The coordinators of social ministries and ecclesial organizations of Northern Region 1 of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) held their last annual meeting in an atmosphere of discernment, evaluation, and deep listening to the realities of the Amazon. This meeting, held at the regional headquarters in Manaus on November 12, was part of the synodal process promoted by the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon (CEAMA) for the construction of the Synodal Apostolic Horizons.
A meeting guided by listening to the People of God
The meeting—coordinated by Sister Rosiene Gomes, regional head of Social Ministries—brought together representatives from various ministries: health, children, STIs/AIDS, prison ministry, ministry to the elderly, ministry to the deaf, vocations, laity (CNLB), missions, as well as representatives from CRB, CIMI, and COMIRE.
In line with the synodal itinerary of CEAMA, participants shared the voices, cries, and hopes gathered during their pastoral journeys throughout the year. From riverside communities and indigenous territories to vulnerable urban contexts, the testimonies expressed a deep fidelity to the suffering and resistance of the Amazonian peoples.
Listening to discern the paths
The listening process allowed us to recognize structural challenges that affect the entire region:
- The vast Amazonian territory, which requires great efforts in terms of travel and economic support for training and visits.
- The need for more pastoral agents trained and present in remote areas.
- The importance of synodal spaces—assemblies, councils, formation processes—as platforms for communion and convergence between social realities and the mission of the Church.
This communal exercise in discernment reaffirmed the conviction that the Synodal Apostolic Horizons must arise from listening directly to the communities and from walking together with ministries, organizations, and dioceses.
Looking toward 2026: communion, mission, and planning
The meeting also allowed for planning actions for the coming year, sharing information about scheduled events—such as the Vocational Congress—and evaluating regional communication to strengthen participation and impact.
At the close, Sister Rose Bertoldo, regional executive secretary of CNBB North 1, thanked each ministry for its sustained commitment and emphasized that communion, joint planning, and ongoing dialogue are key to responding to the pastoral urgencies of the Amazon.
With these steps, the North 1 Region joins the CEAMA listening process, reaffirming that a synodal Church in the Amazon can only be built through listening, participation, and shared mission.