“10 million stars A gesture for peace”, i.e. candles lit throughout the country during the Christmas period as “symbol of the yearning for peace in the world”: that’s the Christmas charity appeal launched by Portuguese Caritas this year (and presented in Lisbon on 17 November). It invites people to buy a candle and to light it in the public mobilization on 6 December and in each family on 24 December. 30% of the proceeds of the sale will be devolved to a development project in Sao Tomé and Principe and 70% to diocesan Caritas agencies. The idea was inspired by a similar campaign first held at Annecy, in France, in 1984, and developed into a national event in 1991. In 2002 it also had a European dimension, with the participation of 60 diocesan Caritas agencies in a common day on 20 December. “In 2005 explains Portuguese Caritas the event would like to have a global dimension, thus giving visibility to the role of the Caritas network in support of peace and solidarity” in the world. The gesture of lighting a candle serves to “give a sign, countering the consumerist tendencies that are vitiating the true meaning of Christmas. Everyone can join in, irrespective of their own political or religious convictions”. Meanwhile the International Congress for the new evangelization (involving five European capitals in five years) successfully concluded in the Portuguese capital on 13 November. It comprised numerous activities and events (40 workshops, meetings, animation and street music) that involved hundreds of missionaries and the whole city, with a wider impact at the national level. “The whole country witnessed it commented Father Antonio Rego, editorialist of the Catholic press agency “Ecclesia” -. And with the attention of public opinion and the media, the whole country joined in the celebration”.
