Croatia: the Crucifix, “catalyst of dialogue” While Strasbourg discusses the review of the sentence of the European Court for Human Rights on the crucifix, also Croatian Bishops address the issue. “The presence of Christian religious symbols, of the cross in particular, which reflects the religious sentiments of Christians from all denominations – the prelates declare in a message – is not intended for anyone’s exclusion. Rather, it expresses a tradition which everyone is familiar with, identifying the high value of the Cross and its role as the catalyst of dialogue with all the persons of good will”. The crucifix, continue the bishops, “does not impose a religion, rather, it expresses the highest degree of altruism and generosity, and the deepest form of solidarity offered to all”. For this reason the prelates expressed their conviction that “societies with a Christian tradition should not oppose the public display of religious symbols, in particular in those places devoted to their children’s education”. Conversely, conclude the members of the Croatian bishops’ conference, these societies “might fail to transmit their identity and values to the next generations, thus causing an inner contradiction that could lead to the rejection of the true spiritual and cultural patrimony in which they are grounded, along with an opening to the future”. Hungary: Evs, European encounter on vocations Bearing witness to a vocation, the priestly vocation, which cannot only “be lived”, but which “is also crucial for the world”. “Come and you will see. The priest: witness and servant of vocations” is the theme chosen by the European Vocations Service (www.vocations.eu) for the annual meeting (July 1-4) in Esztergom, Hungary. The body brings together the national coordinators for the vocations of the bishops’ Conferences of Europe. Preparations for the meeting were coordinated by the auxiliary bishop of Gniezno (Poland), Msgr. Wojciech Polach, Evs President and CCEE delegate bishop for vocations, and by the current coordinator father Jorge Madureira, director of the vocations’ Office of the Bishops’ Conference in Portugal. “We are aware – said Fr. Ferenc Janka, CCEE vice-Secretary General – that the witness of the priest, his joy in his daily response to God’s Call, is the first step that will make our youth realize that it is worthwhile to invest in a life spent to the service of God and His people”. Several European experts will deliver panel lectures during the meeting. Panellists include Msgr. Jean-Louis Bruguès, Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education, who will address the theme of the “witness of the priest in European societies marked by decreasing numbers of priests”.Czech Republic: the bishops’ plenary meeting The summer plenary meeting of the Czech Bishops’ Conference will take place in Vehlerad, Moravia, July 2-3. The bishops of Czechia, Moravia and Slesia will gather, by tradition, in the renown pilgrimage destination which July 5th celebrates the Feast of the Saints Cyril and Methodius with the national pilgrimage in Vehlerad. Items on the agenda include the Bible for the Youth project, the guidelines of the Bishops’ Conference for preparation to the sacrament of marriage and the pastoral activities in health assistance services. Representatives of male and female religious orders will attend the plenary, chaired by Msgr. Dominik Duka, President of the Bishops’ Conference and archbishop of Prague. Msgr. Jean-Louis Bruguèse, Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education Msgr. Jan Mráz, dean of the Nepomuceno Pontifical College in Rome, which provides the religious formation of many Czech theologians and priests will also attended the meeting. The bishops will participate in the Mass of July 5th, in honour of the Saints Cyril and Methodius, which will be presided over by Cardinal Miloslav Vlk. Germany: prayers for the new President On the occasion of the start-off of the works of the German Federal Assembly, called to elect the new President of the Federal Republic of Germany, on June 29, the Catholic and Evangelical Churches celebrated an ecumenical function at the St. Hedwig Cathedral. “God has not given us the spirit of awe but of force, love and foresight. He wants to be recognizable in our professional and private environments”, said Bernhald Felmberg, appointed by the Evangelical Church Council, (EKD), in his sermon. The director of the Catholic Office in Berlin Karl Jüsten, addressed an appeal to politicians and to Church and society representatives. “I find that these days a conscience examination is good for us all. Especially when our behaviour is wrong as Catholics we feel that the right path is the love for the truth and for goodness. We mustn’t elaborate strategies and be concerned of our image. We must point at what is good and act in goodness”.
