CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Interactive website: Christians and EU’s future “Experience Europe” is the website that IXE – “Initiative of Christians for Europe” – is setting up ahead of May’s European Parliament elections. In particular, the initiative is designed as “an interactive platform meant to provide Christian users with a set of tools for active citizenship in the European debate”, explained the promoters. The website will be presented to the public on April 2 in Brussels in the seat of the European Parliament. The purpose of the website is to disseminate knowledge on the EU in three stages. The first is informative, focusing on Community responsibilities in 5 key areas of integration: migration, economic policies, the EU and the rest of the world, sustainable development, youth and family policies. The second stage provides material to deepen the knowledge of Church thinking on the above-mentioned themes. Fifteen theologians from different countries compiled the fact-sheets. The third step is aimed at triggering interactive debate, whereby users are the protagonists, with the purpose of developing concrete proposals to be submitted to EP candidates. The website will be developed in several languages with a view to becoming a permanent platform for encounter on European themes. Hungary: precious restoration in Szekesfehervar A wooden sacristy restored by the Cistercian church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Szekesfehervar, a 17th century rococo-style artistry by Pauline monk János Hyngeller, was recently showcased to the presence of a representative of Hungary’s Human Resources minister. “This wooden chiselled and painted piece of art belongs to historical national heritage. The depicted saints are an example also to us, for the way in which they lived their faith in the daily service to people and society as a whole”, said György Hölvényi, general secretary of the Department for Relations with the Churches, that financed the restoration for up to 10 million florins. “For a long time the restoration of the sacristy remained a dream that today finally came true”, said Árpád Sixtus Dékány, superior of the Cistercian abbey, expressing the hope that “the traces left by the Soviet army” will soon disappear also from the remaining part inside the church. The restoration of the ceiling with precious historical frescos is expected to be completed by May this year. András Cser-Palkovics, mayor of Székesfehervár, conveyed his appreciation for the fact that another masterpiece of the country’s architectural patrimony has been restored and will be passed down to the next generations. Poland: spiritual exercises thanks to the Internet “It is a difficult time in which we are witnessing the tragic developments in Ukraine”, remark the Dominican monks that offer participation in spiritual exercises to Polish faithful online. It is the case of “Ecce homo”, whose 14 episodes have 21 registered followers to date. Spiritual exercises online are also proposed by other evangelization centres, and although they are addressed especially to young people they can be followed by all internet users (60% of the overall population). Jesuits also offer a cycle of personal meditations – “I am here, do not be afraid to live” – on their website, while the priests of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus invite to reflection on the meeting of Jesus with Nicodemus. Franciscans priests in Lithuania have prepared video footage on the life of Saint Faustyna Kowalska and on her spiritual father and confessor Blessed Michal Sopocko, on the cult of Divine Mercy. On their website the Benedectines of Tyniec offer the Magisterium of Desert Fathers regarding penance, fasting and charity, while the clerics from the seminary of Sosnowiec will publish online for six weeks the reflections on conversion and discernment of their vocation.
