Villalba Cardinal visited the diocese of Rafaela and celebrated the Chrism Mass – On line Aica

Rafaela (Santa Fe) (AICA): Emeritus Archbishop of Tucuman, Cardinal Luis Villalba, visited last Thursday the diocese of Rafaela, in whose cathedral celebrated the Chrism Mass along with the local bishop, Monsignor Luis Fernandez, and the priests of the diocesan clergy. The cardinal, created cardinal by Pope Francisco, also accompanied the priests who participated in the day of ongoing formation of the clergy held in the abbey of Benedictine nuns, and said that the great challenge of the Church in Argentina is the evangelization.

Archbishop emeritus of Tucuman, Cardinal Luis Villalba, visited last Thursday the diocese of Rafaela, in whose cathedral celebrated the Chrism Mass with the local bishop Monsignor Luis Fernandez, and the priests of the diocesan clergy.

The cardinal, created cardinal by Pope Francisco, also accompanied the priests who participated in the day of ongoing formation of the clergy held at the Abbey of Benedictine nuns.

In the Eucharistic celebration in the cathedral San Rafael, the rafaelinos priests renewed their priestly promises and as is traditional oils to be used during the year were devoted to the sacraments.

At the end of the Mass, Cardinal offered a reflection Villalba “The laity and mercy of God.”

In a press conference, Bishop Fernandez presented the pastoral journey of Cardinal Villalba, who recalled that he had been on several occasions in the diocese, where Bishop Jorge Casaretto was bishop of this ecclesiastical jurisdiction.

The cardinal said the most important challenge of the Church in Argentina is evangelization.

“To evangelize is to bring Jesus Christ Church in Argentina for some years been working in this direction … Aparecida was certainly another strong momentum and I think that this torch has taken the Pope Francisco. Exit the peripheries not only territorial but also existential peripheries, places or situations where perhaps we have not reached the poor, the sick, the imprisoned, “he said.

“I think it is our task now as Church of Argentina, is out of our churches, of course welcome those who come, but go look for those who do not come, it is the great task . I be a missionary Church, I think it is fundamental, “he said.

The Cardinal Villalba highlighted some of the riches of the Church in Latin America: “It is a poor church in general, a simple church, a source close to the people, fraternal, helpful … a common work Church.”

“The Pope urges us to be humble, we are merciful, that we are at the service of the Church and the service of our brothers, the cardinal is not dignity, it is to love more Christ, the Church, the people around us, especially the subject is treated more than charity, which is the hallmark of the children of the Church … God wants us to be faithful to these words of Pope Francisco, “he said.

“I think the Church is experiencing a time very rich, very beautiful, Pope Francisco is definitely marking a road and beyond the problems, the difficulties, the crosses that are characteristic of our life, I think we have to renew our hope. the Lord is with us, we are not alone, with us in the boat and although sometimes may appear to be asleep. He cares for each of us, then renew our faith, not doubt , you have a lot of hope and entrust much to our Mother, the Blessed Virgin, which is our Patroness “he said. +