CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Moldova: the first bilingual catechesis textAfter years of intense pastoral work, the Catholic Church of Moldova, consisting of the diocese of Chisinau only, issued the first volume on catechesis and Christian formation for Moldovan faithful. The final publication will include four volumes: The Life of the Church (already written and printed); the Sacraments of Christian life (ongoing printing); the Ten Commandments (ongoing content definition); Prayer (to be commenced). The content layout hinges on the communicative experience of Msgr. Francesco Ruppi (Archbishop Emeritus of Lecce – Italy). The fact that Moldova is a bilingual country was taken into due account, thus the catechesis text will be published in Russian and Moldovan. The Bishop of Chisinau, Msgr. Anton Cosa, has distributed the important work to the parishes in the Diocese of Chisinau and to pastoral workers, highlighting the fact that finally they can avail themselves of a common, popular catechetical tool for formation and evangelization. It must be considered that Catholics in Moldova account for approximately 0.5% of the overall population, thus representing a minority group disseminated across Moldova and Transnistria, with diverse nationalities. In presenting the pastoral program for the year, Msgr. Anton Cosa highlighted the need for evangelization and charity to proceed together, thus all pastoral tools, such as in the case of the Christian formation publication presented to the Diocese, are designed to support this endeavour and reach out to all Catholics living on the Moldovan territory. The Catechesis text, written in Russian and Moldovan, triggered also the interests of Catholic communities in Europe, in particular the Italian ones, that include a large number of Catholic Russian and Romanian immigrants, for whose personal formation the document is very important. The first volume has been published and distributed. It is to be hoped that the second will be available during Easter. The faithful of the Diocese are due to receive the remaining two volumes by the end of the year. Slovakia: the inauguration of the Pedagogy Centre A few days ago, the building that will serve as the Centre of the Pedagogy Institute of the Catholic University (Katholicka Univerzita/KU) of Ruzomberok was inaugurated in Levoca, in the region of Spis. According to Catholic news agency Kathpress, 900 experts in special pedagogy, mental disabilities, pre-school and primary pedagogy will be among the institute’s staff. During the inauguration ceremony KU’s dean Tadeusz Zasepa, said that the new department, located in a former Carthusian Monastery, recently used to host a barracks, “is designed to optimize learning and place the foundations for development and new educational programs”. The courses will be held also “with the help of experts from Poland, Hungary, Germany, France and Japan”. Msgr. Frantisek Tondra, bishop of the diocese of Spis, underlined that the destination of the Levoca pilgrimage includes “the centre for the visually handicapped and a school centre for the physically disabled. Thus a large number of special pedagogy experts are needed at local level”, who in fact, “continue their studies in our premises”. Scandinavia: plenary assembly in Jerusalem During the plenary session of the Scandinavian Bishops’ Conference held in Jerusalem from January 31st to February 7th the bishops reflected on the “urgent” question of sexual abuse on minors by members of the Church and debated a document designed to present a new detailed regulation on the issue. “However, since civil legislation differs in our respective Countries – states a report released by the Scandinavian Bishops’ Conference – it appeared impossible to issue a same set of rules for all dioceses. A guideline has thus been drawn up as a theological introduction, while common definitions of sexual abuse along with abuse protection and prevention measures are being formalized. Specific regulations in force in each of the five Countries” of the Scandinavian Bishops’ Conference (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland) will be annexed to the chapters. For the first time in history Scandinavian bishops gathered in assembly in Jerusalem and visited the city’s holy sites as pilgrims. They had the opportunity to meet and talk with the faithful and with the coordinators of the local Church, appreciating its “openness and courage”. “The history of the Church in Jerusalem – they write in their final statement – is our history. We are deeply concerned about the future of this Church that involves us all… our mutual hope is that Jerusalem will become a city of peace precisely because of its prophetic importance for everyone, Jews, Muslims, and Christians”. The bishops thus re-confirmed the bishop of Stockholm Msgr. Anders Arborelius, president of the bishops’ conference for another four-year mandate and elected Msgr. Czeslaw Kozon, vice-president; Msgr. Bernt Eidsvig, council member, and sister Anna Mirjam Kaschner, secretary general.
