The ACG standing committee is involved in this work. Eva, our president, is a member of the Advisory Council of the Laity, a team that is guiding the path and organisation of this process. And the rest of the members of the commission are directly involved in the organisation and content of the meeting. In addition, several realities of General Catholic Action will bring their experience and testimony to the meeting.
The Meeting of the Laity on First Announcement (EPA) is organised by the Commission for the Laity, Family and Life of the Spanish Episcopal Conference with the participation of 700 people chosen from the dioceses, associations and movements, mostly lay people. Its motto is “People of God united in mission”.
This meeting is intended to be the culmination of a process that began after the National Congress of the Laity held in 2020, which proposed four lines of action for the Church in Spain: First Announcement, accompaniment, formation and presence in public life.
The first theme on which work has been carried out over the last two years is the First Announcement. During this process, the reality of the different communities has been analysed, seeking the participation and contribution of the laity, priests and consecrated people who make up the different diocesan realities and movements. But especially of the laity. This process has always been guided by two keys: synodality and discernment.
The various life teams of General Catholic Action in the dioceses have actively participated in this process, in collaboration with the Delegations of the Secular Apostolate. As a result, there will be a significant number of participants in this meeting who are members of the association.
The permanent commission of ACG is also involved in this work. Eva, our president, is a member of the Advisory Council of the Laity, a team that is guiding the way and the organisation of this process. And the rest of the members of the commission are directly involved in the organisation and content of the meeting. In addition, several realities of General Catholic Action will bring their experience and testimony to the meeting.
The first proclamation is a priority for the universal Church and, of course, also for our Spanish Church. Faced with the challenges posed by society, this meeting aims to be a moment of reflection to promote the missionary awareness of all the baptised and to make it possible for the proclamation of Jesus Christ to be the centre of our pastoral work. With the help of the Spirit, we will try to find ways and proposals to concretise this work in the reality of our dioceses and in the life of our communities.
The main presentations will be broadcast on streaming, and will reflect both the work done in the previous process and the meeting itself:
Friday 16 from 18:30. Opening ceremony and prayerful presentation of the Meeting.
Sunday 18th from 9:45 a.m. onwards. Final presentation.
These will be broadcast in streaming through the website “Pueblo de Dios en salida” and its YouTube channel:
https://laicos.conferenciaepiscopal.es/EPA
https://www.youtube.com/@PueblodeDiosenSalida/streams
The Sunday Eucharist at 11:30 a.m. (Madrid time) will also be rebroadcast.
