Italy: hospital, parish, territory”Hospital, parish, territory, these are the places for health promotion”. This was the topic of the tenth national conference of the directors of diocesan offices for health pastoral care. The meeting, held the past few days in Chianciano Terme (Italy), was promoted by the office for health pastoral care of Italy’s Bishops’ Conference (CEI). “As a Church – said Msgr.Giuseppe Merisi, President of the Bishops’ Commission for health and charity services – we are called to conceive pastoral care service in the framework of a commitment for the true good of individuals, that is, of each man”. Along with public structures, Msgr. Merisi recalled, “Catholic health structures can play the prophetic role of thoughtful care for the poor and the suffering at all levels”. According to Msgr. Merisi, “greater attention on the part of dioceses is necessary. Catholic presence in the health sector should provide a significant contribution and meet the human and spiritual needs of the sick. For this to take place, each ecclesial reality ought to plan a small pastoral care project linked to its local environment, taking into account the presence of lay associations and their contribution to this and to other pastoral sectors”. According to Father Andrea Manto, director of the CEI office for health pastoral care, “diocesan and parish workers along with the volunteers are called to coordinate their efforts to best respond to the cultural and bioethical challenges that are in the limelight of current public debate”. In Italy, Christian health institutions are represented by Aris (social and health institutes religious association). It counts 241 member structures providing 26,728 beds and ambulatory assistance to 10.269 people. Spain: a letter for the Pauline Year “This is the moment for the entire Church to grow in the knowledge of God and in the yearning of communicating Him to all those who still don’t know Him, focusing on the life and writings of the Apostle of the People,”, claimed Msgr. Juan Antonio Reig Pla, bishop of Cartagena, in a letter for the Pauline Year which will be opening next June 28. The statement was published by the news agency Fides. “For us all, this year must become a new Damascus”, the bishop declared. It must be a time for true conversion “enabling us to fall from the heights we have placed ourselves upon” to reach the level of acknowledging our sin and be reconciled with God”. For this, Msgr. Pla claimed that during the year “the Sacrament of Reconciliation” must be celebrated with greater emphasis, appealing to all priests to be open to it. For the bishop “this year must be viewed as a fruitful moment for vocations”. As Saint Paul asked, “Lord, what should I do?”, each member of the Church must ask himself the same question. Msgr. Reig Pla reminds the faithful that “everyone must come towards faith to proclaim the Gospel which is the power of redemption for all believers”. In this Year we cannot neglect the ecumenical dimension, the explicit will of the Pope. In this framework, “we ought to do our utmost to recover our lost unity with prayers and action”. The diocesan opening of the Pauline Year will take place on Saturday June 12 in the Cathedral along with the ordination of five presbyters. United Kingdom: the path of Catholic schools Catholic schools pave the way for the future of cultural diversity, community cohesion and for the promotion of equal opportunities, declared Ed Balls, British Minister for education and the family. In the yearly meeting at Westminster’s parliament, during which the Government and the Catholic Church assess results in the field of education, the Minister expressed his appreciation for the work carried out by the churches and recalled that these were the first which provided free education. He thanked the responsible of Catholic schools and the Bishops Conference for the commitment aimed at improving standards and providing opportunities for all. Westminster’s meeting was attended also by the archbishop of Birmingham Vincent Nichols, the director of the office for education of the Bishops Conference Oona Standard, diocesan officers, headmasters and Catholic schools teachers with over eight-thousand students in England and Wales. “Catholic schools aim at creating a community and must have sufficient imagination to conceive different ways to show and embody unity in diversity”, said Msgr. Nichols. Oona Standard defined the diocesan education officers “the heroes of Catholic education in disguise”, who provide support and counsel to local churches. He expressed his praise of religion teachers for their special contribution in this sector.
