Ireland: the role of catholic schools Bishop Leo O’Reilly, responsible of the education department of the Irish Bishops’ Conference, took the floor during a debate regarding denominational schools pointing out its “highly emotional language”, marked by terms which ought to be avoided such as “educational segregation, and apartheid”. As known, until recently most Irish schools were run by the Catholic Church, with State subsidies. In the past months the exclusion of non-Catholic pupils from a school in a city near Dublin, due to an increased number of immigrant families and the related difficulties in ensuring placement in school establishments, triggered a debate on the role of denominational schools. While the Church upholds parents’ right to raise their children in Catholic Schools at the State’s expense, members of the “Labour” and “Fine Gael” opposition parties accused Catholic schools of discrimination. In the preface of a recent survey on education published by Dublin’s “Iona Institute”, Msgr. O’Reilly affirmed that a neutral institution which is not based on a set of values cannot exist. A few days ago the Bishop had also voiced his concern regarding the Education Ministry’s intention to decrease the role of Catholic Schools. The “patrons” appointed by the Catholic Church to coordinate school management, weren’t consulted in government planning of new secondary schools. This would infer that the Government intends these to be multi-confessional rather than religious. England and Wales: Lancaster, “ready for the mission”The bishop of Lancaster, Msgr. Patrick O’Donoghue issued a document on the state of his diocese reported by the Catholic weeklies “Tablet” and “Catholic Times”. “Fit for mission” is the survey conducted by the bishop in 108 parishes of his diocese. Sixteen months were devoted to collecting information on Catholic attendance to parish life. The survey explores the major challenges awaiting Catholics in the 21st century. In the document, the bishop addresses the decrease in Mass attendance, especially evident in the case of young families, the reason for scarce prayer in the families, and the low participation to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. According to Msgr. O’Donoghue, the Church has lost its evangelizing mission, this at least is the experience of his diocese. It has become a “reunited Church” rather than a “missionary Church”. “Lay liturgical ministries – is stated in “Fit for Mission” – are rather developed in most parishes and there is a good cooperation between the clergy and the laity at the service of liturgy. What is lacking is a spirit of mission. Most of us don’t respond to the calling of the Lord to come out in His mission of hope, in particular the mission in parishes, among families and among the youth”. The document was conceived especially for the diocese of Lancaster. However, three thousand copies have been printed to be sent to all Catholic bishops and schoolmasters of Catholic schools in England and Wales. Poland: 60% of the youth pray the Rosary According to data published by the Catholic weekly Niedziela, Polish Catholicism is deeply marked by Marian worship. Experts in the Statistics Institute of the Catholic Church submitted questions regarding prayer, pilgrimages, and other expressions of faith to a consistent group of Catholics. Findings showed that 82% of Catholics wear the necklace with the image of the Holy Virgin or keep it inside their wallets. Furthermore, the day of the Annunciation and the Feast of the Presentation of Lord (the Candelora) are perceived as Marian festivities despite the fact that the Liturgical calendar identifies them as Feasts of the Lord. Over 75% of the respondents claimed they say the Rosary and the litanies of the Virgin and the remarkable element is that these prayers are said not only by old people and adults but also by 60% of the youth aged 17-25. Accordingly, 67.5 % claimed they attend liturgies in the month of May (the Marian month) while only 2% said they never attend such celebrations. 41% of Poles go on pilgrimage to Marian sanctuaries. Less than 15% of Catholics in Poland claim they never take part in religious pilgrimages. Most practicing Catholics took part in the pilgrimage to Jasna Gora in Czestochowa at least once in their lives. The Black Virgin, whose feast was celebrated on August 26, is visited by over 62% of pilgrims. This year, a total number of over one hundred thousand pilgrims went to pray in Jasna Gora. This figure includes not only Poles but also foreign pilgrims for whom the Pauline monks, keepers of the sanctuary, activated religious services in different languages.
