The Gospel in local life

“Why pass on the faith? Seduced by God – fascinated by the Gospel”. This is the title of the Colloquium of European Parishes (CEP), due to be held in Mons, Belgium, July 5-10 2009. The event, which this year is being held for the 25th time, will bring together Christians from across Europe with the purpose of fostering dialogue and communication between Churches and contributing to united Europe through active participation.Common reflection. The topic chosen for this event, explain the promoters, “is rich in meaning, questions, and entails future developments. In fact, it ought to be read within a framework whereby all European Churches discovered – albeit in different ways – that the transmission of faith is no longer a practice that develops on its own. Rather, it is a challenge that requires a great amount of energy, brings results that differ from the expectations, and causes fractures and crises in the way in which we see ourselves as Christians”. From this standpoint, the Colloquium “is meant to develop reflections involving theologians, experts in pastoral care and catechesis, interpreters of culture and sociologists, Christians and pastors. The purpose of the meeting is listening, exchanging experiences, sharing interpretation keys, and planning joint practices aimed at developing Christian proclamation tools that will address the current situation”.European vocation. What is CEP? “It’s the encounter of Christians from Christian communities across Europe who convene every two years in a Colloquium held in a different European Country. They share their experience regarding Church and social questions, which they address starting from their pastoral commitments. They wish to contribute to the development of the European building with their own identities”. CEP is a member of the Council of Europe in its capacities as NGO. CEP’s European vocation is evident also by looking at those places where the Colloquiums were held until today: in 2009 it will be the turn of Mons (candidate as European Capital of Culture for the year 2015), in 2007 the meeting was held in Oporto, in 2005 in Erfurt, in 2003 in Fribourg, in 2001 in Gerona, in 1999 in Woldingham, in 1997 in Udine, in 1995 in Prague, in 1993 in Besançon, in 1991 Leuven, in 1989 in Fatima, in 1987 in Seggau, in 1985 in Tarragona, in 1983 in Ludwigshafen, in 1981 in Assisi, in 1979 in Marseille, in 1977 in Namur, in 1975 in Lisbon, in 1973 in Heerlen, in 1971 in Strasbourg, in 1969 in Turin, in 1967 in Barcelona, in 1965 in Köln, in 1963 in Vienna and in 1961 in Lausanne.Biographical note. CEP was founded in Bonn’s university by a circle of friends from different European Countries who at the time were engaged in the renewal of the liturgy. At the time, long before the Council, studies focused primarily on the praxis of German Oratorians and of other German-language parishes. The first reflections aimed at improving relations between Catholic parishes in Europe sprung from these environments. When many years later a few members of the circle of friends became the parish priests of major parishes in Paris, Cologne, Turin, Barcelona and Lausanne, they were still striving to understand how Churches in Europe and their local diversities, could exchange experiences and mutually support one another. Letters were sent to numerous European bishops across the different Countries. Only one bishop replied to Francis Connan, who at the time was a parish priest in Paris, and was invited to Vienna for a meeting. In Vienna Cardinal König encouraged Fr. Connan to promote contacts between parish priests in Europe. In 1961 some 60 parish priests from cities across France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain and Switzerland convened for the first colloquium. On that occasion they agreed to hold further meetings at European level every two years, to exchange experiences and ideas, and contribute to the construction of the European community of Peoples. Since 1973 parish priests in the cities brought also their lay assistants to the Colloquium and since then the number of participants underwent constant increase. In 1991 half of participants were lay people, today they represent over 60%. Further information. Those interested in attending the meeting in Mons can log on www.cep-europa.org. Those who wish to learn more about CEP can purchase the proceedings of the latest Colloquium: A. Borras – L. Bressan (eds.), Abitare da cristiani il nostro tempo. Parrocchie d’Europa s’interrogano, Dehoniane, Bologna 29.