Portugal: “a new style of Church”Inaugurating the plenary assembly of the Portuguese Bishops’ Conference (CEP) at Fatima on 10 November (until the 13), Mgr. Jorge Ortiga recalled the words spoken by the Pope to the Portuguese bishops last year, during their visit ad limina apostolorum: “At the start of this assembly we need to think of a programme to be implemented and to reflect on the time needed for its realization. It therefore seemed to me important to resume the discourse of Benedict XVI, because, due to the partial and misplaced interpretation made of it by many, it risks being forgotten: I think, on the contrary, that it should once again be placed at the centre of our attention, so that this message may always accompany us, and illuminate our pastoral projects for the next three years”. The President of the CEP then added: “in the scenario represented by the opening of a new millennium, the Church finds herself faced by challenges of enormous responsibility: in particular, by that of being able to combine fidelity to doctrine with a capacity to understand the totally different conditions in which the family has to live and act today”. Reflecting on the current socio-economic conditions of Portuguese people, characterized especially by a very low birth rate, the terrible scourge of abortion and the irresponsible attitude to sexuality being inculcated in the young, Mgr. Ortiga recalled the duty of all believers: “Christians cannot continue, in their majority, to be distracted from or disinterested in these fragile ideas that predominate in our society: the family is undoubtedly the reality that more than anything deserves all our attention. It demands efforts and interventions that are generous and at the same time joyfully pro-life”. Poland: 90th anniversary of independence”Let us become peacemakers in our communities, in the country and in the world”: that is the hope expressed by Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz in the homily he gave in the cathedral of Wawel at Krakow on 11 November, during the solemn celebration marking the 90th anniversary of Poland’s independence. Under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles at the end of the First World War, the Polish State once again re-surfaced on the maps of Europe in 1918, after it had disappeared for 123 years due to the country’s partition by Russia, Prussia and Austria. The anniversary of independence was commemorated in numerous religious celebrations, officiated throughout the country. “Patriotism, the love for our country, in the pursuit of independence – said Mgr. Jozef Zycinski, bishop of the diocese of Lublin – united the representatives of various origins and traditions”. Mgr. Slawoj Leszek Glodz, Archbishop of Gdansk, urged the Polish people to overcome their “divisions” and “use their re-won freedom and democracy in the right way”. Mgr. Henryk Muszynski, ordinary of Gniezno, also urged the healing of the internal divisions in Poland. Deploring the lack of collaboration between politicians, he recalled the need to “increase the common good in a spirit of concord”. An appeal to the unity of the political class was also made by the military ordinary of Poland, Mgr. Tadeusz Ploski, in the homily he gave during a solemn mass in Warsaw, officiated by the Apostolic Nuncio in Poland, Mgr. Jozef Kowalczyk, in the presence of the highest authorities of the State.Ireland: music and prayer in the cd “The Priests”Music as “non-aggressive channel” to propose the Christian message: this is the premise on which is based the cd “The Priests”, published on 14 November and realized by the trio of the same name, formed of three priests in Northern Ireland: the two tenor brothers Martin and Eugene O’Hagan and their childhood friend David Delargy, base baritone. The cd in question will be distributed by Sony Bmg in over thirty countries and consists of a mélange of classical pieces, including Franz Schubert’s Ave Maria and César Franck’s Panis Angelicus, modern pieces such as Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Pie Jesu, hymns and songs in Spanish and traditional Irish melodies. “Music – says Fr. Martin O’Hagan – enters the heart, it opens us to others, and brings joy. The idea was born from the daily service we provide: we belong to three different dioceses; Martin and I are parish priests, whereas David is administrator of a parish and member of the ecclesiastical court, but often we get together during masses to sing together”. The project has been received enthusiastically by the faithful and also by the superiors of the three priests. “The bishop emeritus – says Father Martin – is very happy with our ‘musical’ ministry, because it forms part of the priesthood, the gift that God has given to us. Moreover, he always reminds us that music reaches everyone, believers and non-believers alike, and that this must be our main objective: bringing people closer together”. The proceeds of sales will go to charity: “To begin with – says Father Martin – we’ll help elderly priests who have health problems, and then we’ll see, on the basis of how much profit the cd makes”.
