CHURCHES IN BRIEF" "
Switzerland: the bishops on migrations and welcome Today more than ever it is necessary to oppose “the instrumental use of supposed Christian values by xenophobic movements”, pointed out the bishop emeritus of Lugano Msgr. Pier Giacomo Grampa, in a statement written on behalf of the bishops of Switzerland, six months ahead of the referendum “against mass migration”, and on the eve of Switzerland’s national holiday that recurs August 1st, in memory of the establishment of the Conference that took place the first week of August 1291. The bishop pointed out that the identity of the Swiss population has always comprised different languages, confessions, cultures and traditions, and that Christian values are rooted within the Swiss population also in the present times. “Today – added Msgr. Grampa – these values are too often flaunted and proclaimed by those who wish to brandish them instrumentally against an enemy (the other, the foreigner, the Muslims). If the Churches and Christian communities limit themselves to reiterating these values without interpreting them, there is a risk that believers could identify with those who use these values to ‘defend our Christian traditions’, without understanding them and without putting them into their lives. Ultimately there risk is that many good Christians will be convinced that in order to defend Christianity it is necessary to limit access to foreigners, prevent some of their rights, build walls and barriers”. Mons. Grampa exhorted not to face the question of foreigners with naivite and to “take people’s real fears seriously” thereby opting for the path of dialogue and integration. Spain: Compostela remembers WYD of 1989 25 years have passed since the World Youth Day in Santiago di Compostela that took place August 19-20 1989. Today the Church of Santiago wishes to commemorate it with the youths of the diocese of Galicia and of all of Spain, also to remember and pay homage to the memory of St. John Paul II. The event will begin with a pilgrimage of young people who will take part in numerous activities proposed from August 1st to 7th. Initiatives include a photo exhibit on the organization and celebration of the WYD 1989 at the Hostel of San Martin Pinario. On August 6 will be celebrated the Mass of the Pilgrim in the metropolitan cathedral presided over by cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, at the time at the lead of the archdiocese. On the same evening, the present archbishop, monsignor Juliàn Barrio, will officiate the prayer vigil in the church of San Martin Pinario. “I am the Way, the Truth, the Life”, was the motto of the WYD in Santiago di Compostela, during which were introduced several proposals that became a leitmotif in the following WYD. Slovakia: summer course for Christian politicians In July 35 candidates to the post of mayors and local councillors took part in a vocational training program on local elections. The one-week targeted summer course, promoted by the Associations of Christian Youths Communities (ACYC) in Slovakia focused on the development of slogans and strategies for the campaign. Moreover, participants simulated political debates to attract voters. “The purpose of the project was the training of lay Christian candidates in the field of local politics. Many of them feel insecure in this mission, for this reason we decided to help them discover their undisclosed potentials”, ACYC coordinator for Centre and Western Slovakia Eduard Filo told SIR Europe. “It’s time that those who are interested in true values and wish to put them into practice show what they can do for a better life in our society”. Candidates’ trainers were experienced professionals: municipal spokespersons, Political Management professors, experts in Transparency International Slovakia, from the Catholic TV network Lux and from the Christian institutions Forum. Their capacities and abilities will be put to the test on the occasion of the next municipal elections, November 15. Portugal: Jota Festival, music and Gospel Sunday July 27, in São Pedro do Sul, diocese of Viseu, ended the seventh edition of the Jota Festival, an initiative for the dissemination and celebration of Christian music. “In terms of youth pastoral care music represents an extraordinary evangelization tool, and it’s with such intentions that the Festival has been created”; said artistic director Father João Castela. Each year the program presents a vast array of initiatives: musical therapy, emotional intelligence, visual arts, cultural events capable of attracting young people. “There is a need to actively participate through the existing bond linking music and God”, Castela added. Sister Glenda, from Chile, was the special guest of this year’s meeting, attended also by Crossbeam (GB), Lvd, (Spain), the “Voice of the desert”, renowned as “padres roqueiros”, and Ruben Villar de Lis, that gave a more intimistic contribution. At national level figured, inter alia, the Banda Jota, the Godstones, the Us, “United in Sanctity”, and Fr pJason from the Azores.
