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Christian communities need to become laboratories on the best way for people to live together, Cardinal Jean-Pierre Kutwa said.
By Lucie Sarr,Abidjan | Ivory Coast
"We note that people today are not making as much progress in the spiritual domain as they are in the material field," commented Cardinal Jean-Pierre Kutwa of Abidjan at the pastoral re-opening of the diocese on October 14.
For nearly an hour, Cardinal Kutwa addressed all sectors of Ivory Coast society on the theme for the coming year, "With the Holy Spirit, let us live in sharing and solidarity", a phrase taken from the Acts of the Apostles.
Cardinal Kutwa went on to diagnose the defects of a society undermined by "individualism, egoism, turning in on itself and its own interests".
He then proposed "a program of Christian life in four points: listening to the teaching of the Apostles, living in fraternal communion, breaking bread and taking part in prayer".
Explaining the four points, he emphasized the importance of the Eucharist. It is vital to give a central focus to "the breaking of the bread" because "the Mass is much more than an obligation", Cardinal Kutwa said.
"It is a vital necessity" to build "a Church at the service of people and which announces Christ to them by its life of sharing and solidarity".
After a long catechesis on the person of the Holy Spirit, Cardinal Kutwa addressed his priests, whom he invited to live in unity like the first Christian communities.
"By the fact of their ordination… priests are intimately linked among themselves by the sacramental fraternity," he stated, recalling the Vatican II decree on the ministerial life of the priest.
He also insisted on the role of the priest in society. "Priests must not forget hospitality," he said. They also need to be "concerned with benevolence and the sharing of their goods".
Next, Cardinal Kutwa addressed the religious present. "The true issue is not so much their 'consecration to the Lord,' and still less their 'coming to Church' but rather 'becoming the Church'."
"Communities need to become laboratories for experimenting with the best ways of living together," he said.
New communities sensitive to the suffering of brothers and sisters
Cardinal Kutwa also challenged the new communities that have emerged from the Charismatic Renewal. "I continue to believe in your various charisms," he announced before posing a series of questions.
"Have these charisms brought you closer and made you more sensitive to the suffering of your brothers and sisters?"
"Are you not preaching to your own groups to the point of being concerned only with the number of your members?" he continued.
Questioning the importance given to offerings by certain communities, Cardinal Kutwa invited them to be at the service of the poor.
"May I dream of a day of evangelization, where the collection and the offering will go to create a fund for those who are suffering?"
Finally, he concluded expressing a desire that "everyone this year will work in collaboration with the Church, your Church".
Addressing social problems, Cardinal Kutwa raised the issue of "children in conflict with the law", former child soldiers from the post-election crisis in Ivory Coast, which included a series of bloody stabbings.
"The phenomenon of children in conflict with the law challenges us and concerns us to the highest degree.
"If at this age, they have no fear of losing their lives, what will they be like as adults?" he asked before inviting all Ivoirians to "overcome their distraction".
Finally, speaking to journalists, politicians and security forces, Cardinal Kutwa called on them to greater responsibility, each one in his or her own field.
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