AAS 80 - La Santa Sede

Acid Ioannis Pauli Pp. II 1539
for the Church in Zambia to form lay leaders. Moreover it echoes a
concern which was repeatedly expressed during the last Synod of
Bishops on the Vocation and Mission of the Laity. In their concludine
message addressed to the People of God the Synod Fathers state :
"There exists every where among the lay faithful a real thirst for the
interior life, a thirst for a deeper spirituali ty, and a fervent desire
to share in the missionary and apostolic work of the Church ... The
integral spiritual formation of all the faithful, lay, religious and
clergy, should be a pastoral priori ty today". 5
In this central endeavour of the formation of lay leaders for the
future of the Church in Zambian society, I note the particular emphasis
which you are giving to "small Christian communities" as a means of
improving the full and active participation of the faithful as well as
their catechesis. These communities pro vide a setting for sharing
more intensely in the Church's life. They can also be useful in uniting
the People of God in order to meditate upon the Word of God and to
celebrate the sacraments. Thus they offer the important opportunity
of forming adult Christians, deepening their faith through catechesis,
prayer and fraternal charity. At the same time the "small Christian
communities" must always remain a part of your local Churches and
never become isolated. In this way they will fulfil their most funda­
mental vocation and themselves become proclaimers of the Gospel. 6
3. It is my fervent prayer that you will renew your efforts in the
great task of evangelization which constitutes the essential mission of
the Church. I wish to praise ali the courageous initiatives that you
have already undertaken for proclaiming the Gospel and I am aware
of the many difficulties which you must face in communicating the
Good News of salvation to many who have not yet heard of or accepted
Christ. The Church exists in order to evangelize and you are called to
lead your flocks in giving daily witness to Christ in a society where
many are in search of a fuller understanding of God and of his designs
for the human family.
Your dedicated witness of an exemplary Christian life constitutes
an initial act of evangelization but it must be accompanied by the ex­
plicit proclamation of the Kingdom of God and the person of Jesus
Christ, who by his Cross and Résurrection won for us our eternai
5 No. 12.
6 Cf. Evangelii Nuntiandi, 58.