CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Portugal: 8 bishops at the WYD The wish of the Director of the national department for the pastoral care of the young in Portugal (DNPJI) is that the WYD in Rio de Janeiro may provide young Catholics with an opportunity to develop their natural calling, and identify their path for mission. In an interview with TV program Ecclesia, Fr Edoardo Novo recalled: "every youth has a great potential of love that opens up to others". The Days are meant to help pilgrims "discover their raison d’être, and to identify their role in the building of society and of the Church for the future". The Portuguese delegation attending the WYD comprises some 600 youths and nine bishops, eight of whom will take part in two catecheses. "In the ongoing economic circumstances – the bishop said -not all youths could afford to pay 1500 euro for the trip". Thus the DNPJ, with the support of all diocesan secretariats and diocesan movements, drew up a program of activities connected to the event for all those unable to travel to Brazil: "Rio sul Douro" in the city of Oporto, "Delve into Rio", in the city of Viseu, "From Christ the King to Christ the Redeemer" in Setúbal, "Made in Rio" on the island of Madeira. As for the initiatives related to the youths attending the Days, in addition to the greatly anticipated meeting with Pope Francis, father Novo underlined the importance of the meeting with Portuguese communities of Brazil, scheduled for July 24: "we expect that the presence of Portuguese youths in Rio de Janeiro will be an indelible sign of the profound and long-lasting union between Portugal and its migrants". Spain: meetings during the WYD During the WYD in Rio de Janeiro, a number of dioceses in the North and the South of Spain will be organizing meetings in Roncesvalles and Rocío for young people unable to attend the meeting in Brazil. Hundreds are already registered for the initiative in Roncesvalles, while over 3000 have already registered for the meeting in Rocío, although more people are expected to attend both events. The initiative envisages meetings, catecheses with the bishops, prayer vigils, concerts and live broadcasting of the Pope’s Eucharistic celebrations in Rio. Roncesvalles was chosen for its "special meaning for Navarra and for the Way of St. James" for the Day of the diocese in the North of Spain, coordinated by the diocese of Pamplona Tudel. Among the bishops attending the meetings figure the bishop of Pamplona and Tudela, Francisco Pérez, and the bishop of Punta Negra (Republic of Congo) Miguel Ángel Olaverri. Andalusian dioceses will convene in El Rocío, "one of the most important religious and spiritual centres in Andalusia". All the bishops of the Andalusian dioceses will take part in this meeting, which is hoped to bring together some 5000 people from August 25 to 28. In addition to Andalusian dioceses, groups from the churches of Teruel, Madrid, Zaragoza, Murcia and Santander, along with scouts, consecrated life groups and new ecclesial realities will take part in the event. Each of these dioceses will focus on a chosen theme of the meeting: catechesis, liturgy, vocational fair. Info: http://iglesianavarrajoven.org e www.jpjelrocio2013.com.Germany: renewed portal The German Catholic Church has reorganized the online portal www.katholisch-werden.de, devoted to all those who want to become members of the Catholic Church. The news was released by the Bishops’ Conference (DBK) on July 12 in a communiqué. The website is run by the DBK Office for Mission & Pastoral Care (Kamp) in Erfurt. "The website is a starting point for all adults who are considering the possibility of being baptized, of entering the Catholic Church or returning to the Catholic Church after foreswearing", states the release. In fact, the homepage of the website has three images for three different situations. The portal has been redeveloped with the addition of new content, along with material on the Catholic Church, on the sacrament of Baptism, along with Christian testimonies. Uploaded documents provide support and reflections: "We have tried to meet various needs", states the release. Documents range from "simple presentations to theological and philosophical essays, from user-friendly language to concise statements, from the introduction to faith and Christian life to volumes centred on Catholic faith". The portal provides contact information of the coordinators of pastoral care within German dioceses, who accompany and give advice to those who wish to enter or return to the Catholic Church. Further information can be found on the dedicated FAQ page.
