Catholic bishops in Dominican Republic assess pastoral challenges
Prelates respond to the needs of the Church and society during the coronavirus pandemic
Catholic bishops in Dominican Republic, during their first meeting amid the coronavirus pandemic, are looking to strengthen various pastoral bodies and programs so that no one feels left out within the Caribbean country.
The bishops were meeting for the XXXIX National Pastoral Meeting, which the Dominican Episcopal Conference (CED), through its National Pastoral Institute (INP), held October 8 in the Archdiocesan House of María de la Altagracia.
The meeting was held with reduced participation, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants included bishops and pastoral workers of the country's dioceses who decided on the guidelines for evangelization and the national pastoral action plan for the year 2022.
Archbishop Freddy Bretón of Santiago de los Caballeros, president of CED, in his welcome speech, highlighted the work carried out by the Church in the country despite pandemic-related challenges and invited those present to "walk together, not only at the level of faith, but also at the human level", Fides reported.
Bishop Santiago Rodríguez of San Pedro de Macorís, president of INP, underlined the commitment of the bishops’ conference to ensure that "this programming involves everyone, as a Church, in order to respond with prayer and action to the great challenges of our people", through the various national pastoral bodies.
A major challenge is the ongoing world health crisis. As of October 12, the Dominican Republic had 366,191 coronavirus cases and 4,067 related deaths. Medical care in the country is limited and there is limited availability of ICU beds.
According to Reuters, COVID-19 infections are increasing in Dominican Republic, with 684 new infections reported on average each day. This number is 39% of the peak — the highest daily average reported on January 20.
Retired Bishop José Grullón of San Juan de la Maguana called for the delivery to each diocese of a copy of the image of the Virgin of Altagracia. The annual celebration of Our Lady of Altagracia January 21 is a devotion popular in the Dominican Republic.
Día de la Altagracia or Altagracia Day marks the patronal image and protector of the people of the Dominican Republic.
"Our Lady of Altagracia" is a portrait of the Virgin Mary painted in the 16th century and kept in the Basílica Catedral Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia in the city of Salvaleón de Higüey.
The festival was originally held on 15 August 1922, but was later moved to January 21 to celebrate victory over the French in 1690.
Next year marks the centenary of the canonical Coronation of Our Lady of Altagracia, whose feast is one of the major themes of the 2022 pastoral program.
The CED has already announced the Altagracian Jubilee Year, from August 15, 2021 to August 15, 2022, with the aim of "confirming the pact of re-encounter with the Virgin, revitalizing the faith of the Dominicans and pursuing a strong national coexistence".
During this Jubilee Year, Catholics will be able to obtain a plenary indulgence in the shrines and churches chosen by the bishops in the dioceses. Also taking place are various activities such as the celebration of Mass by the bishops on the 21st of each month.
Dominican Republic has a population of 10.59 million people of whom 44.3% are Catholic, and the remaining mostly Evangelical, Protestant and Adventist.
A concordat with the Holy See makes Roman Catholicism the country’s official state religion and extends to the Catholic Church special privileges such as funding for expenses and visa exceptions not granted to other religious groups.