The Austrian Bishops’ Conference will meet in Vienna for its autumn plenary from 7 to 9 November. Chaired by Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, the assembly will mainly discuss the planned visit of the Pope to Mariazell in September 2007 on the occasion of the celebrations marking the 850th anniversary of the sanctuary. The bishops will also discuss the situation of the Church and society in Austria. The plenary will be preceded by a study day dedicated to Islam on 6 November. As part of the preparations for the papal visit, a novena of prayer will begin on 8 December and the bishops will invite the faithful to participate in it with a pastoral letter that will be presented on the first Sunday of Advent, 3 December. Meanwhile the “Night of the 100 lights”, organized by Catholic youth and involving 20 Tyrolean parishes, was held in the diocese of Innsbruck during the night between 31 October and 1st November, in churches, convents and schools. The idea derives from the experience of prayer of the ecumenical community of Taizé.
