CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Croatia: the Pope brings “hope and inner strength” “Every pastoral visit by the Pope brings hope, restores contentment, solicits inner strength, encourages and fortifies the sense of values and the nobility of our people”. The Croatian Bishops’ Conference thus announced the pastoral Visitation of Pope Benedict XVI to Zagreb, Croatia, on June 4 and 5 2011 in a message to the nation. In his reply to Croatian bishops the Pope said the first reason for his visit is the celebration of the Eucharist on the occasion of the National Encounter of Croatian Catholic Families that is being held in the country for the first time. On Saturday June 4 the Pope will meet with religious leaders and diplomatic envoys as well as representatives of culture, academia, civil society, politics and sports. The Holy Father will then attend a prayer vigil with the youth in Jelacic Square. On Sunday June 5 Pope Bendict XVI will preside over a solemn Eucharistic celebration at Zagreb’s hippodrome and in the afternoon in the Cathedral of Zagreb he will lead Vespers in communion with priests, religious, seminarians, novices and candidates to priestly ministry. The motto chosen by the Bishops’ Conference for the visit is “Together in Christ.” Recalling John Paul II’s three Visitations to Croatia the bishops wrote: “As a people and as members of the Catholic Church we feel united to the Successors of Peter with many strings… They have been very close to us and faithful in the difficult moments of our history. Our rich historical and cultural heritage, for which we are the acknowledged contributors and heirs of European culture, is a result of this closeness”. The bishops added, with reference to Pope Bendict XVI: “This time the Holy Father’s Visitation takes place in the midst of the a serious cultural, economic and political crisis, that conceals a profound spiritual crisis which brings discouragement, and which worsens ideological division and malaise, that are yet to be overcome. The Pope is arriving at a time when Croatia is negotiating access to the EU, this triggers new questions and challenges full of expectation and uncertainty”.France: new media officer From February 1st 2011 Vincent Fauvel is the new officer for relations with the media. He was appointed by CEF permanent Council as co-chair with bishop Bernard Podvin, Secretary General, spokesman of the French Bishops’ Conference. Jacques Carton assumed the interim in April 2010. In 2011 he will be responsible for relations with dioceses. Vincent Fauvel has been responsible for relations with the Church of Bayard from 2001, Secretary General of the National Bureau of Catholic Press (CNPC) and of the French Federation of Catholic Press (FFPC). His collaboration with Bayard, from which he resigned, began in 1993. He held positions in the area of communication and relations with the Catholic press. From 1987 to 1992, he served as Episcopal delegate for the media at Grenoble’s diocese. He worked for Chrétiens Médias from 1983 to 1986. He was born in 1959. He is married and has 4 children.Belgium: the youth is headed to Madrid Thousands of young people regard the World Youth Days scheduled to take place August 11 to 21 as the key event of the year 2011. In fact, 2 million young people are expected to arrive in Madrid from all over the world. Among them will be also the Belgian youth, who a few days ago started a journey of preparation in view of this major Church encounter. “A feast of religious faith – a place for reflection and sharing”, states the website of the Bishops’ Conference catho.be. The dedicated website on the WYD in Beligium www.jmj.be enables youth between the age of 17-30 to find information on the event along with registration details, with the option of a long or short attendance. Youth from school environments, parishes and religious groups are invited to attend the WYD. Over the next days the national department for the pastoral care of the young will hold informative meetings across the Country addressed to all those who wish to learn more about the WYD, to the youth and religious animators. “To leave for the WYD – is explained on the website – is a strong and important experience for young people. They need to be accompanied and supported in this unforgettable adventure that prompts spiritual development”.
