July 2003″ “” “

The six months’ Italian presidency of the Council of Ministers of the European Union starts on 1st July. 2 July Vocational Congress (2-6), promoted by the European Service of Vocations/Council of the Episcopal Conferences of Europe (CCEE) on “The integration of the vocational apostolate in the various pastoral structures”, in Warsaw; Meeting on the theme ” John Paul II Father of Europe: the European teaching of the Bishop of Rome”, at Strasbourg; Conference of the Inter-European Commission on Church and School (ICCS) (2-6), organized by CEC-KEK on “Building bridges in Europe. The contribution of schools and religious education to religious development and cultural knowledge”, at Budapest. 6 July First session of the Synod of the Church of the Czech Republic (6-12), on the theme “Let us not deprive ourselves of our future!” at the Sanctuary of Velehrad, in Moravia; European Colloquium of the parishes (6-10), on the theme “Parishes: experiences of today and visions of the future”, at Fribourg (Switzerland); European Assembly of the World Conference of Religions for Peace (6-9), on the theme “The shared values for community life in European cities”, in Graz (Austria). 7 July European Conference on e-government (7-8), promoted jointly by the Italian Government and by the European Commission, at Como. 9 July Catholic Prize for Communication 2003, annually awarded by the Swiss Episcopal Conference, at Zurich. 11 July Feast of St. Benedict, abbot, Patron of Europe. 17 July European Symposium on University and Church in Europe (17-20), promoted by the Council of the Episcopal Conferences of Europe in collaboration with the episcopal Commission for education, schools and universities of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, in Rome. 23 July Feast of St. Birgitta (Bridget), religious, Patron of Europe. 25 July Ecumenical celebrations (26-27), at Trondheim (Norway), to mark the 850th anniversary of the foundation of the diocese, organized by the Catholic and Lutheran Churches. 28 July Seminar on the Prevention, Management and Resolution of Conflicts in Africa (28-29), held under the auspices of the Italian presidency of the Council of Ministers of the European Union, in Rome (Farnesina).