CHURCHES IN BRIEF
England: the new translation of the Missal”There is great enthusiasm, which will be followed by a period of adjustment, as many find it hard to adapt to changes.” Msgr. Andrew Wadsworth, executive director of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy, thus commented on the new translation of the Roman Missal that will be used in parishes of England and Wales starting next weekend, September 3-4. In an interview published on the website of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, Msgr. Wadsworth explained that the idea of a new English translation dates back to the Second Vatican Council, but it took a lot of time to identify the work that needed to be done. The International Commission on English in the Liturgy – representing bishops from English-speaking bishops’ conferences – prepared the translation of the Missal, which is already being used in South Africa, New Zealand and in Australia. The most relevant changes regard the language of the Confiteor, Gloria, Creed and Sanctus. According to Martin Foster, acting secretary of the “Christian life and worship” liturgy committee of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, “the new translation will be appreciated by the faithful as it is much richer from the theological angle. The changes will help us rediscover the meaning of the words we speak”.Ireland: an increasing number of seminarians Twenty-two new seminarians from 14 of the 26 dioceses of Ireland begin this week their studies for the priesthood at Ireland’s national seminary, period of preparation in the national seminary of Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth (Dublin). A press release issued by the Irish bishops’ Conference states that the arrival of new vocations to the priesthood confirms the positive trend of recent years. In the last five years the total annual number of new seminarians has been: 16 in 2010; 36 in 2009; 30 in 2008. Today’s new entrants will bring the number of seminarians for Irish dioceses to over 90. 72 studying in Maynooth with the remainder in Saint Malachy’s Belfast, the Irish College Rome and in the Beda College which is also in Rome. On Sunday, August 28, the new seminarians were welcomed by the President of the Saint Patrick’s College Msgr. Hugo Connolly. “This is always an exciting time for the Seminary, when we prepare to receive the new students among us. Once again you come from a wide range of backgrounds, previous experiences, and the four corners of the country, but with one common factor – you are responding to an invitation given in and through faith, to become priests who will spread the Gospel in the years to come”.Vienna: the theology book of the year award to Halík Czech priest Tomá Halík is the winner of the prize for the European theology book of the year. The prize was decided on August 25 in Vienna, in the framework of the European Theology Association Conference. Born in 1948, Halík was secretly ordained priest during the Communist dictatorship, he served as adviser of President Václav Havel after the “Velvet Revolution”. In 2009 Halík was appointed advisor at the Pontifical Council Pontifical Council for Dialogue with Non-Believers. He is the President of the Czech Christian Academy, professor of Philosophy and Sociology of Religion at State University, Prague, religious advisor of University students in Prague. In his homeland he is probably the most famous Catholic intellectual, also for his books on spirituality addressed to the general public. His latest book, “Patience with God”, published last year and translated into 4 languages, will soon be released also in Chinese and Korean. It is a reflection on the problem of atheism, or rather, on the relationship between believers and non-believers, focusing on the episode of the meeting between Jesus and Zacchaeus in the Gospel of Luke. The volume was personally presented also to Pope Benedict XVI during the meeting with theology professors in Castel Gandolfo. Italy: three “Cs” around the Eucharist With the celebration of Holy Mass in the port, a meeting with parents and priests in the cathedral and a meeting with couples in the esplanade, Benedict XVI will close the 25th National Eucharistic Congress on Sunday 11. The Conference was opened on Saturday 3rd by the Pontifical Legate, Cardinal Battista Re, by CEI President Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, by the archbishop of Ancona-Osimo, Edoardo Menichelli. The preparation takes place under the banner of a culture whereby the Eucharist is present in daily life, with our dear ones, at work and at leisure, in traditions and citizenship.The timetable of events includes the exhibition of “The Lord’s supper. European art masterpieces from Raffaello to Tiepolo”; the concert directed by Giovanni Allevi, performed by the Orchestra Filarmonica Marchigiana; the Via Crucis animated by Euro-passion for Italy and the Eucharistic Procession. “Around the Eucharist – said Msgr. Menichelli – we develop a project marked by three Cs: Celebrations, held at local level; Charity, that binds us to live fraternity; Culture, starting with the exhibition that we will inaugurate on Saturday September 3 with some eighty artistic productions on the theme of the Eucharist. www.congressoeucaristico.it.
