CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Spain: solidarity works in the name of Del Portillo Delegates from 80 countries announced their presence at the beatification ceremony of Monsignor Álvaro del Portillo that will take place in Valdebebas (Madrid) on Saturday, September 27. Monsignor del Portillo was the first successor of Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer at the helm of Opus Dei. The organizing committee of the beatification ceremony has asked, stated spokesperson Teresa Sádaba, that “the entire celebration respond to the spirit of fraternal love, in a spirit of solidarity towards the needy, a prominent feature of the life of Álvaro del Portillo, begun with his commitment in catechesis for young people in the suburbs of Madrid in the 1930s, that extended to a major thrust to social and educational projects worldwide, following the example of Saint Josemaría”. In this way the organizers received the message of the prelate of Opus Dei Javier Echevarría, who encouraged the faithful to follow the spirit of the next Blessed by preparing for the beatification with charitable activities, providing support to those in need. All participants in the beatification of Álvaro del Portillo are given the possibility of contributing their offerings for social initiatives under way, notably the building of a Paediatric-Maternity ward at the Niger Foundation Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, in Nigeria, that will provide 12 thousand outpatient services per year; a program to combat child malnutrition in Bingerville (Ivory Coast), that will benefit 5thousand children; the creation of four outpatient clinics in suburbian areas of the Republic of Congo, thereby providing healthcare services to 10 thousand children annually, and a fund-collection for scholarships in Rome for African priests. Since the beatification will take place in Spain the organizing committee has promoted a collection of food products in over 40 towns through families, schools and parishes. At the same time, those serving in Social Works promoted by Álvaro del Portillo worldwide, with the occasion of their journey to Madrid to attend the beatification ceremony will hold their international meeting “40 initiatives against poverty”, scheduled for September 25. Czech Republic: national Caritas Day Days of open doors, exhibitions, performances for children and adults will characterize this year’s edition of the national Caritas Day, scheduled for September 27, on the occasion of the feast of San Vincenzo de’ Paoli, patron Saint of charitable institutions. “Through this campaign we wish to inform all citizens about the wide range of services we provide to groups of people in need”, said Lukas Curylo, director of Caritas Czech Republic, adding that the idea of the project dates back to 2004, when Caritas South Moravia decided “to emerge from the shadows” and provide an overview of its activities. Today, Caritas Day is celebrated in dozens of regional offices in Catholic dioceses across the Countries. A highlight of the celebration was the awarding of the Caritas Prize on September 23 to nine Caritas workers and volunteers in recognition of their “commitment and disinterested contribution”. “We wished to reward them for their active participation, encourage them and highlight their example for others”, concluded Lukas Curylo. For further information: www.charita.cz. Religions and environment: for the defense of Creation “As faith leaders, we commit ourselves to the promotion of climate change education, curbing our own consumption patterns and reducing our use of fossil fuels. Based on our spiritual beliefs and our hope for the future, we commit to stimulating consciences and encouraging our peers and communities to consider such measures with urgency”. It is an excerpt of the Statement by 30 religious leaders released during the Interfaith Summit on Climate Change held in New on September 21-22 on the eve of the UN Climate Summit, called by Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon (September 23). “We count on your leadership, and we encourage and expect you to make the right decisions”, reads the Statement, which calls upon political leaders’ utmost commitment to reach a global climate agreement in Paris 2015 that must be “ambitious enough”;”fair” and “legally binding”. Among the signatories of the Statement figure representatives of Christian denominations (including the Pontifical Council Justitia et pax and Caritas Internationalis), Mulsims, Jews, Buddhists. The meeting was promoted by the World Council of Churches and by Religions for Peace. The document was signed during an inter-religious celebration, while thousands of people took part in a March for Climate through the streets of New York.
