V Encuentro Proceedings and Conclusions

6 | Proceedings and Conclusions of the V National Encuentro of Hispanic/Latino Ministry vivid and lively self-awareness inevitably leads to a comparison between the ideal image of the Church as Christ envisaged her and loved her as his holy and spotless bride (cf. Eph 5:27), and the actual image which the Church presents to the world today.” ( EG 26) Starting with the Parish Encuentros and continuing through to the V Encuentro National Event, the process has intentionally engaged dele- gates in a serious process of self-reflection as Church, questioning whether current pastoral practices, programs, and priorities are ade- quate or even necessary to address the needs and build on the opportunities encountered both within the Church and extending to the peripheries. As the Holy Father says, “There are ecclesial structures which can hamper efforts at evan- gelization, yet even good structures are only helpful when there is a life constantly driving, sustaining and assessing them. Without new life and an authentic evangelical spirit, with- out the Church’s ‘fidelity to her own calling,’ any new structure will soon prove ineffective.” ( EG 26). The pastoral reflections and insights contained in this document are offered as tested and reliable criteria by which to assess current pastoral practices in the Church at every level. Nevertheless, this document cannot be taken as a pastoral plan to be implemented without question or discernment. Rather, it calls the Church at every level to engage in a process to identify what to do and where to begin—the third step of ecclesial renewal. In the words of Pope Francis, “I hope that all communities will devote the necessary effort to advancing 1 Note: The original Spanish version of the Apostolic Exhortation used the word “audacious” here. along the path of a pastoral and missionary conversion which cannot leave things as they presently are. ‘Mere administration’ can no longer be enough. Throughout the world, let us be ‘permanently in a state of mission’.” ( EG 25) This pastoral conversion will lead to distinctive approaches and unique responses as required at each level within the Church and in every community across the coun- try, always guided by and in union with the local bishop. The Holy Father memorably described this process when he said, “I dream of a ‘mis- sionary option’, that is, a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything, so that the Church’s customs, ways of doing things, times and schedules, language and struc- tures can be suitably channeled for the evan- gelization of today’s world rather than for her self-preservation.” ( EG 27). Paragraphs 27 to 32 of Evangelii Gaudium go on to describe specific ways to engage in this process in dif- ferent pastoral settings and at each level in the Church: parishes, small ecclesial commu- nities, movements, dioceses, and in particular by bishops and even the Pope himself. These Proceedings and Conclusions should be read in the light of the orientation provided in those paragraphs. Pope Francis then sets forth his recommen- dation for carrying out this third step of eccle- sial renewal: “Pastoral ministry in a missionary key seeks to abandon the complacent atti- tude that says: ‘We have always done it this way’. I invite everyone to be bold 1 and cre- ative in this task of rethinking the goals, struc- tures, style and methods of evangelization Utilizing the Proceedings and Conclusions