International Association of Catholic Missiologists

SECOND IACM GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Salesian Retreat Center “Fatima” – Colcapirhua

Cochabamba, Bolivia, from September 29 to October 3, 2004

ADVANCE PROGRAM

Wednesday September 29: Registration and Inaugural Session

Arrivals continue (as in previous days) with transfer to the Fatima retreat center for accommodation
(packet of Assembly papers, document case, etc. in each room)

15:00 Registration continues at Fatima, with delivery of credentials, etc.

18:00 Time for spontaneous greeting of old friends and making new friends...

19:00 Dinner

19:45 Brief words of welcome by IACM President in English and Spanish, general explanation of the encounter’s program and its methodology, a dynamic for the mutual presentation of participants

Thursday September 30: First part of the Theological Workshop or “Scientific Session” of the Assembly

07:15 Eucharist, Feast of Saint Jerome: World Day of Biblical Studies

08:00 Breakfast

08:45 Plenary Session: Principal paper from Latin America:

Fr. Eleazar Lopez: “The Church in Dialogue with the Indigenous peoples of America: Flowers and Thorns”.

(40 min. presentation followed by dialogue with the assembly, 10 to 15 min.)

09:40 Brief “standing break” in the assembly hall (5-10 min.)

09.50 Plenary Session: Principal paper from Europe:

Very Rev. Prof. Dr. Sergei Shirokov: “The Icon as Theological Language: A Case in Missiological Dialogue between East and West”. (40 min. presentation followed by dialogue with the assembly, 10 to 15 min.)

10:45 Longer break with refreshments outside the hall

11:15 First series of “Communications” (shorter papers) in three parallel groups:

(15 min. presentation and 15 min. dialogue. Each participant chooses to hear two of the three papers)

From Latin America: Rev. Dr. Joaquin Garcia, OSA: “New Theological Languages Centered on the Creation: Newness and Continuity.”

From Europe: Prof. Dr. Patrizia Pelosi and Rev. Prof. Dr. Giuseppe Buono, PIME: “Bioethics: A New Missiological Language”.

From North America: Rev. François Jacques: “New Theological Languages for the New Missionary Situations in Megacities.”

11:45 Short break; the participants go to hear another paper.

11:55 Second series of “Communications”: the presenters stay in the same room.

12:30 Lunch (main midday meal), followed by a personal rest period

14:30 Small group work (group tasks will be assigned)

16:00 Longer break with refreshments outside the hall

16:30 Plenary Session: Reports on progress in small groups, dialogue

17:15 Short rest break

17:30 Plenary Session: Foundational Address:

Sr. Prof. Dr. Teresa Okure, SHCJ, IACM Vice President:

“Diverse Theological Languages in the New Testament”.

(40 min. presentation followed by dialogue with the assembly, 10 to 15 min.)

18:30 Rest

19:00 Evening Dinner

Night: Social “mixer”, without any planned activity, but with some refreshments.

Friday, October 1: Continuation of the Theological Workshop

07:15 Eucharist, Feast of Saint Therèse of the Child Jesus, Patroness of Missions

08:00 Breakfast

08:45 Plenary Session:
Principal paper from Asia: Rev. Prof. Dr. Joseph Mattam, S.J.: “The Message of Jesus and Our Customary Theological Language”.

(40 min. presentation followed by dialogue with the assembly, 10 to 15 min.)

09:40 Brief “standing break” in the assembly hall (5-10 min.)

09:50 Principal paper from Africa: Rev. Prof. Dr. Lance Nadeau, MM, “The Need for a Missionary-Theological Language during the HIV/AIDS Pandemic. The Tragic Results of a Flawed Evangelization”.

(40 min. presentation followed by dialogue with the assembly, 10 to 15 min.)

10:45 Longer break with refreshments outside the hall

11:15 First series of Communications (shorter papers) in three parallel groups:

(15 min. presentation and 15 min. dialogue; each participant chooses to hear two of the three papers)

From Asia: Rev. Dr. John Mansford Prior, SVD, “Theological Language in the Evangelization of Traditional Cultures in Indonesia”.

From Latin America: Sr. Gabriella Zengarini, OP: “My search for a theological language based on the life experience of women”.

De Europe: Rev. Dr. Marek Rostkowski, OMI : “Language as instrument of inculturacion according to Church documents”.

11:45 Short break; the participants go to hear another paper.

11:55 Second series of Communications: the presenters stay in the same room.

12:30 Lunch (main midday meal), followed by a personal rest period

14:30 Small group work (group tasks will be assigned)

16:00 Longer break with refreshments outside the hall

16:30 Plenary Session: Reports from the small groups, dialogue

17:30 Short rest break

17:45 Plenary Session: Results of group work and recommendations for a final document.

18:45 Rest break.

19:00 Evening Dinner

Night A theatrical play inspired by the missionary witness of Saint Francis Xavier, produced by our host at “Fatima”, Bro. Juan Marot, S.D.B.

