CHURCHES IN BRIEF
COMECE: European bishops at Verdun’s memorial To mark the centenary of the outbreak of World War I on November 11 a delegation of bishops, members of the Commission of Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) will visit the ossuary of Douaumont, the monument commemorating the Battle of Verdun in 1916. They will pay tribute to the memory of all those who lost their lives on the battlefield with a ceremony presided over by Cardinal Reinhard Marx at the Soldiers Cemetery, with the recitation of five prayers and the reading of five poems. Another brief moment of prayer will take place in the chapel of the ossuary, chaired by the Archbishop of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Hollerich, representing the bishops of the Council of Bishops’ Conferences of Europe (CCEE). The bishops will then convene in Verdun’s cathedral where Mons. Jean-Paul Gusching, bishop of Verdun, will hold the Vespers and Cardinal Reinhard Marx will deliver the homily. In the evening the bishops will return to Brussels to attend the two-day COMECE autumn plenary assembly scheduled for November 12. Slovakia: Caritas helps refugees in Ukraine Over 10 thousand euro have been collected to date by Caritas Slovakia to help thousand of people in difficulties in the Eastern regions of Ukraine, forced to leave their homes because of the crisis. “Many of them didn’t have the time to pack their warm clothes and food, most of them thought they would have returned after a week or two, but the situation remains unstable, with continuous gunfire and refugees in bad conditions”, said Mariana Istonova of Caritas Slovakia, upon her return from the region. She told SIR Europe that some 500 thousand people were forced to leave their homes and they are in dire need of help. “Local authorities are unable to handle the situation since they are lacking the resources”, Istonova added, underlining the difficulties caused by limitations to transport of material goods in Ukraine. Caritas Slovakia sends the collected funds to the nuns of the Jesu Congregation who purchase clothes, shoes and medical products directly in Ukraine, according to personal needs. “We do our best to help our neighbours in this tormented Country, so they may feel our heartfelt solidarity. It is necessary to act quickly. We invite all people of good will in Slovakia to join our efforts”: it is the appeal of Radovan Gumulak, general secretary of Caritas Slovakia. Belarus: seminar on the protection of minors A national seminar for the strengthening of the regional system for the protection of minors took place October 29 in Minsk attended by representatives of the Ministry of Education, the post-graduate studies Academy, Caritas, and other institutions operating in the field of social support to minors and their education. “It’s very important for Caritas that we’re invited to participate in the debate on this crucial theme”, said the director of Caritas Belarus Viktor Gaiduchevici, highlighting the far-dated experience of this institution in the field of assistance to minors, especially to the needy. “The time has come to join forces for the protection of minors, since they are the future of our Belarus society”, added Gaiduchevici, calling for the development and support of concrete projects in this field. The seminar focused on the juridical and social aspects of the protection of minors, the defence of their rights and interests, the mutual interaction between institutions involved in this process and the challenges that still need to be faced.
