Outside the classrooms

The annual meeting of the national delegates for pastoral work in universities of Europe’s Bishops’ Conferences was held in Porto, Portugal, 25 to 27 September 2009. On the invitation of the President of the Portuguese Bishops’ Conference, Msgr. Jorge Da Costa Ortiga, archbishop of Braga, the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences -CCEE – promoted the meeting attended by 35 delegates of 20 European Bishops’ Conferences (Austria, Belgium, Croatia, France, Germany, England, Wales, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Moldavia, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Byzantine Ukraine and Hungary). Msgr. Marek Jedraszewski, President of the University Section of the CCEE Commission delivered the opening address. The theme of the meeting was “The role of lay leaders in university pastoral work”. “The University – recalled Msgr. Lorenzo Leuzzi, Secretary of the University section of the CCEE Commission – isn’t a place for cultural and political conquest. Rather, it is a place where man’s future is developed. Cultural challenges are our own challenges, the effort of studying is our own effort, the joy of knowledge is our own joy. Unluckily in our ecclesial communities there still is a divide separating the Church and the academic realm. Anti-cultural prejudice in our environment is still widespread, but isolation doesn’t belong to those who encountered the Resurrected One. This unconditional love ought to be donated to the university environment for societies’ development”. The delegates presented their personal reflections on the European students’ meeting held past July in Rome. Nationwide experiences and paths. Fr. Enrico Dal Covolo, from the Pontifical Salesian University, delved into the pastoral implications of the Holy Father’s message to university students in 2009. Sister Teresa Kennedy, delegate of England and Wales, presented the works in the chaplaincies of her Country and the ecumenical challenges pertaining to the academic structure. Accordingly, it is necessary “to establish a balanced relationship between the expectation of universities and the ecclesial mission”, the religious said. The delegate of the French Bishops’ Conference recounted the youth pilgrimage to the Holy Land, attended by 1800 university students. The delegate of Poland, Fr. Marek Spyra, presented the Polish experience: “The Country is witnessing an increase in students’ voluntary cooperation”, he said. Indeed, the young animators of university pastoral work convene yearly for a two-day meeting in Czestochowa “to develop mutual communion and promote ongoing formation”. Father Matthias Haas, delegate of the German Bishops’ Conference illustrated the organization chart of university pastoral work in Germany and the modalities for the formation of cooperators, who are lay professionals. The peculiarity of the formation, he said, “lies in the fact that after an introductory course it’s possible to choose between three different tracks, namely, the students’ and the professors’ personal backgrounds, problems and challenges; faith, prayer, liturgy and spirituality – related questions and activity; the dialogue with the scientific and cultural realms”. The encounter was marked by moments of common prayer. The Sunday Mass, celebrated in the parish church of Antonio Bacelar, was animated by the congregation’s chorus of African students from different environments who are actively integrated in the local community. Future developments. Father Ferenc Janka, CCEE vice-Secretary General and secretary of the CCEE “Catechesis, Schools and Universities” Commission pointed out the “fundamental role of lay people and their life experiences in university pastoral work”, and “the need for their ongoing formation”. Father Janka presented the Commission’s activities and its future plans. The next congress of bishops and national delegates is due to be held in Munich on January 27-30 2011, that will be a privileged occasion to value the previous years’ university pastoral work and lay the grounds for future cooperation. The meeting of university chaplains in Poznan, after Easter 2010 is expected to be an important preparatory step. “The national delegates’ network – Father Janka explained – is promoted with the annual meetings. The theme of the next meeting will be chosen on the wake of this year’s positive experience”. In the past three years, the delegates pointed out, European communion and representation increased, while CCEE initiatives were marked by greater synergy with equivalent initiatives at international and world level. Msgr. Leuzzi, who coordinates the Office for University Pastoral Work of the Vicarage of Rome, briefed participants on the different projects promoted by his diocese that include university students’ rosary recitation with the Pope on the occasion of the October 10 Synod for Africa. Students of seven African countries will be united via satellite connection.