CHURCHES IN BRIEF
France: the "Way of Hope"The "spiritual" and the "practical" dimensions of Europe are at the heart of the "Way of Hope", a pilgrimage through the Bourbonnais region of central France, which between July 21 and August 2 will mobilize more than 200 people from around the continent, to walk and pray together for the future of Europe, with explicit reference to the continent’s Christian roots. The pilgrimage, which starts from Souvigny (monks of Cluny, tenth century) to Notre Dame du Port (Romanesque church in the town of Clermont-Ferrand), is organized by the Friends of St. Jacques en Bourbonnais, with the support of the Bishops of Moulins Msgr. Roland Pascal, and of Clermont-Ferrand, Hippolyte Simon. Organisers said: "young people, adults and families were invited to the pilgrimage to bear witness to hope in the heart of Europe". Every day, July 21 to 27, will depart from Souvigny a group of pilgrims, who will return in the same place one week later. The program foresees, in addition to the daily route, moments of reflection on European history, culture and current affairs, communal prayer, and meetings with religious communities. From the President of the EU Council, Herman Van Rompuy, came a letter of support to the promoters, recalling the value of hope that "invites us to prepare the future". For further information log on: www.chemin-esperance.eu.Austria: the meeting of young families A sign of hope ": for the bishop of St. Pölten Mgr. Klaus Küng, this is the significance of the meeting of young families that opened in Pöllau, Styria, as reported by the Austrian Catholic news agency Kathpress. The event, now in its tenth year, will conclude July 22 with the participation of about 150 families united by the slogan "Choose life!" The encounter is organized by various Christian organizations for the family. In Pöllau, said Msgr. Küng, "something special, prophetic, happens. It is truly a sign of hope for the Church and for society’s future that so many families get together to spend their holidays together, with moments of prayer and praise of God. "The six-day program envisages roundtables, spiritual gatherings and a series of events for children. The event will be attended by Card. Christoph Schönborn, President of the Austrian Bishops’ Conference. A highlight of the meeting is the traditional pilgrimage of families, scheduled for Saturday, attended by the Bishop of Styria, Msgr. Egon Kapellari. The meeting will end on Sunday with a Mass celebrated by the bishop of St. Pölten.Ukraine: Ewtn TV presented in 80 parishes of Lviv Thanks to the commitment of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and the Sisters of the Congregation of Little Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, actively committed at the Catholic media center along with some volunteers, 80 parishes in Lviv have learned about EWTN (Eternal word Television Network – Network television’s eternal word). Over the weekend of Saturday 7 and Sunday, July 8, the religious, nuns and volunteers were divided into seven groups, the number of districts covered by Volia- the cable television network that broadcasts EWTN Catholic TV. From dawn to dusk they distributed in Greek and Roman Catholic churches of the city, almost 25 thousand posters, leaflets and handbooks to link up EWTN. "The initiative – states a release – was very well received by all the people who linked up, after the approval by the two metropolitans: archbishops Mechyslav Mokshytsky (Rcc) and Igor Vozniak (UGCC)". The initiative was encouraged during the homilies in the Catholic parishes of St. Michael the Archangel in Syhiv and in the Church of the Presentation of God, as well as in the English Mass celebrated in the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Father Pavlo Vyshkovsky, of the same congregation, spoke of the network at the end of seven Eucharistic celebrations. Czech Republic: meeting of Catholic pastoral care workers From October 1 to 4 2012 will take place the 8th educative and formative meeting of Catholic pastoral care workers involved in health social care structures at national level. Participants will reflect on issues regarding "communication and pastoral dialogue of hospital chaplains with patients and pastoral workers". The program envisages conferences, seminaries, workshops, sharing of international experiences and a spiritual retreat proposed by Msgr. Jan Baxant, bishop of Litomerice, President of the Health Council of the Czech Bishops’ Conference. The event will be organized by the archdiocese of Olomuc in cooperation with the theology faculty of SS. Cyril and Methodius of the Palacy University of Olomouc.
