History of the COMLAs

COMLA 6 - CAM 1

What is a COMLA?

It is a Latin American Missionary Congress that expresses and celebrates the missionary life and initiatives of all churches and communities. It is an important step that has stimulated the missionary course of Latin America, "Continent of Hope." (John Paul II).

How were the COMLAs born?

Inspired and promoted by the Pontifical Missionary Works, they were jointly organised by the Episcopal Conferences with the participation of particular churches and all the missionary forces and organisations.

They were originated in Mexico in 1977. It was the presence of Cardinal Angelo Rossi, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, and the presence of the delegations from Latin American countries which gave that Congress the continental rank, making it the first Missionary Congress of Latin America and the Caribbean countries.

Which are the aims of the COMLAs?

To deepen the missionary responsibility of both old and young particular churches, intensifying the mutual service between them, and from them, to project beyond their own "ad gentes" frontiers.

To co-ordinate throughout the whole continent the initiatives and the missionaries activities to be carried out beyond our frontiers.

To assume the evangelical mission of the Church in all times, situations and in the whole world "giving from our poverty" (Puebla 368) through the preparation and sending of missionaries.

To motivate priorities and assume animation, preparation and organisation commitments.

Argentina, seat of the COMLA 6 - CAM 1.

The National Directors of the Latin American Pontifical Missionary Works gathered in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on July 20th. and 21st. 1995, due to the celebration of the COMLA 5.

The first day, among other topics, it was discussed the next seat for the COMLA 6. Among the future possible seats were Ecuador, Argentina and Paraguay. It was concluded with a secret voting, with the following results: Argentina 5 preferences and Ecuador 12 preferences. It was assumed that this was just a probing, since the participation of the president Bishops of the Missionary Episcopal Commissions was required for the final decision.

The following day, these presidents joined the meeting. Many of those present suggested the South of America be reinforced, since it urgently needs to be awoken to the missionary pledge "ad gentes", and consequently to seek for a seat there.

On the other hand, Ecuador insisted that it was the best of times for this country and requested to be the seat.

The present adopted the system of personal voting and after the secret voting was carried out, the result was: Argentina 13 preferences, Ecuador 12 preferences. The representatives from Argentina were grateful for the designation, and compromised themselves to assume the organisation of the COMLA 6, that will be celebrated during 1999. The representatives from Argentina were asked to see that the COMLA 6 was assumed by the whole of the Church of their country, since a COMLA should always be an ecclesiastical event.

Where and when will the next COMLA 6 - CAM 1 take place?

From 4th. to 9th. November, in the 72nd. Plenary Assembly of the Argentinian Episcopate, it was agreed that Paraná would be the seat of the COMLA 6, from 28th. September to 3rd. October, 1999.

3,000 congressmembers coming firstly from all the countries in Latin America and the Caribbean countries will participate. After the Synod for America, that took place in Rome in 1997, it was extended to the countries of North America.

The topic will be: "Jesus Christ, Life and Hope for All the Peoples." The slogan: "America, with Christ, move out of your land." The general aim is: "To exhort all the American Churches to announce Jesus Christ, the Saviour, to all the peoples, serving, attesting and through the dialogue."

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