On October 22 and 23, 2022, the Episcopal Commission for the Laity, Family and Life has organized the XLIII National Secular Apostolate Conference at the “Sedes Sapientiae” of the Spanish Episcopal Conference in Madrid.
After the approval in the 119th Plenary Assembly of the Statutes of the Cristo Rey Apostolic Movement, the members of the National Council of Spain have been summoned for the first time to participate in these work days that this year have been under the theme, «The first announcement in terms of synodality». The participation of the MAR in this national meeting has made it experience what the Statutes indicate: feeling that the Movement is “an active member of the Church with a strong apostolic dynamism” (Art. 3).
On Saturday morning, Monsignor Rino Fisichella, president of the Dicastery for the New Evangelization, spoke about the importance and pastoral priority of the First Announcement in the current social context. The Italian archbishop insisted that if you want to outline the characteristics of the First Announcement, it is necessary to rely on Scripture, using as examples the texts of the Annunciation and the story of Philip and the Ethiopian, narrated in the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts. of the Apostles, respectively. The challenge of the First Announcement – Fisichella stated – is to preach with life to be able to touch the heart of the interlocutor. After the monsignor's presentation, members of Catholic Action gave practical keys to include the First Announcement in the pastoral programming of the diocesan delegations, movements and associations. Among the most notable guidelines are being attentive to the signs of the times, systematizing the processes and contemplating the First Announcement in terms of synodality.
In the afternoon, divided into heterogeneous work groups, workshops on the First Announcement were held in various contexts. Following the role-playing technique, situations were analyzed along with moments of dialogue and its elements, highlighting what an evangelizer should and should not do. After celebrating the Eucharist, there was a relaxed and informal discussion with Father Damiánn, a Redemptorist priest known for his presence on television and social networks, who shared his experience of the First Announcement on social networks in general and on Tiktok in particular.
On Sunday morning, the post-congress document “New fruits for a People of God on the way” was worked on. By groups, the roadmap of the First Announcement was designed globally with the complementarity of the different itineraries that the EEC establishes for the Spanish laity: Accompaniment, Formative Processes and Public Life, keeping in mind the synodal process and the Congress of Laymen of 2020, in which the Christ the King Apostolic Movement also participated. These working groups were a true experience of synodality, communion, between the delegations, associations and the various movements convened. The meeting ended with the intervention of Mr. Luis Manuel Romero Sánchez, director who shared with those responsible for the diocesan delegations, movements and associations in Spain, information and projects of the Laity, Family and Life Commission.
