CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Slovakia: national feast for Cyril and Methodius”Men of faith who stood a test of history” – with these words archbishop Cyril Vasil’, secretary of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, described St. Cyril and Methodius, missionaries who brought Christianity to Great Moravia almost 1150 ago. Mons. Vasil’ presided the Holy mass at the occasion of their national feast in Nitra on 5 July, in presence of representatives of political, ecclesiastical and social life of the country, including the president of Slovak republic, Ivan Gaparoviè. “Both saints are acceptable and accepted by our society, not only by the Catholics, “said archbishop in his sermon, and reminded thousands of believers that although St. Cyril and Methodius were symbols of Slavonic unity, literates, representatives of byzantine diplomacy and creators of language, “the most important part of their mission was always proclaiming of the Gospel”. Apostolic nuncio to Slovakia, Mons. Mario Giordana, read the telegram with greetings and blessing of the pope Benedict XVI at the end of Eucharistic celebration – message for believers gathered for the occasion not only in Nitra but in many churches all over the country.England: pastoral letter of the PrimateIn a pastoral letter to the 214 parishes of the Diocese of Westminster this weekend, Archbishop Vincent Nichols calls on the faithful to renew their love and respect for the Blessed Sacrament and Communion. In the letter (available on the website www.rcdow.org.uk), Mgr. Nichols, who is also the Primate of England and Wales, recalls that “in our parishes the Blessed Sacrament is usually received in the hand, while standing, and even the Blood of Christ is received from the chalice, always while standing. This norm, together with the general instructions contained in the Roman Missal, offers people who receive communion the chance to decide: whether to receive the consecrated Host in the hand or on the tongue, standing or kneeling. Every way has its symbolic and spiritual meaning which helps us become profoundly aware of Whom we receive and of the unity of faith we share”. The Archbishop of Westminster also reminds Catholics of the need to observe a Eucharistic fast and to ask for the forgiveness of sins: “It is important that we prepare ourselves to receive Communion by observing a Eucharistic fast of at least one hour and that we ask for the forgiveness of our sins through the penitential prayers at Mass and through the Sacrament of Penance, especially when we have committed a grave sin”.Czech Republic: cinema and spirituality46th International Film Festival Karlovy Vary (IFF) that ended on 9 July in the well-known spa town at the western part of Czech Republic had an unprecedented religious dimension. For the first time the organisers introduced an international panel “Spirituality and film” dealing with relations between film and spiritual side of human personality, based on concrete movies offered by this year´s festival edition. One of main topics discussed was history and role of ecumenical juries at film festivals. Ecumenical jury of IFF Karlovy Vary was esteblished in 1994, this year accompanied by a special seminar for representatives of Christian churches with aim to define possibilities of using film and its message in the pastoral care. One of the sponsors of the religion-based panel was a Czech Catholic Television Noe.Germany: preparations for the Pope’s journeyPreparations for Benedict XVI’s trip to Germany (22-25 September) are in full swing: “We are meeting the schedule”, the three coordinators of the Pope’s visit, Ronald Rother (archdiocese of Berlin), Raimund Beck (Erfurt) and Peter Birkhofer (Freiburg), stated in Berlin yesterday. With just three months till the meeting with the Holy Father, 175,000 people have applied to attend one of the four Masses that have been scheduled for the Pope’s visit. Father Hans Langendörfer, general coordinator of the visit, emphasised the importance of the motto chosen for the event (“Where there is God, there is the future”): “We believe this slogan sends a positive message and will be understood”, Langendörfer said. The coordinators emphasised the importance of the Pope’s trip, both locally and universally. “We think the Pope’s visit will be a great feast of faith, that lots of people will pray and celebrate with us, that they will feel that we, as a Church, are walking together”, concluded Birkhofer, who wished for positive simuli and effects that will “encourage many people to commit” to the life of the Church.
