Five-day biennial global meeting inaugurated at Pilar
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão and other religious leaders attending the global Meeting of the International Societies of Apostolic Life (MISAL) in Pilar.
PANAJI
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, on Monday stated that Christian love goes beyond all frontiers to witness Jesus through their mission.
He was delivering the keynote address at the inauguration of the biennial Meeting of the International Societies of Apostolic Life (MISAL) from December 2 to 6 in Pilar, on the theme, ‘Journeying Together: Encountering New Frontiers.’
Representatives from 29 Societies of Apostolic Life are participating in the five-day global meet, hosted by the Missionary Society of St Francis Xavier, also known as the Society of Pilar.
In his address, Cardinal Tagle emphasised the importance of understanding “frontiers” in the context of walking together for evangelisation and offered a threefold explanation of the term.
“A frontier is a border between two territories, encompassing civil, historical, cultural, and ethnic dimensions,” he said.
Cardinal Tagle noted that understanding these borders aids in describing local churches and facilitates inculturation. He pointed to Jesus’ example of moving across territories to foster appreciation and to disentangle Christianity from being identified with one culture.
Highlighting the need for attentiveness to frontiers, he stressed the importance of redefining cultural elements for better understanding. “While respecting the first frontiers of borders, we fail to give testimony to the universal frontiers of Christian love,” he remarked.
Cardinal Tagle identified the second frontier as unexplored areas needing to be conquered and the third as the frontier of knowledge.
“This refers to new fields requiring further investigation, such as digital technology and synodality in the Church,” he said.
MISAL 2024 is hosted by the Missionary Society of St Francis Xavier, also known as the Society of Pilar. This indigenous missionary Society of Apostolic Life was founded on September 26, 1887, in Goa by Fr Bento Martins.
Following Cardinal Tagle’s keynote address, a question-and-answer session moderated by Bishop of Baroda Sebastião Mascarenhas provided further insights.
Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, underscored the role of Societies of Apostolic Life in the frontline of evangelisation. He urged them to inspire the Church to embrace synodal challenges, citing St Francis Xavier and St Joseph Vaz as exemplars of crossing frontiers to proclaim the Good News.
Earlier in his welcome address, Archbishop of Goa and Daman Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão describing these Apostolic Societies as “a light in the world, breaking new frontiers,” and highlighting their adaptability and apostolic zeal.
Fr. Nazareth Fernandes, Superior General of the Society of Pilar, extended a warm welcome to the Cardinals, Bishops, and delegates. He emphasized the key aspects of MISAL 2024 and described Pilar as a fitting venue where numerous missionaries have drawn inspiration and strength for their work.
Others present at the inaugural ceremony included Auxiliary Bishop Simião Fernandes and Bishop Emeritus of Port Blair Alex Dias.
