23 june, 2013
June 21 thru 23
2013 Pastoral Theological Symposium: “Be not afraid! Trust – Hope – Believer’s Attitude”In the context of the new pastoral year and of the third cycle of celebrations of the Centennial of the Apparitions, the Shrine of Fatima proposes, to believers and non-believers alike, a diversified program with several activities throughout the year 2013. Amongst these stands out the 2013 Pastoral Theological Symposium titled “Be not afraid! Trust –Hope – Believer’s Attitude”, which will be held on June 21 thru 23 at Paul VI Pastoral Center, in the Good Shepherd Hall (Salão do Bom Pastor). This year’s theme challenges us to listen to and trust in the promise of the Lady Who revealed Her Immaculate Heart to three Little Shepherds on June 13, 1917, at Cova da Iria: “My Immaculate Heart shall be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God”. This exhortation meant, therefore, not only hope in the words of that Lady, but also trust and hope in God, in the One Who is (Ex 3, 14) and Who, throughout the History of Salvation, continues to urge mankind not to be afraid, but rather to trust. The Shrine of Fatima and the Organizing Committee wish that this discussion and reflection meeting be a privileged contribution for living the theme proposed by the Shrine for the current pastoral year by the different communities and individuals. As highlighted in the text of the leaflet publicizing the Symposium, “to place these questions within God’s horizon – be it negated or admitted – can be an epistemological starting point – valid for believers and non-believers alike – as far as it helps to think about trust and hope in a wider perspective than just society, politics, culture or even religion”. Carla Abreu Vaz Office of the Centennial of the Apparitions Pastoral Theological Symposium |
