Category Archives: Ad Gentes

It’s a good way to go out with our examination of the documents of Vatican II. We conclude Ad Gentes with a discussion of the role of the laity in promoting and supporting the work of the missions. Lay(women and) … Continue reading →

Ad Gentes turns to the role of men and women religious who are not explicitly missionaries: Religious institutes of the contemplative and of the active life have so far played, and still do play, the main role in the evangelization … Continue reading →

Ad Gentes addresses the role of the parish priest. If any clergy wish to offer input on this section, feel free to do so. Priests personally represent Christ, and are collaborators of the order of bishops in that threefold sacred … Continue reading →

Bishops exist not only for their own diocese, and not only as part of an ordered hierarchy, but for a purpose that includes cooperation and communion: All bishops, as members of the body of bishops succeeding to the College of … Continue reading →

Ad Gentes treats the topic of Christian communities applying themselves to the missionary effort: But since the People of God lives in communities, especially in dioceses and parishes, and becomes somehow visible in them, it is also up to these … Continue reading →

Ad Gentes topic of the day: cooperation, first of church members with missionary activity: As members of the living Christ, incorporated into Him and made like unto Him through baptism and through confirmation and the Eucharist, all the faithful are … Continue reading →

We begin the final chapter of Ad Gentes today, “Cooperation” Since the whole Church is missionary, and the work of evangelization is a basic duty of the People of God, this sacred synod invites all to a deep interior renewal; … Continue reading →

The end of Chapter V and the conclusion of Vatican II’s discussion of planning missionary activity: Since the right and methodical exercise of missionary activity requires that those who labor for the Gospel should be scientifically prepared for their task, … Continue reading →

More teamwork; in this section, men and women religious. The institutes engaged in missionary activity in the same territory should find ways and means of coordinating their work. Therefore, it will be very useful to have conferences of Religious men … Continue reading →

Some legal stuff, the relatinship between a bishop and missionary institutes operating in a territory. Bringing a missionary effort to a conclusion in an area must be a bittersweet moment. The obvious ideal is that bishops and local clergy will … Continue reading →

Bishops working together on issues seems to be an expectation. Episcopal conferences should take common counsel to deal with weightier questions and urgent problems, without however neglecting local differences. Lest the already insufficient supply of (people) and means be further dissipated, … Continue reading →

A bishop and his diocese have their responsibilities, including another nod to democracy and lay involvement: In order that the proper goals and results may be obtained, all missionary workers should have but “one heart and one soul” (Acts 4:32) in … Continue reading →

The role of bishops in missionary activity is an important one, starting first with groups and associations of bishops: Since the charge of proclaiming the Gospel in the whole world falls primarily on the body of bishops, the synod of … Continue reading →

With Ad Gentes 28, we begin chapter V, “Planning Missionary Activity“ The Christian faithful, having different gifts (cf. Rom. 12:6), according to each one’s opportunity, ability, charisms and ministry (cf. 1 Cor. 3:10) must all cooperate in the Gospel. Hence … Continue reading →