Orthodox history and spirituality in the Baltic States” “

“Orthodox monasticism in Finland and the Baltic States” is the title of the international conference that opened at the monastery of Santa Maria at Grottaferrata (near Rome) on Thursday 22 September. The monastery is run by the Italian Congregation of Basilian Monks. The five-day conference, sponsored by the monastery itself and by the Ecumenical Patriarchate […]

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Taizé: continuity with frère Roger and with Rome” “

“The time of continuity has begun. The community shall remain faithful to the original intuitions of its founder: living simply, with the bare minimum of structures, commitment to life, common prayer, fraternity in the various continents, hospitality”. So said frère Alois Leser, prior of the monastic community of Taizé founded by frère Roger Schutz. No […]

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Ecumenism" "

Nazi massacres denounced at gipsy meeting” “

“France has the duty to keep alive their memory” and that of “the racism and anti-semitism that at times seems to be gaining ground: the Protestant Federation of France reminds the civil authorities of this duty without any exclusions”. That is the final passage in the statement addressed at the French authorities by the president […]

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England: the Minister and the apostolate of the sea” “

“The difficulties of seamen who due to their work are far from home for long periods are often ignored. I therefore wish to congratulate those who devote themselves to the Apostolate of the Sea who fill this gap by welcoming seafarers in ports”, said Stephen Ladyman, British minister responsible for the mercantile marine, in the […]

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Austria: help to disabled children” “

The Austrian aid organization “Licht für die Welt” (“light for the world”) has launched a new campaign called “Herzenskind”, in favour of disabled children in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The action is aimed at improving the conditions and opportunities of disabled children: “With our campaign, we aim to enable these children to live a […]

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Germany: art in diocesan museums ” “

To mark World Tourism Day – to be celebrated on 27 September – twelve Catholic diocesan museums in Germany between Munich and Paderborn will be open for visits to enable the public to discover their cultural riches. “Travel and transport” is the theme chosen for this year’s Tourism Day, which was established 26 years ago […]

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Switzerland: Catholic Communication Prize” “

“For the passion demonstrated in the field of the media and for his dedication to communicating the Gospel in this field”: with this motivation the bishops of Switzerland have awarded Jean-Luc Ballestraz the Catholic prize for Communication 2005, now in its eleventh year. Born in Grône, second of eight children, Ballestraz suffers from a pituitary […]

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Germany: Cardinal Lehmann reconfirmed” “

On 20 September, in its opening session, the plenary assembly of the German Bishops’ Conference, meeting in Fulda, confirmed Cardinal Karl Lehmann, bishop of Mainz, as its President for a further six years. Cardinal Lehmann has served as President of the Bishops’ Conference since 1987; having succeeded Cardinal Josef Höffner, archbishop of Cologne, he has […]

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Portugal: aid to the victims of the fires” “

A million euros to help the victims of the fires that ravaged the country this summer have been made available by the Fundaçao Gulbenkian and assigned to Caritas and to other aid organizations. The beneficiaries will be the families most seriously affected by the fires, to contribute to their survival, the reconstruction of their homes […]

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Hungary: National Eucharistic Congress ” “

The National Eucharistic Congress, concluding the Year of the Eucharist, was held in Budapest, in the square and cathedral of St. Stephen, on 17 September. Some 4000 faithful arrived from 14 dioceses to participate in an event rich in stimuli, prayer, adoration and cultural programmes. Families, religious, priests and lay communities bore witness to the […]

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