions and collaborated on concrete proposals with other platforms and networks, achieving a “comprehensive view” and significant progress in the organization and articulation of efforts.

Various pastorals and commissions participated, including the Indigenous Peoples Pastoral Commission, the Secretariat of Afro-American and Caribbean Pastoral (SEPAC), the Pastoral Inculturated Garífuna of Central and North America (PAGAICEYNA), and the Animating Commission of the Women in the Church and Society Axis. Also attending were the Peace, Democracy and Human Rights Platform, the Comprehensive Ecology Commission of Latin America and the Caribbean, the Economies Platform of Latin America and the Caribbean, the Pastoral Care for Accompaniment and Prevention of Addictions, the Pastoral Habitantes de Calles, the Family Pastoral, the Youth Pastoral, the Penitentiary Pastoral, the Episcopal Commissions of Catechesis and Cáritas Latin America and the Caribbean.

The large networks territorial and thematic ecclesiastical organizations, such as the Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network (REPAM), the Mesoamerican Ecological Ecclesial Network (REMAM), the Ecclesial Network of the Gran Chaco and Guaraní Aquifer (Regchag), the Ecclesial Network of Migration, Refuge, Trafficking and Displacement (CLAMOR), Pax Christi International Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Justice and Peace Network in the Patria Grande, were also present. present.

After the event, several key themes were highlighted for the pastoral care and networks of Latin America, here we share some of them:

1.Synodal effort:
Build “a us” from the particularities and realities of each one, with a gradual and transformative work.

2.The power of fraternity:
Share knowledge, experiences and hopes in an atmosphere of fraternity face-to-face.

3.Dynamics of the intersection:
Find important connections between different pastoral projects and networks to influence the denunciation of injustices.

4.Celebrate committed faith:
Invigorate commitment through spirituality, prayer and inculturated faith, promoting concrete actions.

5.Resume the overall pastoral care:
Unite fragmented efforts to provide answers organic to current realities from diverse perspectives, with a common horizon.

This meeting has laid the foundations for more effective and committed joint work, strengthening the ties between the different pastoral projects and networks of Latin America and the Caribbean.

With information and photography by ADN CELAM

We share the summary document of the event.