The headquarters of the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (CELAM) hosted a meeting between representatives of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and the leading ecclesial organizations of Latin America and the Caribbean, in a session marked by dialogue, mutual listening, and the search for new opportunities for cooperation in service to the Church’s mission.
Delegates from the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM), the Latin American and Caribbean Confederation of Religious (CLAR), the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon (CEAMA), and the Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network (REPAM) participated in the meeting. Representing the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation were Sister Jane Wakahiu, LSOSF, Associate Vice President of Program Operations and Director of Catholic Sisters, and Hortencia del Villar, Senior Program Officer.
CEAMA was represented by its executive secretary, Marcelo Lemos, and the assistant to the Executive Secretariat, Sr. Carolina Forero, HJK, who shared the journey undertaken by this ecclesial body—born as a result of the Synod for the Amazon—and its commitment to building a Church that is increasingly synodal, intercultural, and at the service of the Amazonian peoples.
A synodal experience that sparked interest
During the dialogue, CEAMA presented the ecclesial experience it has been developing in the Amazon, highlighting its innovative nature within the Church by promoting broad and co-responsible participation in pastoral discernment processes.
One of the aspects that most caught the attention of the representatives from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation was CEAMA’s synodal structure, in which laypeople, representatives of indigenous peoples, women and men religious, priests, and bishops participate on an equal footing in dignity and shared responsibility, contributing their diverse charisms and vocations to the Church’s common mission.
This model of participation was recognized as a unique experience that reflects the synodal path promoted by Pope Francis and offers concrete responses to the pastoral challenges of the Amazon.
Sharing Experiences to Strengthen the Mission
The meeting allowed each of the ecclesial organizations to present its mission and the main initiatives it carries out in Latin America and the Caribbean, fostering an exchange of experiences aimed at identifying points of convergence and possible avenues for collaboration.
For CEAMA, this gathering represented an opportunity to share progress in the process of building a Church with an Amazonian face, committed to integral ecology, the defense of indigenous peoples, and the strengthening of synodality as a permanent style of evangelization.
The event concluded by reaffirming the importance of continuing to strengthen alliances between ecclesial organizations and institutions that share a commitment to promoting human dignity, caring for our Common Home, and advancing pastoral initiatives that respond to the realities and needs of the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean, particularly in the Amazon region.
In this context, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation expressed its willingness to explore possible joint initiatives and projects among the participating organizations, promoting opportunities for coordination and collaboration around shared objectives. It also expressed its openness to engaging in direct dialogue with each of the organizations, with the aim of gaining a deeper understanding of their processes, priorities, and needs, and evaluating possible concrete initiatives for collaboration.
