DOM JOSÉ GOMES E A METODOLOGIA POPULAR DOS GRUPOS DE REFLEXÃO NA DIOCESE DE CHAPECÓ-SC.

The decades from 1960 to 1980 brought a new ecclesial scenario, given the political, social and economic context throughout Latin America. There is a deepening of poverty and social inequality, as well as the opening of the Catholic Church to a new theological reading, from the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), Medellín (1968) and Liberation Theology. In the midst of this context, Bishop José Gomes is transferred to the Diocese of Chapecó, in western Santa Catarina, who becomes an icon of the progressive wing of the Catholic Church in Brazil. The bishop will unleash many liberating ecclesial and social fronts. Among them, it is interesting in this reflection to go through the methodology of the Reflection Groups, a singular ecclesial dimension in the formation and liberation of the consciences of the people of the West of Santa Catarina. To achieve this objective, we first reflect on the strengthening of the Groups and their methodology in the Diocese, and then, the fundamental role of Dom José in reinforcing and understanding such meetings as a privileged space for leadership formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]