Members of the Neocatechumenal Way (NCW) movement gathered for a national meeting in Port Elizabeth.

Participants included the team responsible for Southern Africa and all the missionary families and priests who carry on the work of evangelisation which characterises this charism of the Church.

Bishop Vincent Zungu of Port Elizabeth addressed the assembly.

In his speech the bishop spoke about faith, saying: “Faith is not a connection of doctrines but rather the connection of our lives with the Lord. It is when we can entrust our whole life with the Lord, even through the challenges that may appear.” He added that faith must be nourished with a good spirituality and a strong prayer life.

Bishop Zungu encouraged those present, saying that we cannot be sent on a mission without being called before, confirming the words of Pope Francis about the link between vocation and evangelisation.

He acknowledged that the NCW has developed the missionary aspect in its structure well, and highlighted the intercultural and international aspect of the movement as positive for the work of evangelisation.

Bishop Zungu then spoke of how the NCW had touched him personally. He said the fact of being a missionary and the importance of being present, one of the aspects of the Franciscan way, is for him the real proof of how evangelisation is not only preaching but being a testimony with our daily lives.

The bishop finished his speech by encouraging everyone to develop the roots of their lives in their relationship with Christ.

Dino Furgione of the NCW said that “the presence of the bishop was a great joy for all the members, and his words of encouragement were of great help for all the assembly”.