CCEE, France

CCEE: meeting of the spokesperson of European bishops "The Church has nothing to hide, even in the management of finances", reiterated the spokespersons of the European Bishops’ Conferences in a statement released upon the conclusion of their annual meeting, which took place in Cologne from 11th to 14th July. In the press release the spokesmen expressed "their appreciation and esteem for the policy of transparency, even in the finances of the Holy See, supported by the Holy Father". "As communicators", they conveyed their "regret for the suffering caused by a form of journalism that is disrespectful of the laws", and reaffirmed their "full loyalty to the successor of Peter". The meeting in Cologne – organized by the Council of the European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) – this year focused on the modalities of communication and finances of the Church. "The commitment to transparent communication on Church finances – continues the statement – is a duty that must involve all the institutions of the Church: the parishes, Catholic associations, movements and schools alike. The Church has nothing to hide, even in the management of its finances! The spokespersons underlined, "What sometimes may seem opaque or slightly transparent, actually can be attributed to the difficulty of communicating the finances of a multitude of structures and institutional realities that constitute the Church". The statement specifies that "there is not one operating statement of the Church: there are thousands and thousands of accounts of parishes, dioceses, schools, hospitals, hospices, which together constitute the budget of the Church. All of these realities have long been engaged, with more or less positive results, in an attempt to transparently communicate the fruits of their financial year". "Today", continue the spokespersons of European Bishops’ Conferences, "transparency has in fact became the price of trust", "also in the Church". Therefore "all ecclesial realities, and Episcopal Conferences in the first place, must equip themselves in the best way to present their reality and their mission". They add: "Many of the current preconceptions are often the result of misinformation that unfortunately is likely to change the perception, even in ecclesiastical culture, of the Church’s relationship with money. The Church is not a profit-geared company, and money is only a means to accomplish its mission of proclaiming Christ in history". Much of the meeting was then devoted to the knowledge of the Catholic Church in Germany and the media who work there. Participants also presented a report on the activities carried out by the European news agency "SIR Europe".France: a national pilgrimage of altar boys More than 50 000 altar boys give their church service every Sunday in the parishes of France. They are dedicated to the national pilgrimage to Rome to be held August 25 to 31, that will be attended by 2600 children. With them there will also be a dozen bishops and one hundred priests. The theme of the Pilgrimage is, "Serve the Lord, joy of man, joy of God". The acolytes will meet Pope Benedict XVI during the general audience of Wednesday, August 29. The Holy Father will travel expressly to St. Peter’s Square to welcome them. An extraordinary number of registered participants will attend the Pilgrimage, initially planned for 600 young people. The program will alternate visits to the major sights in Rome, celebrations, moments of sharing, processions and moments of conviviality. "Through the theme chosen – according to a press release of the French Bishops’ Conference – the pilgrimage is meant to raise young people’s awareness that with their service they take part in a service of the universal Church and that they are the members of a national fraternity and not only of a parish. This pilgrimage wants to be their chance for a genuine path of faith". As reiterated by Mgr. Philippe Breton, of the Episcopal Commission for Liturgy "parents of young altar boys acknowledge the gifts that this service bestows upon their children: a deeper relationship with God and the Eucharistic liturgy, helping them to actually enter into the mystery of the Faith". "Serving Mass", can thus become a means to discover their own vocation to the priesthood: "there are many priests who have said that this proximity to the Eucharist has instilled in them the desire to devote themselves totally to God and to serve their brothers".