CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Portugal: Acege launches the “Common Good Fund” Past October 27 ACEGE (the Christian association of managers and entrepreneurs) announced the creation of a “Common Good Fund” in Lisbon, aimed at supporting entrepreneurship projects submitted by unemployed citizens or by workers over 40 forced to early retirement. The seminary is linked to the initiative themed: “It’s never too late for a new beginning”, which brought together some 250 entrepreneurs, economists, politicians and citizens at the Caixa Geral dos Depósitos building. ACEGE president António Pinto Leite said, “The project is aimed at extending a thorough glance at Portuguese society which is experiencing a moment of great suffering. The association wished to draw attention on over-40 unemployed citizens, on the difficulties of those who are struggling to exit this sad situation, who are knocking on many doors and are given no answer”. “The idea is to trigger national entrepreneurship and economy by helping those who still have great capacities to contribute to social development”, Pinto Leite said. “We are sure that within this universe of 50-60 thousand middle and front-line managers, to whom the fund’s initiative is addressed, at least 5 thousand deserve investing on”. The “Fund” will be managed by the SBC (Common Fund Association) with an initial endowment of 2.5 million euro, constituted in equal parts by the five banking associations cooperating with the project. SBC president Nuno Fernandes Thomas ensured that “the fund’s management isn’t be marked by merely pious connotations. In fact, the selection criteria aims at valuing and supporting truly sustainable ideas deserving financial subsidy”. Switzerland: the bishops remember saint Carlo Borromeo On November 1 with a message to the faithful the Swiss bishops celebrated the 400th anniversary of the canonization of Saint Carlo Borromeo (on November 1st 1610), born in Arona on October 2 1538, died in Milan on November 3 1584, patron Saint of Catholic Switzerland. In the message the bishops remember “with gratitude” the impact of the Saint on the Confederation territory and exhort local Catholics to cherish the memory of the Church reformer who faithfully promoted the decisions of the Council of Trent. “At the times of Borromeo – is stated in the message – the bishops often wore the habit and style of the ‘dominus’, the lord. Indeed, Borromeo “embodied a new type of bishop”, in line with the dictates of the Council of Trent. He was thus the “father and pastor of the people of God, and not their master or dominator”. Saint Carlo Borromeo, the Swiss bishops recall, was also a great preacher. “This was evident in his zealous visits to the regions he had been entrusted, in his condemnation of abuses and in the way in which he sought remedy with force and determination. Preaching, as stipulated in the Council of Trent, is the primary task of a bishop. Saint Carlo accomplished his vocation in apostolic proclamation”. “It is our hope – concludes the document – that the main traits of his personality, the incarnation of Episcopal ideal, his activity as preacher and Church reformer, his dedication aimed at internal renewal and the application of Council decrees will encourage us to follow with courage the Second Vatican Council”.Spain: live broadcast of the Papal visit On the occasion of the visit of Benedict XVI to Santiago de Compostela and Barcelona, Popular TV, the Cope company TV network, presents a special palimpsest with the live broadcast of the new apostolic visit of the Holy Father. On Saturday October 6 at 11.30 the viewers of Popular TV will follow the arrival of the Holy Father at the international Airport of Santiago de Compostela, in real time, followed at 13:00 hrs by the visit to the cathedral and the Pope’s address. At 16:00 hrs Benedict XVI will celebrate Mass for the Compostelan Holy Year in Plaza del Obradoiro. At 19:15 hrs His Holiness concludes the visit in Santiago de Compostela with departure from the airport. On Sunday November 7 at 10:00 hrs the Pope will celebrate Mass with the recitation of Angelus prayer in the “Sagrada Familia” church in Barcelona. In the afternoon is scheduled the departure from the archbishopric in Barcelona and the Pontiff’s visit to the “Obra benefico sociale Nen Deu”, whence he will deliver his greeting. Popular TV will transmit the entire visit. The special TV program will end at 19.15, with the broadcast of the Pope’s departure from the international airport of Barcelona.
