In 2022 CEBITEPAL, the Biblical Theological Pastoral Center will opt for an agenda in a synodal key, given that synodality “must become a reality also from formation. Hence, Cardinals, Bishops, priests, seminarians, deacons, men and women religious, laymen and laywomen, young people, and the elderly will walk together being formed as well, reported AND-CELAM, the informative system of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM).

According to this source, this is the maxim of the Biblical Theological Pastoral Center of Latin America and the Caribbean (CEBITEPAL), which in this new year of 2022, expects that all the courses offered may seek to give answers to the urgencies of the Continent’s peoples, focusing on a great proposal: synodality.

This formative Center stresses that synodality isn’t a novelty of Pope Francis because John Chrysostom, one the Fathers of the Church, already affirmed that the Church should call herself a Synod.

Hand in Hand with Important Institutions

 In fact, CEBITEPAL, hand in hand with important academic institutions, such as Boston College and other Universities of Brazil, is preparing an agenda of courses in a synodal key for all the People of God.

So, as CEBITEPAL’s principal challenge continues being to respond to the universal, the Latin American and the Holy Father’s magisterium, and also to the needs, urgencies, and cries of the Continent’s peoples, synodality cannot be just one more topic.

“For synodality not to be only a word that is installed, that becomes fashionable, but that is a true process of personal and communitarian conversion, it’s necessary that we be formed together,” they explained from the Center to the CELAM Mission, that, like the Management of Knowledge Center and the Programs and Networks of Pastoral Action Center, are linked in the heart of CELAM’s action.

Possibility of Face-to-Face Courses

 Beyond this question, CELAM’s informative system points out that, as novelty and in the hope that the pandemic slows down, CEBITEPAL’s team of formators is ready to offer its courses throughout the Continent.

Although today’s agenda is totally digital, the dioceses, communities and Episcopal Conferences or regions that need formation can request it, so the CEBITEPAL can help wherever it’s needed, be it in specific formation on synodality or on any other of the final challenges of the Ecclesial Assembly of Latin America and the Caribbean. Moreover, CEBITEPAL’s objective is that face-to-face courses can be taken up again in the Bogota headquarters.

Translation by Virginia M. Forrester