Austria, Portugal, Germany

Austria: with Slovenian dioceses for the Year of the Faith The Austrian diocese of Gurk-Klagenfurt will celebrate the Year of the Faith with the neighbouring Slovenian dioceses. It was announced on October 10 by the bishop of Gurk, Msgr. Alois Schwarz, during a press conference to present the many events programmed for the Year of the Faith in Karnten. Highlights of the initiatives include a feast of the mission that will take place in Tanzenberg on October 20, when a Mass will be co-celebrated by Msgr. Schwarz and by the archbishop of Marburg, Msgr. Marjan Turnsek. For the occasion will be also celebrated the 25th anniversary of missionary cooperation between the diocese of Gurk and the dioceses of Slovenia. For the official inauguration of the Year of the Faith on October 11 Msgr. Schwarz presided over a liturgy of the word in the Dome of Klagenfurt, when were conveyed also the greetings of the Evangelical Church. In the Year of the Faith, "the Catholic Church intends to show that also today it is addressing social challenges", the bishop said, "with the purpose of offering once more perspectives of hope to new people" and remind that "being Christian is a lifelong renewal program for the future" and that "the Church can change the world and her society".Portugal: State and society at the Social Week During the press conference for the presentation of the 2012 Social Weeks, due to take place in Oporto, November 22-25, in his capacities as president of the Episcopal Commission of Social Pastoral care and Human Mobility, Msgr. Jorge Ortiga declared that "in the building of a better future Portugal needs everyone’s commitment and participation". For Msgr. Ortiga "the Catholic Church was never uninterested in the destiny of Portuguese citizens, and she is concerned about giving concrete answers to the challenges linked to the ongoing crisis". The initiative proclaimed by the European Bishops’ Conference (CEP), that takes place every three years, will focus around the theme "Social State and solidarity state", to delve into "the reflection on the hottest problems of unemployment, poverty, surging social inequality, population ageing, and the risks that involve the family". In the light of the Social Doctrine of the Church, and as recognition of the great objectives announced by the Second Vatican Council, the archbishop of Braga added: "It’s necessary to abandon all partial amendments and superficial finishing, to found more prosperous days on different models of society, based on participation, justice, on power as service and research for the common good". With this purpose, the work of the Social Weeks 2012 are represented as a meeting for a discussion capable of highlighting the three great directives that must always guide Christians’ actions: "the dignity of the human person, subsidiarity and solidarity", concluded Msgr. Ortiga.Germany: bishops’ letter to the priests In a letter released October 12 the German bishops expressed their gratitude and encouraged the priests of 27 German dioceses. The letter, adopted by the German Bishops’ Conference (DBK) past September 25 in Fulda, during the recent plenary meeting, addresses issues regarding ongoing changes in society and inside the Church. "You are sure that the Lord guides his Church but you ask yourselves what will be tomorrow’s Church. Performing a service for Church unity in a social context whereby all areas of life become increasingly pluralistic is far from being simple", the bishops remarked, and exhorted the priests to remain faithful to their service. "Many of you are happy to serve as priests, despite the great challenges and the great word. We wish to thank you for your availability to welcome the expectation of the present changes and discover and realize the opportunities they embody". The bishops invited the priests to take on the new commitments regarding the change in the role of the priests and the concrete challenges in the area of pastoral care, underlining the importance of priestly celibacy that makes the fact that "human yearning to salvation and love finds its fulfilment in God" significant to the whole Church.