CHURCHES IN BRIEF " "
Comece: Christian faith and European “common home” The set of conferences on “Europe, politics and beyond”, which have already addressed the themes of the common good, migration, security and the family, promoted by COMECE (Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community) with a view to the next European elections, will continue on February 18th at the Chapel for Europe in Brussels. A panel lecture by Henri Delhougne, Chrisitan monk from the abbey of Clervaux (Luxembourg) will focus on the “the bond between this world and the afterlife”. To this regard, the COMECE secretariat made known that “if we speak of issues that Christianity has at heart, this is an issue that would have been welcomed by many Fathers of Europe who identified in Christian faith”. The purpose of the meeting is to delve into “the true meaning of Christ’s resurrection, an event that takes place on history’s borders and that continues beyond history”, representing the epitome of the bond between this world and the next one”. Father Delhougne is a theologian, Biblical scholar, renown by Catholic academia for having coordinated the international commission that translated into French the liturgical bible: 70 experts worked for 17 years starting with the original text in Aramaic, Jewish and Greek, that led to the compilation of a 17-million sign document which since past November is available to French-speaking Catholics in France, Belgium, Canada, Switzerland, Luxembourg, North Africa and the Middle East. Czech Republic: Hradec Králové, year of vocations”To make our prayers for our diocese as concrete as possible, I declare 2014 a Year of Vocations, with special emphasis on priestly and religious vocations”, said Mons. Jan Vokál, bishop of Hradec Králové, on the occasion of the 350th anniversary of foundation of the diocese. Among numerous events and activities to celebrate the jubilee, there will be nine pilgrimages to sacred places in the region, due to take place this year. The first one in Hradec Králové was held on 1 January where the Year of Vocations was solemnly declared. The following will take place in Libice nad Cidlinou in April, Litomyl (May), Broumov (June), Chlumek u Lue (July), Neratov (August), eliv (September), Koclíøov (October) and Hradec Králové (November). “The respective parts of this novena will differ from common pilgrimages that we know, first of all there will be a unifying element in a form of selected topic – vocations”, explains Fr. Pavel Dokládal from the Pilgrimage Center of the diocese. Each eucharistic celebration will be associated with presentation of local pastoral activities and charitable services, along with the lectures on history and current state of the diocese. “We hope that Hradec Králové will become more visible via these pilgrimages as a vivid community of the Church in the eastern part of the Czech republic”, adds Fr. Dokládal. The Netherlands: the festival of young Catholics “New, pure and intense” is the title chosen by Catholic youths in the Netherlands, (Kjd), for the youth day scheduled to take place in Nieuwkuijk June 28-29. “To believe is an intense experience”, said Marjolijne Koomen, coordinator of the initiative. “Faith touches you directly and prompts action. In faith youth seek authenticity, purity, and put into practice what we preach”. Organizers made known that these intentions will be reflected in a statement released on the website on the Dutch Bishops’ Conference, in a celebration with new features: “Not a one-day meeting in a large hall, but two days for a lively festival in the open air”. Music and art will play a special role “with artists that express Christian identity through their music”, Koom added. Over-16 youths will gather on Saturday; Sunday, for children over 12, will begin with an open-air Eucharistic celebration, chaired by bishop Jozef Punt of Haarlem-Amsterdam and broadcast live. The youths will be the guests of the Focolari movement at the abbey of Mariënkroon.
