Ukraine: Greek-Catholic Bishops’ meetingOn May 12-14 the city of Uzhgorod, Ukraine, hosted the meeting of Europe’s Greek-Catholic bishops. The meeting was attended by the representatives of 14 Eastern Churches in the European continent and by archbishop Ivan Jurkoviè , Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine. The program included plenary meetings and workshops. Each year the assembly chooses a theme for the meeting. This year the bishops focused on the question of priestly ministry. “Our meetings are traditionally marked by two features: if possible we convene in places bearing a symbolic significance, where we go on pilgrimage to pray together; and focus on the knowledge of the Eastern Church”, said Cardinal Lubomyr Husar, Major Archbishop of Lviv. His Eminence recalled the pilgrimage of 2005 in Italy with the representatives of Greek-Catholic Churches in Europe that centred on: “The Christian roots of Europe, a pilgrimage to the fountainhead”. “During the six-day pilgrimage participants visited Rome, Mount Cassino, Amalfi and Bari. The idea of holding annual meetings on themes of common interest was conceived during that pilgrimage”. France: pro-life prayer vigilA prayer vigil in the name of the “Gospel of Life” will be held May 28 at 20:30 in Notre-Dame’s Cathedral in Paris. The vigil was called by Ile de France Bishops in light of bioethics legislation revision due to take place in France in the month of June. The Estates General on Bioethics were set up to provide a forum on bioethics research. The Catholic Church in France took part in the debate giving its “unconditional ‘yes’ to human life”, “from the moment of conception to its natural termination”. In the letter inviting the faithful to attend the vigil, Msgr. Gerard, Bishop of Nanterre states: “there can be no faith unless everyone, even the most vulnerable, those who have no voice, the weakest brackets, know they are accepted for who they are, as a gift bestowed upon everyone and received unconditionally. There can be no hope unless we acknowledge that our society grants full respect and protection to the weakest”, “precisely because we were given human life and no one has the right to contest it or eliminate it”. The vigil – the bishop said – was organized “to ask to the Lord for the grace of receiving life, every human life, as a gift”. England: national Family Week “Home is a holy place”: this is the slogan marking the National Family Week, due to be celebrated in the United Kingdom May 25-31. For the occasion, the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales prepared and sent informative material regarding this year’s theme of family relations and God’s presence in the family to dioceses and parishes. The initiative – said the new archbishop of Westminster and president of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales Msgr. Vincent Nichols – is aimed at “helping families enjoy the presence of God in their lives and acknowledge that this presence can pave paths of faith in response to the love of God”. “For many of us the family has been the place where faith placed its foundations”, Msgr. Nichols remarked. “In our homes we learn to be patient, to forgive and to rejoice. But our home must also be the place where we learn how to pray and speak to God”.Hungary: the Catholic radio is five years old “Hungary’s Catholic Radio” celebrates its fifth year of life next May 27. On the occasion, the president of Hungary’s Bishops’ Conference Cardinal Péter Erdo, will preside over a Mass in Saint Steven’s Basilica in Budapest. The network promoted by Hungarian Bishops is aimed at “stepping up and spreading the Christian view of life across society”. “With our palimpsest we provide the listeners with guidelines and news on issues pertaining to public life and on topical events”, state the network’s coordinators. Its objectives include proclaiming “the doctrine of the Catholic Church” and promoting the Country’s culture and specific values. The radio is operative 24hours per day, seven days a week, and coordinates the publication of CDs, DVDs and books.