Saturday, October 2: Statutory Session, IACM Business and Elections

07:15 Eucharist

08:00 Breakfast

08:45 First part of the Statutory Session: The Input of Executive Reports

Formal acceptance of the Acts of the Founding General Assembly and of the periodical reports sent to all members by our Executive Secretary, Dr Francis Oborji, and an expression of commendation for the excellence of his work.

Reading of the Treasurer’s Report prepared by Dr. Madge Karecki, OFM-TOR.

Report of the President on the State of the Association (Dr. John Gorski, MM)

09:55 Brief “standing break” in the assembly hall

10:00 Reports of the Continental Executive Representatives

10:45 Longer break with refreshments outside the hall

11:00 Dialogue in the plenary session on future program and priorities

(In particular, the formation of stable thematic study groups).

Note: The President has sounded the membership on suggested amendments to the Statutes, but none were received. Introduction of such business at this point would require a written request signed by 67% of the members.

Straw vote to surface possible candidates for general executive officers (President, Vice President, Executive Secretary, Treasurer.

12:30 Lunch (main midday meal), followed by a personal rest period

15:00 Electoral Session:

Election of the new President, Vice President, Executive Secretary and Treasurer.

16:00 Longer break with refreshments outside the hall

16:30 Continental groups elect their Regional Executive Representatives

(Africa, Asia-Oceania, Europe, Latin America and North America).

17:00 Formal presentation of the new Executive Board of the IACM

17:30 Short rest break

17:45 Farewell address of the retiring President, Dr. John F. Gorski, MM):

18:30 Space for possible concluding formalities (not yet determined clearly).

18:45 Rest break.

19:00 Festive Banquet

Night Presentation of dances typical of the Altiplano, valleys and tropical lowlands of Bolivia by the Cultural Ballet troupe of the Bolivian Catholic University.

Sunday, October 3: Closing of the IACM’s Second General Assembly.

08:00 Breakfast

08:45 Transfer in busses to the Coliseo Santa María in the city of Cochabamba.

09:30 Ceremonial closing of the IACM’s Second General Assembly.

The retiring President introduces the IACM’s new Executive Board.

Conclusions and Message of the Assembly in English and Spanish.

Brief messages of greetings to the IACM from:

Julio Cardinal Terrazas, Archbishop of Santa Cruz and President of the Episcopal Conference of Bolivia;

Archbishop Ivo Scapolo, Apostolic Nuncio to Bolivia;

A representative of the Archbishop of Cochabamba (away on a pastoral visit); The National Sub-Secretary of Religious Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Relations and Religious Affairs of the Republic of Bolivia.

The Honorable Mayor of the City of Cochabamba.

The Rector Magnifico of the Bolivian Catholic University (UCB).

The Grand Chancellor of the Bolivian Catholic University.

The President of the (ISET);

The Director of the Latin American Missiology Institute (ISET-UCB).

(Possibly, the Apostolic Blessing of His Holiness Pope John Paul II pronounced by the Cardinal or Nuncio).

10:50 Rest break

11:15 Solemn Concelebrated Mass.

13:00 Box lunch (sandwiches, fruits, cookies and bottled soft drinks)

13:30 Bus tour to see a bit of “Cochabamba Misionera”:

Ascent to the monumental “Cristo de la Concordia” with panoramic views;

Visits to missionary and missiological entities and programs:

The Latin American Missiology Institute and Ethnological Library at the Superior Institute of Theological Studies of the Bolivian Catholic University; The Maryknoll Language School (Instituto de Idiomas), seat of the Llajta Documentation Service and the Oficina Latinoamericana de Servicios a la Mision (OLASM) [cold refreshments will be served here];

Divine Word Book Center, with its missiological publications;

The Casa del Catequista (CADECA), formator of indigenous evangelizers;

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Urcupiña in Quillacollo;

18:40 Return to “Fatima” for the evening meal at 19:00.

[Is anything more really needed besides a good rest?]

[Note: Transport to the Airport will be offered to each and all of the participants according to their own flight schedules.]

Monday, October 4: Encounter of Latin American Missiologists.

07:15 Morning prayer or Mass (at this time or in the evening, with the Archbishop?)

08:00 Breakfast

08:45 -12:30 Time allotted for a general meeting of missiologists of Latin America

(The details of this meeting are not yet set).

12:30 Lunch (main midday meal), followed by a personal rest period

14:30 Transfer to the “Ramon Rivera” Campus of the Bolivian Catholic University;

15:00 Public Academic Act in the Aula Magna of the Instituto Superior de Estudios

18:00 Option “a” Eucharist in a large church (Santa Ana?) with the Archbishop.

Option “b” Vino de Honor at the Instituto Latinoamericano de Misionología.

19:30 Farewell Dinner (in a restaurant).

21:00 Transfer to “Fátima” in busses.