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Skriven 2006-01-18 21:44:36 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service (Press Release)
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Hello All!

                The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                          Vatican Information Service.
                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                               VIS-Press releases

NEOCATECHUMENAL FAMILIES: SPREAD THE GOSPEL OF LIFE

VATICAN CITY, JAN 12, 2006 (VIS) - Today in the Vatican, Benedict XVI received
a group from the Neocatechumenal Way, including 200 families who will soon
depart on evangelizing missions in various countries, especially in Latin
America.

These "mission families" came into being in 1986 in response to a call from
John Paul II to undertake new evangelization. Participants, who all belong to
the Neocatechumenal Way, offer themselves as volunteers to go to countries
where the Church needs help. Their destination is decided by the founders of
the Neocatechumenal Way - the Spaniards Kiko Arguello and Carmen Hernandez, and
the Italian priest Mario Pezzi - bearing in mind the specific requirements of
each particular area, and in response to requests from bishops who ask for
"mission families" to be sent to their dioceses.

"Your task," said the Pope after greeting the group, "is part of the context of
new evangelization, ... because your apostolic activity aims to situate itself
within the bosom of the Church, in total harmony with her directives and in
communion with the particular Churches where you will go to work, fully
evaluating the richness of the charisms that the Lord has generated through the
founders of the Way."

The Holy Father stressed how the families will be "humble and joyful witnesses"
of Christ, "travelling in simplicity and poverty down the roads of all the
continents. "He then went on to emphasize the importance of the liturgy in
evangelization: "Your long experience can well confirm how the centrality of
the mystery of Christ, celebrated in liturgical rites, constitutes a privileged
and indispensable way to build vibrant and lasting Christian communities."

The Pope then referred to norms concerning the celebration of the Eucharist
recently emanated, specifically for the Neocatechumenal Way, by the
Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. "I am
sure," he said, "that you will attentively observe these norms, which are based
on liturgical texts approved by the Church. By faithful adherence to all Church
directives, you will render your apostolate even more effective, in harmony and
full communion with the Pope and the pastors of dioceses."

"Dear families," Pope Benedict concluded, "with your own history you can
testify that the Lord does not abandon those who entrust themselves to Him.
Continue to spread the Gospel of Life. ... In a world seeking human certainties
and heavenly security, show that Christ is the solid rock upon which to build
the edifice of one's own life, and that trust placed in Him is never placed in
vain."
AC/NECATECHUMENAL FAMILIES/ARGUELLO VIS 060112 (440)

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