"The Vocation and the Mission of the Family in the Pilgrim Church in Colombia" is the theme of the 98th Plenary Assembly of the Colombian Bishops (CEC), which will be held at the Mission Seminary "Redemptoris Mater," in Medellin, from 3 to 7 February.
"During this meeting, the Bishops will identify the challenges the family is facing—said Father Juan Alvaro Zapata, coordinator of the Pastoral Centre for ecclesial communion—and define their pastoral guidelines, while also elaborating a joint contribution to bring to the Synod" that will be celebrated next October and focus on "The Vocation and the Mission of the Family in the Church and in the Contemporary World." The participants will apply the method "listening to the reality, discernment of God's Word and pastoral planning."
Among the proposals on the agenda, there is a panel meeting at which testimonies of married couples, engaged couples, separated and remarried faithful, and also unmarried couples will be heard. Time will also be devote to workshops on specific topics, such as the family educational project, accompaniment before and after the marriage ceremony, the problem of domestic violence, and legal issues.
