Coordinator Jean-Pierre Schmitz has been busy in discussions with colleagues in Aparecida, Brazil. Preparations are steadily making progress. Jean-Pierre has given contact addresses for organisations who should receive priority invitations to attend.
Plans are being made for twin meetings in Europe and Aparecida in the summer with a Skype connection between them.
Associated organisations in France have begun fundraising for the Forum.
We hear that rooms have been booked in Aparecida for 200 participants for the 2nd Global Forum of the People of God
Friends in Brazil are currently looking into the possibility of setting up a dedicated website for the 2018 Forum.
Nontando Hadebe, who many will remember at the 1st Global Forum of the People of God, preaches on the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent Year A
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Iglesia Descalza offers us this reflection
By Bishop Emeritus Pedro Casaldáliga (English translation by Rebel Girl)Que sea Navidad, la verdadera.
Las barbas crecidas y blancas,
y los supermercados del consumismo,
deben quedar al margen.
Y nosotros debemos plantarnos en medio del egoísmo
y negarnos a la profecía absurda,
para abrir espacio al llanto y al canto de la solidaridad
y al grito de los pequeños y excluidos.
Que sea verdad todo lo que decimos en la liturgia y el folclore.
Que sea una Navidad de las raíces de Belén,
el Misterio de la Encarnación llamándonos a hacer Reino cada día.
Que sea Navidad, que no nos perdamos la Navidad.
Let it be Christmas, the real one.
The long white beards
and the supermarkets of consumerism
should be left aside.
And we must stand in the midst of selfishness
and refuse the absurd prophecy
to make room for the sobs and songs of solidarity
and the cry of the least and the excluded.
Let everything we say in liturgy and folklore be true.
Let it be a Christmas from the roots of Bethlehem,
the Mystery of the Incarnation calling us to build the Kingdom every day.
Let it be Christmas, let us not lose Christmas.