CHURCHES IN BRIEF" "
COMECE supports Sunday Alliance The “Second conference on work-free Sunday and for dignified work” will take place in Brussels next January 21. It is an initiative of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) that supports European Sunday Alliance – a network that brings together national and international associations, churches, civil society and unions – committed to “raise public awareness on the unique value of free time in our European societies”. Three sessions include: decent work and free Sundays in times of crisis; reconciling the family, private life and work for a free and sound life, as work-free Sundays facilitate citizens’ participation and voluntary commitment. “Employment, job creation and competitiveness are the main requisites to overcome the crisis”, the organizers said. “Competitiveness needs innovation, innovation needs creativity, creativity needs to be rejuvenated”. Panel speakers include László Andor, European Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs, MEPs, reprentatives of international bodies. For registration log on: www.europeansundayalliance.eu. DBK Germany: the family and love The German Bishops’ Conference (DBK) decided to devote the period 2014-2016 to the theme of “Marriage and the family – living together”, devoting to each year various items for reflection, collected in brochures available for the faithful and for the community. For 2014, the emphasis is on the theme of “marriage -walking on a tight rope”. “Marriage is a risk for spouses”, states the presentation of the event on the DBK website. “They don’t know exactly what will happen next but they are trustful and walk the tight rope of life, continuing to willingly run that risk”. “2014 Sundays for the family, celebrated January 19, “is a reminder that marriage doesn’t represent just any form of coexistence: it is a challenge that is worthwhile accepting”. Sunday festivity “gives the opportunity to discuss the meaning of marriage and of the family in the lives of all people, examining the needs of marriage and family life and what the pastoral care of the Church can offer in terms of support”. Slovakia: an exhibition on the life of consecrated people Photographs picturing moments from life of consacrated people in Slovakia have been exhibited in the House “Quo Vadis” in Bratislava. Their author Peter Sedlák, experienced photographer, was working on the project for over a year and chose a special title for the exhibition – Shadowlight”. It´s an unusual combination of words – sort of my invention – to join two contradicting meanings symbolizing the existence of two elements present in the life of all of us, including those who aspire to holiness”, says Peter Sedlák who sybolically decided to make the pictures in black nad white colour. I have captured moments with franciscan sisters, priests celebrating holy masses but also dealing with situations of everyday life, as well as common faithful”, describes the photographer, admitting that working in an environment filled with faith in variety of forms and meeting of all these people has helped him in difficult moments of his life. The exhibition will be opened to public until the end of January. Czech republic: agreedon the propertiesWill the Catholic Church become one of the richest property owners in the country? How will 134 billions of restituted money be used? Can the representatives of the Church steal this money? What impact will the property composition between State and Churches have on citizens and municipalities? Answers to these and many more questions regarding the property composition in the Czech republic can be found on the website of the Press Office of the Czech Bishops´conference, with aim to avoid speculations and clear the details of the process. An appropriate law was approved in 2012 but the disputes over the issue still continue. According to published answers, the model of gradual self-financing will make the Churches independent from the State by 2043 and they will have to assume their responsibilities and adopt the rules of a good treasurer”. The Bishops´conference assures the readers that the restituted money will be returned to the citizens in a form of social services, education, healthcare, care for seniors, protection of cultural and sacral monuments and development of cultural heritage”, with charitable activities as a matter of essential interest. The property and buildings owned by Churches and religious associations that were blocked for decades after the confiscation by the communists, will be released and thus made available for further use by the citizens.
