CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Ireland: refugees, parishes must “open their doors””Our parishes must be open to provide reception, support and friendship” to the refugees arriving in our Country, said archbishop Eamon Martin, archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, speaking to the faithful in St. Patrick’s Cathedral at the launch of the diocesan pastoral plan “Sharing the Joy of the Gospel.” After having recalled Pope Francis’ appeal – past Sunday at the Angelus Prayer – to parishes and communities in Europe, “to respond practically to the refugee crisis”, Msgr. Martin remarked: “The Holy Father’s challenge shakes us to the core of our baptismal calling.” The prelate recalled the commitment of Trócaire, the Catholic Church’s overseas development agency, which, through its partner organisations in Caritas, has been working in Syria and the wider region since 2012 to provide humanitarian assistance to vulnerable families, and said that its refugee appeal “is still ongoing for those individuals and parishes who wish to contribute.” The prelate equally acknowledged the work done by the Irish Naval Service in the Mediterranean “which has saved the lives of thousands of people in recent months.” Bringing to mind the harrowing picture of little three-year-old Aylan Kurdi, symbol of this tragedy, the Primate of Ireland said: “I join with the calls of so many others on this island in urging our Governments north and south to do what they can to agree a coordinated action plan for the refugee crisis at national and EU level.” “All of us can play our part.” Many Irish bishops “have already been addressing this issue in their dioceses and parishes.” In a few weeks the bishops will meet “to bring together our efforts and ideas and help to streamline the Church’s responses across the country. Meanwhile parish communities stand ready to offer welcome” “to these suffering people when they come into our country and to provide food, clothing and other supports. Some of our parishes have already been able to identify what might be appropriate spaces to support the efforts of our Governments in accommodating people. Our sports clubs, parish groups, teachers, counsellors and many others have also so much to give to help any new arrivals settle and overcome the terrible trauma they have been through.” Czech Republic: social doctrine, courses for the laity A course in Church Social Doctrine will be organized next October and November 2015 in Olomouc by the Christian Academy of Moravia-Slesia. Even though the project is mainly directed at the formation of social workers, teachers and students, it’s open to all lay people who are interested. The course is held under the auspices of Msgr. Jan Graubner, Archbishop of Olomouc, who will inaugurate it personally on October 24. The program includes lessons on several themes: social doctrine from the perspective of fundamental theology; Christian vocation in the world and Church social doctrine; social doctrine as an integrating part of the teaching on man; richness and poverty in the Holy Scripture; protection of the natural environment; the position and the importance of the family in the context of the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church. For further information: www.mska.biz Slovakia: Christianity in the Large Moravia “The Large Moravia and the beginning of Christianity” is the title of an exhibition that will remain open at the Castle of Bratislava until November 2014. Visitors will have the opportunity of admiring over 1400 precious archaeological finds received on loan by 30 institutions in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria and Poland. “This international project, coordinated at local level by the National Museum of Slovakia, is a unique opportunity to admire artefacts from archaeological sites of different Countries gathered in the same space, with special focus on religious life in the Middle Ages, – the first years of Christianization in particular”, explained the curators. Exhibits include pieces of jewellery, weapons, decorations and everyday objects used at the time of the Great Moravia, models of ancient churches, liturgical objects. Visitors will have the possibility of purchasing reproductions of medieval jewellery, assisting to the coinage process, or viewing the animated drawings on the life of peoples living in the Great Moravia over ten thousand years ago.
