By Sr. Jecinter Okoth, FSSA
Johannesburg, 17 January, 2020 / 8:59 pm (ACI Africa).
The Church in Southern Africa is set to launch a new pastoral plan that will replace the one that has guided evangelization activities in the countries of Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland for the last 30 years.
“Upon reflection, Bishops together with the people of God have become aware of the changed situations and the need to respond to those needs differently and effectively,” the President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC), Bishop Sithembele Sipuka has been quoted as saying.
In a document shared with ACI Africa Wednesday, January 15, the Bishops have outlined eight thematic areas of the plan including the ministry of evangelization, the formation of the laity, the ministry of the clergy, family life, young members of the Church, justice and peace, the healing ministry, and environmental protection.
The Bishops’ summary document begins by recalling the vision of the three-nation conference as an “evangelizing community serving God, humanity and all creation” and having the mission “to work together with others for the good of all, by responding to the cry of the poor and the cry of the earth, through Worship, Proclamation of The Word of God, Formation, Advocacy, Human Development and Care of Creation.”
Set to be launched Sunday, January 26, SACBC’s pastoral plan is expected to help and guide the people of God in the three countries “to listen and respond to the leading of the Spirit, to enter into the Father’s plan for our Church and our world; to be missionary disciples of Jesus in the present and to let the Spirit guide us into the future,” the Bishops have stated in their summary document.
Source link : https://www.aciafrica.org/news/677/church-in-botswana-south-africa-swaziland-set-to-unveil-a-new-pastoral-plan
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Publish date : 2020-01-17 08:00:00
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