Growing and serving

Liturgical formation in the dioceses, solidarity with the bishops of Zimbabwe, apartheid in South Africa, the European Football Championships in 2008 and the Synod of Bishops: these were the main issues discussed during the 276th ordinary assembly of the Swiss Bishops’ Conference (SBC) which met at the historic Benedictine abbey of Einsiedeln in recent days. As for the first point, explained WALTER MÜLLER , spokesman of the Swiss bishops, in a briefing to SIR, the bishops have published a document with the title “Liturgical formation in the dioceses of Switzerland. Objective and responsibilities”. “The liturgy clearly expresses the way in which each person identifies with the Church and with the whole people of God. Since the liturgy touches the human being in his entirely – spirit, heart and body – it demands great attention from us”, say the bishops in their introduction to the document, pointing out the “great responsibility” of those “who play a role of service in the Church”. LITURGICAL FORMATION. “There’s great attention for the liturgy in Swiss dioceses – stressed Müller -, but this is not always matched by proper theological and critical understanding”. That why “we need an intervention and reflection founded on the principles of the liturgical sciences and of pastoral care”, to indicate “the priorities of liturgical formation” and to define with clarity “the respective responsibilities and roles of priests and laity”. After describing the tasks of the bishop, “who is mainly responsible for the liturgical life of the local Church – continued the spokesman -, the document deals with the primary and permanent formation of theologians, teachers of religion, catechists, lectors, cantors and musicians, and also of all volunteers engaged in the parishes in services linked to the liturgy”.ZIMBABWE AND APARTHEID . Following “the condemnation expressed by the Catholic bishops of Zimbabwe on the authoritarian regime of President Robert Mugabe, provoked by numerous and repeated attacks of the police on opponents of the government, the Conference of Swiss Bishops – explained the spokesman – has expressed solidarity with their African confreres and deep concern about the rapid deterioration of the political, economic and social situation of the country”. The Swiss bishops support the appeal “made by the Swiss group ‘Africa – Europe Network of Faith and Justice’ (RFJAE, which represents 35,000 men and women religious in Europe and in Africa) to the President of the Swiss Confederation, Micheline Calmy-Rey. It’s an appeal – explained Müller – that contains a request to Switzerland to adopt a firm position and exert diplomatic pressure on the Mugabe regime”.As far as Africa is concerned, the Swiss bishops have also entrusted to the national Commission of Justice and Peace the task of conducting an historical study on “Catholic Switzerland – apartheid in South Africa”. “It will involve – explained the spokesman – conducting research, in particular, on the role of Swiss bishops, on contacts with their confreres in South Africa and on solidarity with the victims of the phenomenon”. EUROPAN CUP 2008. The chairman of the Committee of tourism and leisure time of the SBC and curate of Zermatt, Stephan Roth, updated the bishops on the preparations underway for the presence of the Churches at the European Football Championships due to be held in Switzerland and Austria between 7 and 29 June 2008. “An ‘ecumenical’ programme coordinated at the national and bi-national level is being organized”, explained Müller. It will involve “moments of ‘presence’ of the Protestant and Catholic Church at the various venues where the matches are being played. An ecumenical service is also being planned for the inauguration of Euro 2008 but other details of this will be announced later”, he said. SYNOD OF BISHOPS. The President of the SBC, Bishop Kurt Koch of Basel, will represent the Swiss bishops at the Synod of Bishops, which will be held from 5 to 28 October 2008 on “ Verbum Domini in vita et missione Ecclesiae” (The Word of God in the life and mission of the Church). “In preparation for the event – said Müller – the CBC has set up a work group that will study the ‘Lineamenta’ of the Synod and formulate its proposals by the autumn. The bishops – continued the spokesman – invite the faithful to participate in this consultation. The Catholic Biblical Association (www.bibelwerk.ch) will gather the contributions and transmit them to the SBC”.