CHURCHES IN BRIEF" "
Catholic bishops of Christian rite in Kosice “Evangelization of culture – inculturation of the Gospel” is the title chosen for the annual meeting of Christian rite Catholic bishops that is being held in Kosice, Slovakia (17-20 October), 2013 European capital of culture, on the occasion of the 1150th anniversary since the arrival of Sts. Cyril and Methodius on the Slavish land. “In Koice, the bishops representing 14 Eastern Rite Catholic Churches in Europe will tackle the theme of evangelisation of culture, with re-reading, too, of the evangelising mission of Saints Cyril and Methodius from an historiographic point of view and the challenges which the Church faces today”, states CCEE, promoter of the meeting, in a release. Among the speakers figure Cardinal Jozef Tomko, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples; Msgr Cyril Vasil’, Archbishop Secretary of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches; the Apostolic Exarch for Byzantine Rite Catholics in Greece, Msgr Dimitrios Salachas. “The purpose of the meeting is for Eastern Rite Catholic Bishops to discuss the theme of the evangelization of modern cultures and the inculturation of the Gospel”, said Msgr Milan Chautur, Eparch (Eparchial Bishop), “so that the message of love and the truth about humanity which Christ brings, while remaining always the same, may be welcomed by the men and women” of the third millennium. Participants include cardinal Péter Erdõ, Ccee President. Relics of St. Anthony in Ireland and Great Britain On the occasion of the 750th anniversary of the finding of the incorrupt tongue of St. Anthony, two relics of the Saint are on a long pilgrimage from Dublin to London. The pilgrimage began in the Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Dublin, with a Mass officiated by the apostolic nuncio in Ireland archbishop Charles Brown, and by the archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin, primate of Ireland. The pilgrimage will continue across several cities, after which the relics will arrive in Belfast, Northern Ireland (for the first time in history). From Northern Ireland the pilgrimage will continue in Scotland, Glasgow. The following day the relics will be brought to Aberdeen. The pilgrimage will continue to Newcastle, Manchester, Liverpool and Chester. From November 1° to 4 the relics will be present in London. On November 2 a Mass will be celebrated in Westminster Cathedral, presided over by archbishop Vincent Nichols, primate of England and Wales. On November 4 a relic of the Saint will be brought to the penitentiary of Pentonville. The pilgrimage was organized by the Messanger of St. Anthony, in cooperation with Irish and English friars. Austria: religious and Caritas help prostitutes Human trafficking and prostitution are at the centre of two awareness campaigns promoted in Vienna October 17-21 at the Donaucitykirche. Also the Austrian Church takes part in the activities for support to women forced to prostitute themselves, proving them with the opportunity of a new life. In fact, “Solwodi” Austria (namely, “Solidarity with women in distress”) was set up six months ago with the support of Caritas Socialis, of the order of the Salvatorians, the Congregatio Jesu, the Institute of Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, the Congregation of Merciful Sisters of Saint Vincent de Paul and Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit. The religious of the various orders also run a protected home in which they welcome women who escaped prostitution, who are welcomed with their children, to try and change their lives. On the basis of the experience of the religious orders that help prostitutes it emerges that 90% are victims of constriction. Many of them are from Ukraine and Moldavia, a large number of prostitutes are members of Roma families from Eastern Europe. 85 to 90% of prostitutes are migrants who are stripped of their passport by the organized crime upon their arrival in the Country, followed by intimidations, threats, subservience and the ban to have contacts with their families of origin. “Solwodi” religious don’t work on the streets. They cooperate with organizations that send the women to the centre so they may be helped. They are eventually housed in the sheltered homes anonymously. They are told not to reveal the place where they are staying.
