CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Spain: a fund for families in need in Segorbe-Castellòn The Diocesan Caritas of Segorbe-Castellón, Spain, has decided to launch the sixth phase of the special campaign titled: “Helping each other in times of crisis”. The purpose of the initiative is to preserve a diocesan fund for indigent families. Caritas made known that far from highlighting recent figures on technical solutions to the crisis, the intention is to focus attention on “human tragedies” caused by the current situation and provide answers with the creation of a diocesan fund for the crisis. The initiative will meet the requests of parishes in the diocese that provide support to families in need. “The diocesan fund for the crisis has become a clear example of Christian communication on good deeds for fraternal sharing. Some parishes would be helpless before the many requests of those in need if it weren’t for the fund”, Caritas workers pointed out. The crisis has impacted also young couples with children and old people that are in need of support. However, Caritas is facing the situation as an opportunity “to make small actions of good will” that bring about “a thrust” for change, namely, denouncing injustices without fear of combating them; listening and being near the poor”, concluded the workers of Caritas Segorbe-Castellón.Slovakia: launch of the project “Christians in politics” After the success of a prayer campaign “Adopt a politician” that has been running in Slovakia for over a year, the Christian organizations are about to launch a new project entitled “Christian in politics”, as a response to the invitation of the Holy Father for the Catholics to engage in politics. The project will include a range of motivation seminars, workshops, messages and discussions in all regions of the country. “Our aim is to invite Christians to reflect over their attitude towards politics and civil society. Many of them don´t want to deal with secular matters, especially politics, because they consider it to be corrupt. But we draw inspiration from the words of pope Francis who says that it is one of the greatest forms of vigorous love”, explains Eduard Filo, coordinator of the project, adding that the range of events should demonstrate its application in practice in a concrete way. The Association of Christian Youth Communities and the Forum of Christian Institutions invite the Christians to a “responsible approach to elections, involvement in the politics on various levels and raising of the awareness about importance of social and political life for a common good”. The meetings are due to start in January 2014. All the materials will be available on the website www.krestanvpolitike.sk.Poland: Cantors of the star for children in Congo “The home of a friend is never too distant”, said the young Cantors of the Star in Poland quoting a Congolese proverb. “And nor are the homes of the children in Congo too far from us”, added the director of the Pontifical missionary works in Poland, Fr Tomasz Atlas. The young Cantors of the Star will start collecting funds for their peers in Congo on December 26, after a moment of prayer in the parishes. The collection will continue until January 6. In the Democratic Republic of Congo the funds will be used for study grants and for the Christian formation of over 24 thousand children. “For our cantors, who will pass from door to door asking for contributions for the missions, the most important aspect is the sharing of the faith and the joy of Christmas”, said the secretary of the Missionary Works in Poland, Anna Sobiech. Last year the collection for Vietnamese children helped implement 11 aid programs that benefited 5500 children. Also this year the Cantors of the Star will be supported via several parish initiatives. Portugal: the Patriarch on the Pope’s exhortation During a meeting held a few days ago in Alfragide, near Lisbon, that followed the plenary Assembly of the Portuguese Bishops’ Conference (CEP), the Patriarch of Lisbon presented to the press a reflection on the apostolic exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium”, which underlined “the main problem identified by Pope Francis: the globalization of individualist consumerism.” States the pontifical document: “The great danger in today’s world, pervaded as it is by consumerism, is the desolation and anguish born of a complacent yet covetous heart, the feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures, and a blunted conscience.” Msgr. Manuel Clemente said that the phrase represents “the key” of the preoccupation of the Holy Father. “If we don’t start from here, we will fail to take the same point of departure of the exhortation”, he added, pointing out that “the joy we are proposed comes from the Gospel, in strong opposition to a world that is defined through its own isolation.”
