A connecting thread” “

The reflections and activities of the various European Episcopal Conferences in recent months have been linked by a connecting thread: challenged by the grave facts of 11 September and the Middle-Eastern conflict, the Episcopal Conferences have multiplied their efforts to develop ecumenical and interreligious dialogue and promote an authentiic reconciliation among peoples. We report below the most important events that have characterized the life of the European Churches in this period. Austria. The pastoral councils of the country’s 3,000 parishes were renewed on 17 March 2002. Over 4 million Catholics were entitled to vote. Some 30,000 persons were elected and will remain in office for six years. Belarus. Alojzi Tomkiewicz died on 5 December 2001. He was the only priest of the diocese of Grondo still alive after surviving imprisonment in Stalin’s gulags. Switzerland. The plenary assembly of the Swiss Episcopal Conference in early December 2001 confirmed the members of the new ‘Islam Work Group’ aimed at promoting Christian-Islamic dialogue and a knowledge of Islam among pastoral workers. The group began its work in 2002; a delegate of the reformed Churches also participates in it as an observer. Hungary. The presidents of the European Episcopal Conferences met in Budapest on 8 January and decided to hold a Conference of the Catholics of Central Europe (Mitteleuropäischen Katholikentag). It will be held from 31 May to 1 June 2003 simultaneously in the eight countries involved and will conclude with a major culminating event in the Marian sanctuary of Mariazell (Austria) on 22-23 May 2004. Five transnational symposia are also being planned between these two events. Poland. The first national Congress of Catholic Action was held at Poznan in November 2001 with the participation of over 1000 delegates. The Congress marked the return to normality of the association after a period of forced clandestine activity due to the crackdown of the Communist regime. Russia. The 8th Assembly of the Conference of Catholic bishops was held at Saratov on 21-22 November 2001. One of the themes tackled at the conference was the preparation of books and liturgical texts in Russian. A priest of the region of Saratov, the first in 83 years, was ordained at the end of the conference. Turkey. The fruits of the Jubilee are now being harvested. A preparation of almost three years led to the holding of the ecclesial Conference of the Catholics of Turkey (of the Latin, Armenian, Chaldean and Syrian rites), with very significant results. Organized by the Episcopal Conference of Turkey, it was held at Yesilköy-Istanbul from 16 to 18 November 2001. Agenda – Rome, 24 April: meeting of the CCEE Presidency; – Rome, 24-28 April: symposium of the European bishops; – Madrid, 12-14 May: COMECE congress; – Venice, 23-26 May: fourth conference of directors of the pastoral ministry of the environment in the Episcopal Conferences; – Istanbul, 13-17 June: meeting of secretaries general of the European Episcopal Conferences; – Ljubljana, 13-16 June: meeting of the spokespersons of the Episcopal Conferences.