Portugal, Sweden, Spain

Portugal: preparations for the Eucharistic Congress “Living the Eucharist, source of mercy”, is the theme of the upcoming national Eucharistic congress in Portugal, scheduled from June 10 to 12 2016, at the shrine of Fatima. It was announced by Lusitanian bishops at the end of the permanent Council of the bishops recently held in Fatima. The Congress falls within the framework of the initiatives ahead of the centenary of the apparitions (2017) as part of the celebrations planned for the Jubilee of Mercy called by Pope Francis. From this perspective, one of the central moments will be the conference “the Church’s mission of mercy”, with the participation of Brazilian cardinal João Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for the institutes of Consecrated Life and the society of Apostolic Life. In the framework of mercy, the event also acts as further impetus for the local Church, so it may implement across society “concrete signs” of the faith in Christ and in the Eucharist. The Eucharistic Congress will also be an occasion to promote concrete solidarity. These include a campaign for the donation of blood that assured the mobilization of all dioceses in the Country. Sweden: a march of prayer for eco-pilgrims They left from Uppsala in mid-July and they will be arriving in Lund, South of Sweden, on September 10, after having travelled 630 kilometers. It’s the Swedish part of the environmental pilgrimage chosen for the global campaign “Act now for climate justice”. The destination is Paris, on the occasion of the Cop21 summit scheduled for December, to ask “world leaders to accept an fair, ambitious climate agreement”. The Swedish pilgrimage is led by pastor Emma Thoren. Anyone can join the march; the daily itinerary is available on www.ekovandringen.se. Over one hundred people are taking part in the march, with stops every 15-25 kilometers. The “eco-pilgrim” day begins with a morning prayer at 8.45 and then the walk begins, 45-minute walk followed by a 15-minutes rest. Every two stops the following walk takes place in silence. Lunch is at 12:00. The walk is then resumed at 16:00. After dinner, the day ends with a common prayer at 20:30. The walk takes place Mon to Saturday, from parish to parish, with initiatives and information and awareness initiatives. The Swedish pilgrimage will then join the walk that will start from Flensburg, on the border between Germany and Denmark, with arrival in Paris September 13. Spain: Pontifical University prepares for sport During the next academic year the diocese of Córdoba, in conjunction with the Pontifical University of Salamanca will provide qualifications as “expert in sports bodies management and direction” in the seat of the university campus “Sagrado Corazón”, preliminary to the creation of a specialization in Physical Activity Science and Sport, a degree offered in Córdoba for the first time. The qualification as “expert in sports bodies management and direction”, specifically pertaining to the Pontifical University of Salamanca, is a specialization addressed to graduates in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences or other courses involving humanistic sciences, economics, education, pedagogy and communication. The main goal is to train individuals and professionals with leadership, management and initiative skills in decision-making processes, planning and management, enterprises and sports events, marketing, communication and protocol. With this educational offer the diocese of Córdoba provides high-level education and training to be implemented in the area of sports. The plan of studies due to begin in October will continue until January 2016. It will avail itself of state-of-the-art education tools imparted by experts in each subject, divided into six modules involving legislative themes, strategic planning, direction, marketing, communication, protocol and sports event management. The methodology uses pedagogical tools ranging from the traditional lessons of masters qualifications to the presentation of written papers and studies, up to the resolution of concrete cases.