Scotland: solidarity for CongoCardinal Keith O’Brien, Archbishop of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh, and the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF), have appealed for urgent aid to send to the Democratic Republic of Congo, now suffering from the dire consequences of conflict between the army and the rebel government of Laurent Nkunda, the “National Congress for the Defence of the People”. According to SCIAF there might even be a need for the intervention of troops of the British army to prevent a humanitarian crisis in the country. According to Deborah Livingstone, representative of SCIAF in Africa, one of the greatest risks in the country is sexual violence. According to data furnished by SCIAF, in some areas of the Congo 70% of women have suffered rape and sexual violence. “Scots should contact their MPs and the government and put pressure on them to do all they can to press for the sending of troops to support the inter-African peacekeeping force that is already working in these areas”, said Livingstone. According to Cardinal O’Brien, the enormous mineral wealth of the Congo has only served to prolong the conflict, while thousands of people are dying of hunger. “Our thoughts are with all those who are suffering and with those who continue to work on our behalf through SCIAF”, declared the cardinal. The English section of the charity “Aid to the Church in Need”, which helps persecuted Christians, has said that Congo is a priority at the present time; it has promised to send over 15,000 pounds in emergency relief to the diocese of Goma, one of the zones most affected by the fighting, in the eastern province of Kivu. England: “fanning the flames of faith”A calendar of events is being organized in every diocese of England and Wales for next year as part of Parish Evangelization Training for those who wish to teach and communicate their own faith in the best possible way to those who don’t yet know it and for parishes that wish to explore new methods of evangelization. “Fanning the flames of faith” is a new initiative, the first of its kind, launched by the Catholic Agency to Support Evangelization (CASE), the agency of the Catholic Church of England and Wales that deals with spreading the Gospel is the best possible way, in partnership with Catholic Evangelisation Services, the agency which places a series of resources at the disposal of schools and parishes to foster greater knowledge of Holy Scripture. “This is a first for England and Wales. Never before has evangelization training been offered on such a large scale and in such a strategic way. Everyone is welcome to attend an event”, declared Mgr. Keith Barltrop, Director of CASE”, “Come and be supported in playing your part in home mission, and if you can’t come, please pray for its success. We all have a role in fanning the flames of faith”. CASE hopes that events will be held in every region of England and Wales, so as to enable as many Catholics as possible to attend an event. Many events have already been planned and include venues in Gateshead, Nottingham, London, Hull and Portsmouth. The organizers of “Fanning the flames of faith” hope that every parish in both countries will send at least four representatives to receive training in parish evangelization.Belgium: European Parish ColloquiumThe 25th European Parish Colloquium will be held at Mons in Belgium, at the Catholic University Faculties (FUCAM), from 5 to July 2009. The theme chosen for next year’s meeting is “Why propose the faith? Seduced by God and fascinated by the Gospel”. The European Parish Colloquium is an association of Christians involved in the parishes. It is aimed at constructing Europe through dialogue. This challenge calls on the parishes to be places of witness, by responding, in particular, to the following questions: “how to be salt of the earth and light of the world in a multicultural Europe where the social and human dimensions pose many questions? And, above all, how to be Christians in this Europe? Some 200 delegates are expected to attend the meeting in Mons; they will participate in forums, debates and the sharing of experiences, helped by experts and theologians and by visits to parishes in the area. In preparation for the colloquium in Mons in July 2009, a preparatory meeting will be held in Mons on 15 November to discuss and finalize its organization and agenda.
