September 2004″ “

We present the main events involving the Catholic Church and the other European Christian Churches in September. 2 Start of the new school year in France, overshadowed by the implementation of the law finally approved in March this year that prohibits the ostentatious display of religious symbols in public places: Islamic headscarf, large crosses, kippahs or turbans. 5 Seminar to update recently consecrated bishops (5-18), from the French-, Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking areas, organized by the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, in Rome. Ceremony for the award of the “Albert Schweitzer” Prize and Gold Medal at Gunsbach, in Alsace (France). 9 Ceremony for the consignment of the European prizes annually awarded by “Search for Common Ground”, one of the leading NGOs in conflict resolution and the promotion of peace, in Brussels. 10 Plenary session of the Bishops’ Conference of Scandinavia (10-15), in Stockholm. 11 3rd anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, in New York, and at the Pentagon, in Washington, which claimed over 2,800 victims. 12 12th International Ecumenical Conference of Orthodox Spirituality (12-18), organized by the Patriarchate of Moscow and the monastic Community of Bose, at the Monastery of Bose. 15 Start of the “Marian Year” of the Spanish Diocese of Santander to celebrate some important events in the life of the local Church. 16 Meeting of national directors for migration of the European Episcopates (16-19), under the aegis of the CCEE (Council of the Episcopal Conferences of Europe), in Brussels. 17 Paralympic Games in Athens (17-28). 52nd Film Festival (17-25) of San Sebastián-Donostia (Spain). 20 Meeting of the permanent Council of the Italian Bishops’ Conference (20-23), in Rome. 4th European Congress on Pilgrimages and Sanctuaries (20-23), organized by the Pontifical Council for Migrants on the theme “Ecumenism of holiness” – Pilgrimage at the start of the Third Millennium”, at the Marian Sanctuary of Kevelaer (Germany). Meeting of world leaders on funding for the elimination of famine and poverty, at UN headquarters in New York. 21 Meeting of the Permanent Commission of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference (21-23), in Madrid. 23 Semaines Sociales in France (23-26), on the theme “Europe, a society to be invented”, at Lille. 24 Meeting of national delegates for university apostolate of the European Episcopates (24-26), under the aegis of the CCEE (Council of the Episcopal Conferences of Europe), in Vienna. 26 Elections in France for the partial renewal of the Senate. 27 First part of the auditions of the new European Commissioners before the European Parliament (27 September-1 October), in Brussels. 25th World Day of Tourism, on the theme “Sport and tourism: two vital forces at the service of mutual understanding, culture and development”. 28 9th Meeting of the mixed Commission between the Greek-Catholic Church and the Romanian Orthodox Church, in the Orthodox Archdiocese of Vad, Feleac e Cluj. 30 Audience granted by the Holy Father to the President of Romania, Ion Iliescu, in the Vatican. Plenary Assembly of the Council of the Episcopal Conferences of Europe (CCEE) (30 Sept-3 Oct), at Leeds (Great Britain).