IFCA
Letter to Catholic Action in the world
On the occasion of the 40th anniversary
from the conclusion of the Second Ecumenical Vatican Council

Rome, 8th December 2005
To all ‘member and observer’ countries of IFCA and to all CA members

Today, my thought goes to 8 December 1965, when the Servant of God Paul VI solemnly closed the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, the greatest ecclesial event of the 20th century which Bl. John XXIII had opened three years earlier. Amid the exultation of numerous faithful in St Peter's Square, Paul VI entrusted the implementation of the conciliar Documents to the Virgin Mary, calling upon her with the dear title of "Mother of the Church". Presiding at a solemn Eucharistic celebration in the Vatican Basilica this morning, I wanted to give thanks to God for the gift of the Second Vatican Council. Furthermore, I wished to pay homage to Mary Most Holy for having accompanied these 40 years of the Church's richly eventful life. In a special maternal way, Mary has kept watch over the Pontificates of my venerable Predecessors, each one of whom, with great pastoral wisdom, steered the boat of Peter on the course of authentic conciliar renewal, ceaselessly working for the faithful interpretation and implementation of Vatican Council II. Benedict XVI, Angelus, 8.12.05

Dear friends
We are starting this letter with Benedict XVI words to show that, together with our greetings for a Holy Christmas and the New Year 2006, we would like to add some reflections which will help us to live “a year of the Council”: 8 December 2005-2006 together.
We all know that CA is a gift to the Church which has to bear fruit within it. The Church has entered the III millennium with the Council as its reliable compass which indicates the way for announcing salvation to men and women of our times.
• Our proposal is to organize a Eucharistic Celebration in order to thank the Lord for the Second Vatican Council and to pray for a renewed commitment, at national and diocesan level, as indicated by the Council itself.
• We also propose initiatives which highlight the importance of the conciliar documents and the developments within the Church during these 40 years. In our formation programms, which we have already planned or are still planning, we should include specific initiatives about the Council, paying particular attention to the younger generation.
• We will be grateful if you could inform us about these activities so that we may include them on the website. On the website, one can find full documentation on these 40 years from the council.

Encouraged by the enthusiasm, shown during the International Congress on CA held in 2004, to live our conciliar identity to the full, the IFCA Secretariat has already started working. A CA Promotion Group has been set up. This had its first meeting at the end of September. The Youth Coordinating Group has started working on the organization of a Pilgrimage for Peace to be held in Jerusalem on the 1st January 2007. At continental level, it is working on the organization of meetings and trying to identify venues and dates. Information about these will eventually be given by January 2006.

Until we meet in Rome and at the other continental meetings, let us all keep united in prayers with our Holy Mother Mary who watches over our journey in communion with Peter and all our pastors.
“At the beginning of this new year we ask Her to help all the People of God to be instruments of peace in all situations and that they may come to know the truth, and the truth will set them free (cf Jn 8,32)” (Benedict XVI, message for the 39th World Day of Peace).

Our kindest regards.
Paola Bignardi, + Francesco Lambiasi and IFCA Secretariat