Chicago, USA. On May 31 to June 2, 2019, amid great rejoicing and expectation, the 4th Congress of Claretian Bible Schools of the United States and Canada took place in Chicago. The event was attended by participants from the schools of Fresno, Atlanta, San Antonio, Claretian Bible Institute of the Americas (IBICLA), Indianapolis, and Chicago. During the congress they had the presence of USA – Canada Provincial, Fr. Rosendo Urrabazo, CMF; the Provincial Prefect of the Apostolate, Fr. Fernando Ferrer, CMF; Fr. Henry Ramírez, CMF, the Claretian delegate to the United Nations; Fr. Marco Cárdenas, CMF, of Radio Claret Chicago; Fr. José Marino, CMF of Springfield; Fr. Agustín Carrillo, CMF, member of the Claretian Biblical Network of America (REBICLAR), and the host of the event and Coordinator of the Biblical Animation of the USA- Canada, Director of the IBICLA and the Claretian Biblical Schools of USA-Canada, Fr. Manuel Villalobos Mendoza, CMF.
On this occasion, with the theme “Christianity and the Empire“, they had the honor of receiving Dr. Xavier Picaza, who is a prominent Theologian and Philosopher and has served as a full professor at the Pontifical University of Salamanca, Spain (1973- 2003). The topics related to the theme that were presented: 1. Jesus and the tribute (tributes): Jesus before the economy of the Empire; 2) Jesus and the two “enemies”: Beelzebub and Mammon, personal, social and economic oppression; 3) The parable of the guests. Version of Luke and Matthew … with the end of EvTom: “Traders and merchants will not enter the house of the Father”; 4) Two economic programs. Ac 2-4: sell, spend everything and die; Mk 10, 28-31 produce-share 100 for one; 5) Rom 12-13: Against the empire and with the empire. The gloss of Rom 13,1-7. The “pact” with Rome; and 6) Acts 13 and 17-18: Against the three “powers”: Military beast, ideological beast, and economic prostitute.
