Annual Assembly of Evangelisation of the Province of Ecuador

The purpose of the Assembly of Evangelisation has been to assess and plan what is commonly called 'pastoral work among Afro-descendants'. “We want to have a listening attitude” – said the Provincial Ecuador p. Rafael Gonzalez Ponce – “but, at the same time, we would like to consider our work under three perspectives: that of Aparecida (in Brazil, where the Conference of Latin American Bishops in May 2007 took place – editor’s note) that states that the purpose of mission is to share with people the encounter with Christ so that they could have the same profound and personal experience with him; the perspective of the Comboni’s charism, namely to make common cause with the people; finally, the perspective of the last General Chapter, which insists on the training of leaders and communities to make people the protagonists of their own history”.

In fact, the priority of the pastoral work to Afro-descendants consists precisely in the formation of the communities and leaders and in serving the local church. Much has been talked about collaboration between the Province of Ecuador and the Delegation of Colombia: a collaboration that has to be geared towards sharing priorities and methods of pastoral work so that this work can be effective and not left to personal and questionable projects.