Macao Institute of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.<\/p>\n\n
The Congregation for Evangelization has officially established the Redemptoris Mater College for the Evangelization of Asia, based in Macao, entrusting the \ndirection to the Neocatechumenal Way.<\/p>\n\n
The College has been established with the \ndecree signed by Cardinal Fernando Filoni, prefect of \nPropaganda Fide, on June 29, after the audience with \nPope Francis. The \u201cRedemptoris Mater College for Asia\u201d will open its \ndoors in September, with a first core of students coming \nfrom various nations of the world. The initiative aims to respond to \nJohn Paul II’s call that, in the encyclical letter Redemptoris Missio, \nindicated the Asian continent as a territorial area, \u201ctowards the \nwhich the missio ad gentes should mainly focus on \u201d(n.37), \nand to the wish of Pope Francis that, in the apostolic exhortation \nEvangelii Gaudium, invites the Church to \u201cgo out\u201d to always announce \nthe gospel. As deduced from the statute, the College depends \ndirectly from the Congregation for the Evangelization of peoples, \nmaintains contacts with the local bishop and may have sections \ndedicated in other places or countries. It is in fact a \n“major seminary of the Church, an educational community that lives the true canonical law and must obtain a legal existence under the laws \n\u00a0of the country \u201d in which the institute is located.<\/p>\n\n
The College has the purpose to \nprepare future priests for the evangelization in Asia, \naccompanying and educating them \u201cto the life of prayer and the \ntheological and cardinal virtues, with a serious commitment in the \nphilosophical and theological studies and to an action of itinerant evangelization.”<\/p>\n\n
Priests trained at the institute “May be sent, in the judgment of the prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of peoples, in dioceses that request it \u201d, in \nvarious Asian territories and nations as needed \npastors of those who require them. “In such a mission of evangelization, \npriests can be helped by entire families, \nformed in the Neocatechumenal Way, also available to be \nsent \u201d.<\/p>\n\n
Formation in the College is configured according to the indications of the Magisterium of the Church, while the training of seminarians includes direct and personal participation in the Neocatechumenal Way. In addition, according to the specific identity of the College, the proposed study will have its own connotation on the missionary level \u201d:\u201c The students – it is read in the Statute – are helped to highlight the missionary dimension inherent in the various themes of the theology, so that, even on an intellectual level, they are adequately prepared to integrate themselves into the universal mission entrusted by Christ to the apostles \u201d. The College is entrusted, in particular, to two patrons: Mary, Mother of the Redeemer, and Saint Joseph, Custodian of the Holy Family of Nazareth. In addition, the memory of the saints of the Churches of Asia will be celebrated with particular solemnity.<\/p>\n\n