The Ecclesial Assembly of Latin America and the Caribbean “refers us to the essence of our life as Church, to a way of being and acting. It is synodal because we seek the participation of all the People of God, not an illustrious or desk élite, as Pope Francis said to us in his Video-Message, but all the Holy People of God,” explained Father David Jasso, Deputy General Secretary of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM), in an exclusive interview with Exaudi.
The Church of Latin America and the Caribbean will hold the Continent’s 1st Ecclesial Assembly in Mexico, from the third to the fourth Sunday of November of 2021, under the motto “We Are All Missionary Disciples Going Forth.”
On their Webpage, they state: as missionary disciples, gathered in a synodal way in the 1st Ecclesial Assembly of Latin America and the Caribbean, we will recall what happened during the 5th General Conference in Aparecida, and looking contemplatively at our reality, with its challenges, we will revive our pastoral commitment so that, in Jesus Christ, our peoples have a full life in and by the new paths towards 2031+2033.”
Since the beginning of the year, the Ecclesial Assembly has already taken its first steps in its endeavor of reflection, listening, and spirituality, fostering the participation of the People of God, who live their faith in the different realities present in the Continent.
Among other topics, Father David Jasso talked with Exaudi about the origin and meaning of this coming Assembly, about the listening process in which they are immersed, the selection of those attending the Assembly, and the fruits that are expected from the first ecclesial event of this magnitude in the Continent, but also in the world.
Here is a translation of the full interview with Father David Jasso
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Exaudi: In a recent interview with Exaudi, Monsignor Hector Miguel Cabrejos Vidarte, Archbishop of Trujillo, Peru, explained that the origin of this Ecclesial Assembly of Latin America and the Caribbean lies in the audience that Pope Francis gave to CELAM’s Presidency in September of 2019. In it the Holy Father expressed the need to hold an event in the region to address the current challenges, as well as the profound meaning of the Continental Mission, as missionary Church “going forth,” to take up again, reflect and discern the conclusions of Aparecida in these times. What are these conclusions?
Father David Jasso: Aparecida invites us to a personal and ecclesial conversion, moving from a pastoral of conservation to a missionary pastoral, having a personal encounter with Christ that leads us to a life of profound and mature faith, inserted in the ecclesial missionary community, open to social needs, to a commitment for the justice of the Kingdom of God, to defend threatened life and stimulate a full life in a world marked by injustice and death.
In conclusion, Aparecida asks that the Church in Latin America and the Caribbean become a transparent and effective sign of the Kingdom of God with the help of the Spirit and that, through the Continental Mission and a path of renewal, we continue to go forward.
We have taken this very much into account from the Ecclesial Assembly’s Contents and Spirituality Committee so that, with a grateful memory, we recall this ecclesial event and launch ourselves to the future, living this present time passionately.
In this spirit, it’s good to recall some hopes that Aparecida expressed in the final part of the “Message to the Peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean” (this is a brief document, approved by the members of the 5th Conference, a few days before it closed) which not only do we believe, but we also hope will be possible:
“To be a living, faithful and credible Church, which is nourished by the Word of God and the Eucharist; to live our being Christians with joy and conviction as missionary disciples of Jesus Christ; to form living communities that nourish the faith and stimulate missionary action. To value the different ecclesial organizations in a spirit of communion; to promote a mature laity, co-responsible with the mission to proclaim the Kingdom of God and make it visible. To foster women’s active participation in society and in the Church.”
Exaudi: Stipulated in a subsequent meeting, with Honduran Cardinal Oscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga, was that this ecclesial event would be “synodal,” as was the case in the 2019 Pan-Amazonian Synod. What does this characteristic imply?
Father David Jasso: “Synodality” is a new word. The word we knew was “Synod,” however, the practice of synodality is old. This Ecclesial Assembly points us to the essence of our life as Church, to a style of being and of acting. It’s synodal because we want the participation of all the People of God, not of an illustrious or desk elite, as Pope Francis said to us in his Video-Message, but of all the holy People of God. Synodality is communion and participation in act, having a common Trinitarian life of which Aparecida spoke to us.
Exaudi: In fact, Monsignor Cabrejos said that the next Ecclesial Assembly is a synodal event “which would convoke representatives of all the People of God pilgrimaging in Latin America and the Caribbean.” Who will take part in this process? How will they be chosen?
Father David Jasso: From the Process of Listening, we are already seeking broader participation. Now we are discerning what the convocation will be like for the Assembly participants who will take part representing their local Churches. We are considering many factors to ensure not only representativeness but also proportionality, recalling that only a small representation will be present in Mexico, connected with the rest of the Continent and beyond our border with Hispanic sisters and brothers who live far from home.
Exaudi: The Process of Listening for the Assembly began in the month of April. How is it unfolding in the different countries?
Father David Jasso: Thank God there is broad participation. The Listening Committee made a great effort to design the methodology, to prepare the materials and aids, as well as to train those responsible for dialogue and participation.
We have asked each Episcopal Conference to have a Pastoral Animation Team, so that, being a link, they motivate and enthuse their country. These Teams are Ecclesial, which also guarantees that all are taken into account. Tutorials, materials, and a platform to participate are available on the Webpage www.asambleaeclesial.lat.
Exaudi: What materials do you have to prepare for this important ecclesial event?
Father David Jasso: For the time being, in this phase, we have the Document for the Way, which includes the important challenges that we have been able to highlight in the light of Aparecida and the signs of the times. The Methodological Guide of the Listening Process and, as I already mentioned, a series of materials that help to reflect further and to take part in it.
Moreover, we have pastoral aids and resources, which the Spirituality Committee prepared to reflect on the Identity, Vocation, and Mission of the Missionary Disciples, as well as songs, prayers, and other elements that are part of the spiritual itinerary.
Exaudi: What itinerary will be followed in the coming months up to November?
Father David Jasso: For the time being we are encouraging participation in the Listening Process until the end of August, to begin — in the months of September and October –, a time of communal discernment, which includes the systematizing of information that will be compared with elements of a Big Data analysis (social listening) on conversations regarding the Church in our Continent, as well as specific topics related to the thematic forums we are promoting.
All this will result in a Document on discernment given the Assembly we will hold in November.
Exaudi: What fruits do you expect from the Listening Process and, in general, from this important regional Assembly?
Father David Jasso: One fruit is the extensive participation of the People of God and the depth of the conversations in the thematic forums. I also think that we are faced with the challenge to look with grateful memory to the proposal of the Church of Latin America and the Caribbean in 2007, to update it and re-launch it to the world.
We are sure that from the Assembly, one of the fruits will be pastoral guidelines open to the realities of the Church of the Continent, from which specific pastoral projects can be carried out respecting their own pastoral processes.
Exaudi: Given that this Ecclesial Assembly is the first of this magnitude in the region, but also in the world. What do you think this event implies for the universal Church?
Father David Jasso: A time of grace in our Continent. Pope Francis said that the Church of this region has much to give to the world and, with simplicity, I believe we can walk together with brothers in other countries, sharing what we are and what we have, seeking to build relations based and inspired on the Kingdom.
Exaudi: Can you evaluate CELAM’s recent 38th Assembly, held in the month of May?
Father David Jasso: In CELAM’s 38th Ordinary General Assembly, the Bishops approved the proposal and process of the Renewal and Reconstruction of this Episcopal Council, which stem from the 37th Assembly in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Moreover, they were able to reflect on the reality the Continent is living in the midst of the pandemic, and they shared how they are addressing the challenges. It has been a time of encounter and closeness, even in the midst of the virtual reality in which it was lived in an unprecedented way.
Translation by Virginia M. Forrester
