CHURCHES IN BRIEF" "
Scouts: international meeting in Normandy 100 years since the outbreak of World War I and 70 years since the historical landing, the fourth international meeting of the International Union of Guides and Scouts of Europe (UIGSE) will take place in Normandy, August 1-10. Participants will be arriving from 18 different countries – including delegations from Lithuania, Belarus, Russia and Ukraine – and from North America. The Federation was established after the Second World War to disseminate a culture of fraternity and peace among young people. “It was a fascinating educational proposal – said UIGSE president Nicoletta Orzes – for the creation of a Europe of peoples, starting with the Christian roots that have shaped it”. Monsignor Cyrill Vasil, Secretary of the Congregation for Eastern Churches ,will preside over the international Mass that will open the fourth Eurojam, scheduled for August 3. The Pontifical Council for the Laity released a statement signed by its president, Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, conveying “vicinity and the hope that this important youth event may bear significant spiritual fruits”. A message by Pope Francis is expected for August 3. Spain: social responsibility across the territory The social Council of the University of Cádiz and the diocesan Caritas of Cádiz and Ceuta signed a cooperation agreement to raise the awareness of the university environment on social responsibilities at local level. The agreement envisages, inter alia, the promotion and dissemination of the diocesan Caritas project “Heart enterprises” to make the network more dynamic and promote cooperation with other bodies. Upon the signature of the agreement in the rectorate of Cádiz University, the president of the Social Council of the College, Ana Alonso, praised the challenging, important work carried out by Caritas in times of great difficulties and highlighted the organization’s commitment to combat child poverty and to promote job integration of youths at risk of social exclusion. The Director of the diocesan Caritas of Cádiz and Ceuta Juan Luis Torrejón, welcomed the commitment of the Social Council of the University for the common good, and for the promotion of this kind of social cooperation. Ukraine: UGCC, patron saint of prison chaplains “An example of how to maintain human dignity in the difficult, inhuman conditions of gulags and a source of inspiration for others”: it is the motivation with which Blessed hieromartyr Vasyl Velychkovskyi was chosen as new celestial patron of prison chaplains at the service of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church (UGCC). The solemn declaration took place in July on the occasion of the traditional pilgrimage at the spiritual Centre of Saint Mary in Zarvanytsia, to honour this martyr who for a long time was imprisoned in a Soviet gulag and locum tenens of the clandestine Greek-Catholic Church in Ukraine. The coordinator of the UGCC Department for Prison Pastoral Care, Fr Kostyantyn Panteley, recalled that the People’s Commission for Internal Affairs (NKVD) had arrested Velychkovskyi for his pastoral activity and sentenced him to death. Soon after, the verdict was converted into ten years in Vorkuta’ concentration camp. “However, neither death threats, nor the many years in prison undermined the priest’s faith”, Pantelev pointed out, adding that Blessed Vasyl was a strong example for other prisoners on how to preserve human dignity in desperate conditions and seek strength in God. Czech Republic: hospital chaplains The Health Council of the Czech Bishops’ Conference recently adopted an exam methodology for hospital chaplains. The exam, due to take place September 30 2014, is recommended to all Catholic hospital chaplains and pastoral assistants already working or who intend to be involved in the pastoral care of hospitals or social services. The instructions for hospital chaplains and pastoral assistants have been published on the website of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference press office; registrations are open until 15 September. “The holders of a diploma will be recommended to the diocesan curia competent for this kind of service. The intention of the provision is to ensure a high level of pastoral care in this specific, delicate environment and to systematize work in this area”, explained the project coordinators. The decision to initiate the tests is based on the agreement on Pastoral Care in health care facilities signed by the Czech Bishops’ Conference and the World Council of Churches on 12 December 2011. The holders of a diploma must have reached the required level of knowledge in the field of medicine, ethics, religious studies, pastoral and spirituality of sick persons. In addition, candidates will be required to submit the case histories of their consolidated practice in this area.
