Portugal, Germany, Hungary

Portugal: the Patriarchate’s renewed websiteLisbon’s Patriarchate presented its new portal, described as “a place for information and dialogue”. In his opening address, Cardinal Patriarch José Policarpo said he hopes the new website will become “one of the most open and more important portals, promoting the communication of the Church of Lisbon with the faithful and with the population as a whole”. Card. Policarpo underlined the importance of the website’s upgrading, and underlined that Portugal’s diocese was among the first to create its own website over a decade ago. “For some time already, given the requests of the faithful and as a diocesan body, we felt the need to improve our website, adapting it to the demands of an ever more interactive community”. “The new portal’s missionary ambition is to provide all-round news, aware that it can potentially act as a precious and indispensable information tool”. The website will maintain its previous domain name: www.patriarcato-lisboa.pt. It is designed to provide “simple, and user-friendly information on current events”, added father Nuno Brás, head of the Patriarchate’s Communication department: “We intend to address possible suggestions and questions” said Msgr. Policarpo, pointing out that he will give his direct contribution to “salient issues”. On the occasion of the Feast of Blessed José Allamano, founder of the Consolata Missionaries, also the review Fátima Missionaria presented its new portal whose motto is: “Another vision of the world”. Info: www.fatimamissionaria.pt.Germany: in dialogue with trade unionsWork is more important than capital. That was the conclusion of a meeting held a few days ago in Stuttgart between the representatives of the dioceses of Rottenburg-Stuttgart and Freiburg, and the executives of the DGB trade union of Baden-Württemberg. “The ongoing economic and financial crisis has once more highlighted the relevance of the principles contained in Church Social Doctrine”, declared Msgr. Gebhard Fürst, bishop of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, speaking on behalf of the auxiliary bishop of Freiburg Msgr.Paul Wehrle. “The financial crisis was largely a crisis in trust”, Fürst continued. “Now social partners need to undertake a process of reflection on the foundations of human labour. To this regard, the dialogue between the Church and the trade unions bears a special meaning”, the bishop remarked, and voiced his concern for the surging gap between wealth and poverty in Germany: “In our wealthy Country, there are many whose salary isn’t enough to make ends meet”. The DGB president of the Land Nikolaus Landgraf, pointed out, “When an increasing number of people cease being involved in social issues, or do so only to a certain point, social cohesion is at risk”. Landgraf pointed out that Germany’s job market is “beyond control”. In Germany one every four workers has an interim job, works part-time or has a minimum wage contract. “We must continue fighting to ensure that minimum wages are provided for by the law and to enforce the principle of equal pay for equal work. The Unions and the Catholic Church – he concluded – must cooperate so as to submit joint proposals aimed at valuing the human face of labour”.Hungary: the new book of Msgr. Székely on the Roma”Cigány népismeret” (Ethnography of the Roma) is the new book by Msgr. János Székely, Auxiliary Bishop of Esztergom-Budapest, expert in Gipsy culture, head of the department for the pastoral care of the Roma for the Hungarian Bishops’ Conference. For the moment the volume is only available in Magiar language, but translations in other languages are already planned. The book’s simple wording and color drawings make it appropriate for use in school establishments (Catholic and non-Catholic alike), and it will be appreciated by all those who wish to learn more about the history, traditions, peregrinations and ongoing problems experienced by the Gypsy population. A chapter is dedicated to the presence of the Roma in Hungary (some 700 thousand on a population of 10 million, divided into four language groups) and in European nations. Other chapters narrate the lives of illustrious figures of Roma origin, that include historical personalities, artists, athletes, women and even saints, like Ceferino Jiménez Malla martyr. Msgr. Székely – acting also on behalf of the Hungarian Church, marked by a special commitment to promote Gipsies’ integration notably in the realm of education – supports the importance for the Roma people to be aware and proud of their own culture. He pointed out that the fact that many Roma feel ashamed of their origins and wish to break away from it represents “a major problem”. “Helping them preserve their identity – he said – depends on the extent to which each one of us accepts others”. In the volume are also presented the works of Hungarian authors who wrote about the Gypsies, along with popular tales, poems and prayers of the Tzigan tradition, and recent works of authors of Roma origin.