Slovenia: for the life and the family”For the life and the family”: this was the topic of the national Pastoral Care plan of Slovenia’s Catholic Church held on May 10 in the Arena of Celje. The meeting was preceded, on April 26, by a day of reflection over the implementation of the guidelines of the first Plenary Council of the Slovenian Churches held in the years 1997-2002. The event of May 10, is part of the 2007-2008 pastoral care plan, entirely devoted to the family. In fact, the secretary general of Slovenian bishops Msgr. Andrej Saje, told Sir this event “marked the conclusion of the first stage of the First Plenary Council”. The Day’s meeting was aimed at envisaging future developments of Slovenia’s Church within the national reality along with its contribution to society”. All Slovenian bishops attended Celje’s event; the apostolic nuncio, Msgr. Santos Abril y Castello; representatives of neighbouring Bishops Conferences, numerous priests and over 11 thousand people. The President of Slovenian bishops and archbishop of Ljubljana, Msgr. Slojz Uran, officiated the concelebration. At the end, the apostolic nuncio read the Pope’s message to Slovenia’s Church “entrusting his prayers to the Lord, that He may increase awareness on the irreplaceable role of the family for the Church and for society”, and “encourage it to defend its value, threatened by relativist and laicist mentality”. According to the Secretary General, “in Slovenia and in Europe, the social environment doesn’t promote family life as it is traditionally understood, despite most citizens ascribe great value to it. A solid family life represents the indispensable element for the serious education of the young generations”. “Slovenia, President-in-office of the EU Council, has the great responsibility of addressing at European level legislative issues pertaining to its own reality”, he concluded. England: 700 married couples in Westminster “In our Country few things are as important as support to marriage. This is why I invited the over 700 married couples who this year will be celebrating significant anniversaries”. With these words, His Eminence Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor, archbishop of Westminster, explained “the Mass in gratitude of marriage” he officiated in the Cathedral past May 10th, on the eve of Pentecost. The Mass was attended by spouses who in 2008 will be celebrating 10, 25, 30, 40, 50 and 60 years of marriage (9 couples in this last case). “Today, perhaps more than ever in the life and history of the Church”, His Eminence declared, “we need a visible testimony of the love between husband and wife, since a happy marriage means a happy family”. “Nuptial failures are one of the worst ills” of society, whose consequences, the archbishops affirmed, “are often the underlying motivation of drug abuse or criminal acts. It’s a clockwork bomb with insidious effects”. Hence, the importance of encouraging and supporting marriage “on which depends family wellbeing, equally important for the Country’s future, since it strengthens its stability and promotes social trust and faith”. Luxembourg: contemporary relevance of Saint Willibrord”Remembering the One who announced the Word of God”; this exortation by His Eminence Cardinal Godfried Danneels, archbishop of Malines-Bruxelles, pronounced during the homily of the Pentecost Mass celebrated in the Echternach basilica (present Luxembourg) to the presence of bishops and priests from different European Countries. “This is precisely what we are doing”, His Eminence affirmed in recalling the 1350° anniversary since the birth of Saint Willibrord (657 – 739), known as “the apostle of the Frisians”. “By celebrating the Holy Communion of the Lord on his tomb, we give thanks to the Lord for his life”. “Willibrord announced the Gospel in ancient times, but the content of his message hasn’t changed”. Cardinal Danneels then added, “evangelizers don’t simply transmit information, they seek conversion, they speak to the heart and the reason of those standing before them. Theological culture and education is not sufficient for the Gospel’s proclamation, since love is indispensable”. Celebrations for the anniversary of the English missionary, archbishop of Utrecht, are currently under way in Belgium and Luxembourg, with special emphasis on his ecumenical and “European” dimension. The program includes solemn Eucharistic liturgies, the famous “dancing procession” and an international conference on the Saint. The Jubilee Year, inaugurated November 4, 2007, will close next November 16th. Every year, on the occasion of the Pentecost, pilgrims from Luxembourg, Belgium, The Netherlands, France and Germany go to pray on his tomb in the Abbey of Echternach, which he founded in 698.
