Portugal: the value of sufferingOn the occasion of the pastoral visit for the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the parish of S. Domingos de Benfica, the Cardinal of Lisbon, Msgr. José Policarpo, paid a visit to the Portuguese Institute of Oncology (Ipo). The patriarch, who presided over the Eucharistic celebration, highlighted the possibility of ascribing new significance to suffering, for the sick and for healthcare workers. “We must always be aware of suffering and pray for all those who work in this environment and are committed in alleviating the suffering of other human beings”. Referring to the importance of religious mediators and to their the formation, he added: “The Church ought to be amongst mankind. She ought to listen to their problems, share their suffering, their hopes, the weakness caused by their diseases and be aware of people’s yearning to live and that all is placed in the hands of God”. “Lent and Easter must be lived as periods of transition, from a state of normality to the awareness of greater profundity in life”. The role of religious mediators is carried out by the chaplains of IPO. Father Arlindo de Lima Marinho and father Adelino de Ornelas give spiritual support to 11 thousand sick people hospitalised in the Institute. “We wish to enable all those who suffer to recover hope along with their entire existence, both in spiritual and physical terms”, explained father Marinho, who pointed to the fact that “society seeks to prevent research on solutions that may help overcome pain and the human frailty that results from cancer. As mediators, we intend to be more than bridges so that each sick person may perceive a different dimension of suffering and encounter the path leading to God”. Ireland: parishes against drugs and alcoholWithin the framework of the Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative (IBDI) launched by Ireland’s Bishops’ Conference in 1999 to counter the use of drugs, a seminary for parish representatives took place at the “Columba Centre”, in Maynooth, Eastern Ireland. The occasion was also the presentation of a booklet for parishes with guidelines focused on preventing alcohol and drug use among the youth. “Our target audience is the local community. Our work attempts to address, and prevent, the damage that alcohol inflicts on local communities, therefore our efforts to improve our local quality of life starts with parishes themselves”, said bishop Eamonn Walsh, Ibdi vice-President. Msgr. Walsh renewed his appeal to put a ban on advertising alcohol at sport and at youth events and to restrict alcohol advertising on television and radio to night hours only. “Our position was further endorsed last month by the review findings of the European Scientific Committee on Alcohol Marketing which concluded that commercial communications (e.g. advertising) increase the likelihood that adolescents will start to use alcohol as well as encouraging them to drink more if they are already using alcohol”. IBDI National Coordinator John Taaff said: “Parishes are ideally placed to mobilise interested people to work together and to form partnerships with dedicated voluntary and State agencies so as to prevent drug and alcohol problems locally. Today the IBDI warmly welcomes 35 new parishes which have registered to participate in our prevention initiative, representing parishes from the North and South of Ireland”. Belgium: Cardinal Danneels’ writings on Saint Paul Since 1981, each year Cardinal Danneels issues much longed-for messages for Christmas and for Easter that are often translated. In 2007 the message focused on the Creed while in 2008 on popular devotion. This year, which is dedicated to Saint Paul, the archbishop gave a portrayal of the Apostle of the People. Indeed, a large part of the New Testament has been written by Saint Paul. When compared, the Letters are almost as long as the four Gospels. Every Sunday we read an excerpt of his letters, although the homily does not focus on these. Do the faithful truly know Saint Paul? “In his Letters, the Cardinal said, we find the profound intelligence of the person of the resurrected Christ and what he has to say to us”. “Saint Paul is not easy to understand. He addresses fundamental aspects of our faith, the law, grace, the Jews, the Pagans, Christian freedom and much more. His works are autobiographic and still today provide us with an insight into the figure of the Apostle”. The document will available starting April 2 and will cost 1,75 euro, plus shipping expenses. Copies can be requested at: Press Office of the Archbishopric of Malines-Bruxelles, Wollemarkt 15, 2800 Mechelen, tél. (015)21 65 01, fax (015)20 94 85, or via e-mail at: maria.peeters@diomb.be. Issues will be also available in liturgical centres and specialized bookstores.
