Proposing
Jesus Christ Today Proposing
Jesus Christ Today
May 31, 2003
My dear collaborators,
In April 1998, I presented Pastoral Orientations, which emerged from our synodal process. A pastoral plan of action was submitted in October of the same year. It presented six major priorities. The first of those priorities concerned the transmission of the Christian heritage to the younger generations, and faith education for adults, within the context of a new evangelization.
Since that time pastoral workers have laboured extensively throughout
the diocese, and have experimented with ways of reaching out to people
of different ages and stages of life. These new approaches were
directed as much to young people as to those who are not so young,
that some might be awakened to the faith; that others might be reached,
who wish to be initiated into Christian life, and still others might
deepen their faith. The programs which were used, whether they
were developed here at home, or elsewhere, all had one goal: to
facilitate the encounter with a living Person, Jesus Christ, who is
the way to freedom and responsibility.
Based on the experience of these last few years, I now present to you
our diocesan Faith Education project which has been developed for the
missionary needs of our present Church. After careful consideration, I
am presenting six orientations to guide and unify our pastoral action
over the next five years. Like Mary of the Visitation, I invite you to
embark on this journey, with a profound missionary spirit and in
apostolic solidarity. I am placing much hope in this evangelization
project. I count especially on the dynamism of the different pastoral
collaborators of our Christian communities, who are called to become
women and men of the Visitation.
On the occasion of our diocesan feast day, I officially promulgate the text of 'Proposing Jesus Christ Today: As the way to freedom and responsibility'. It takes effect immediately. I invite you to be confident, creative and daring.
May the Holy Spirit be with us as our guide.
Jean-Claude Cardinal Turcotte
Archbishop of Montreal
PRINT
