“Living as Christians in our time” is the theme of the 24th European Colloquium of Parishes (CEP) due to be held in Porto (Portugal) from 8 to 12 July. The meeting will reflect on the relation between Christian faith and daily life, also in the light of the Bible and a re-reading of Vatican Council II ( Gaudium et spes and Ad gentes) . The speakers will include the theologian of Theological Faculty of Catalonia, Salvador Piè i Ninot, the Vicar General of the diocese of Chalons (France), Joël Merlot, and the Portuguese bible scholar Franclim Pacheco. A round table is also planned on “The Portuguese Church” with the participation of Bishop Manuel Clemente of Porto and Maria Silva, chairman of the Commission of “Iustitia et Pax”. Founded in 1959 on the initiative of French canon Francis Connan, then parish priest of St. Sèverin in Paris, the Colloquium was supported with conviction by the then Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Franz König, who encouraged young parish priests as follows: “The Church must become European. Parishes, it’s you that must begin!”. Since 1973 the laity too have taken part in the colloquia, which are held every two years. Since 1978 CEP has been an NGO with advisory status at the Council of Europe. Info: cepporto@sapo.pt.
