A meeting of the European Committee of university chaplains at Madrid, from 27 to 29 September with the participation of the national delegates of the university apostolate; the meeting of the oldest universities in Europe in Rome from 8 to 10 December, with the participation of the universities of Bologna, Salamanca, Cambridge, Vienna, Besançon and others; a European prayer day for university students in mid-March 2003; a European symposium on the theme “Church and universities in Europe” in Rome from 24 to 27 July 2003 with the participation of bishops, university chaplains, professors, students and heads of colleges and university centres: these are just some of the events promoted by the European Committee of university chaplains under the aegis of the Council of the Episcopal Conferences of Europe. “Following the Jubilee explained Msgr. Cesare Nosiglia, vice-gerent of the diocese of Rome at the 10th Symposium of European bishops we set up this Committee and asked each Episcopal Conference to appoint a delegate for the university apostolate”. The aim is to create a “network” of all those dedicated to bringing Christian witness into the universities of Europe. These relations are also reinforced by twinning arrangements, by the participation of foreign students involved in the Erasmus project in the university pastoral ministry of their host country, and by the holding of joint meetings. The various initiatives also include “University Day for Toronto – 70 days”, to be held in Rome on 8 May, in preparation for World Youth Day, which is due to be held in the Canadian city in July. The European university apostolate, explained several young delegates at the Symposium of bishops, is characterized by working according to the model of the “cultural laboratory”. This, explained Maria Carmela Benvenuto of the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, “is a place where students and teachers work together on a cultural theme trying to elucidate the richness that may derive from the Christian contribution. It’s a very stimulating experience that opens a dialogue also with students and professors of different opinions or faiths”.
