The Church in Bolivia took a new step in its preparation towards the VII American Missionary Congress (CAM7), which will be held in Brazil in 2029, with the realization of the Pre-Missiological National Symposium, a space for training, reflection, and discernment that virtually gathered faithful from different ecclesial jurisdictions of the country.
The initiative arose from the Pre-Symposium organized by the missionary team from Brazil, host of the next CAM7. In response to this continental proposal, the Bolivian Church developed a replica adapted to its reality, allowing pastoral agents, laypeople, religious, and consecrated individuals to delve into the current challenges of the mission.
The meeting, held from July 13 to 15, it was promoted by the Missions Section of the Evangelization Area of the Bolivian Episcopal Conference and the Pontifical Mission Societies of Bolivia. Each day was filled with moments of prayer, thematic presentations, testimonies, audiovisual material, and group dialogue spaces guided by questions that encouraged community reflection.
The mission from the experience of the missionary congresses
The first day was dedicated to reviewing the contribution of the American Missionary Congresses and the experience of the VIII National Missionary Congress held in Bolivia. After the greeting from Mons. Adolfo Bittschi, Father Stefano Raschietti presented a reflection on the mission ad gentes in Latin America in light of the continental congresses.
Subsequently, Mónica Paxi shared elements of the final document of the National Missionary Congress, renewing the evangelizing commitment of the baptized.
During the group work, the participants analyzed whether the American Missionary Congresses are responding to the evangelizing needs of the Church and evaluated how the communities are implementing the lines of action that emerged from the national congress. Among the conclusions, the need to strengthen the Christian witness and keep the missionary spirit alive in the communities was noted.
Look at the social and political reality of Bolivia
The second night was dedicated to reading the social and political contexts that influence the evangelizing action. The day included missionary testimonies of Álvaro Israel Cejas, from the Archdiocese of Cochabamba, and Sandra Violeta Soria Suárez, from the Apostolic Vicariate of Beni, who shared service experiences in territories where laypeople play a fundamental role in the ecclesial life.
The participants also reflected on the situation in America based on an analysis of the continental sociopolitical landscape presented in audiovisual format.
Based on this input, the groups addressed the challenges currently facing the mission in Bolivia and the impact of the global crises in the social, economic, political, and cultural spheres.. The reflections indicated that the mission must respond creatively to these realities, promoting a Church close to people and open to dialogue with the diverse cultures and contexts of the country.
Evangelizing in the digital age
The third day was dedicated to the mission in digital environments and in the socio-ecclesial reality of Latin America and the Caribbean. Presbyter Alejandro Beltrán Romero presented a reflection on the role of missionary disciples in the digital age, highlighting the need for the baptized to be an active presence on the new communication platforms.
The day also included an analysis of the missionary ecclesial landscape of the Americas in the current context, inviting the participants to identify new spaces and communities towards which to direct the mission ad gentes.
The working questions prompted reflection on the steps that baptized individuals must take to strengthen a synodal and missionary co-responsibility, capable of responding to phenomena such as migrations, geopolitical changes, and new cultural dynamics.
Open path towards CAM7 Brazil 2029
The meeting concluded with the blessing and missionary sending of Mons. Adolfo Bittschi, who encouraged participants to return to their communities with renewed evangelizing enthusiasm.
The reflections that emerged during the three days constitute an important contribution to the pastoral discernment of the Church in Bolivia and strengthen the country's preparation for the American Missionary Congress of 2029.
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