Heritage Day” “

An occasion to “collectively involve ourselves, as community of Catholic believers, in a national public event” that “enjoys great success each year”: that’s how Bishop Hippolyte Simon of Clermont calls “European Heritage Day” which is promoted as usual by the Ministry of Culture and Communication and will be celebrated on 20/21 September. Its theme this […]

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France" "

The 4th centenary of the "Brothers of St. John of God"” “” “

“The dignity of the person, the respect for human life, the struggle against pain and suffering, and efficiency in management” are the values most stressed during the celebrations marking the fourth centenary of the presence of the hospital order of the “Brothers of St. John of God” in France. The celebrations began in 2002 and […]

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" "Belarus" "

To the ends of the earth” “” “

To mark the Jubilee of the 380 anniversary of the martyrdom of St. Jehosaphat (+1623), who was archbishop of Polatsk, and the 25th anniversary of the pontificate of John Paul II, the Greek-Catholic community of Belarus dedicated Sunday 13 July to a particular day to prayer and celebration. The faithful flocked to Polatsk from all […]

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Abortion, ‘veto’ for reflection” “” “

Presidential veto on the new Slovak law on abortion: Slovak President Rudolf Schuster used his power of veto on 23 July to block a law approved by Parliament on 3 July thanks to the votes of the opposition to which were added those of the ruling party, Alliance of the new citizen (ANO); the law […]

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Slovakia" "

The Pope’s visit scheduled for September” “” “

John Paul II’s apostolic journey to Slovakia will take place from 11 to 14 September. It will be the Pope’s 102nd journey outside Italy. The trip was announced on 14 June by the deputy director of the Holy See’s Press Room, Father Ciro Benedettini, who also gave details of the Pope’s itinerary: Trnava, Banská Bystrica, […]

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Foreign Affairs and Middle East” “” “

The EU is making a concerted effort to help the peace process in the Middle East. Meeting in Brussels on 21/22 July, the foreign ministers of the 25 met their Israeli and Palestinian counterparts to discuss the procedures for the implementation of the road map – called the ‘only way’ to re-establish peace – and […]

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Agriculture and GMO ” “” “

The EU Council of Agriculture met in Brussels on 22 July. With the contrary vote of Denmark, Luxembourg and the UK – accompanied by some reservations voiced by Austria – the 15 formally approved the new regulation on the labelling and treaceability of GMOs in foodstuffs destined for human consumption and animal fodder (cf. SirEurope […]

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" "social questions" "

Portraits of European women” “” “

What does it mean to be a woman? A rich mosaic of data is compiled by a statistical study of the condition of women in the world updated to 2000. It’s a document called “Women in the World. Statistical Trends”. This UN Report, the third after the previous editions in 1991 and 1995, provides key […]

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" "Norway" "

Bishop and also parish priest ” “” “

At Tautra, a tiny island in the fjord of Trondheim in Norway, there’s a Cistercian monastery: five sisters came here from the USA and from Belgium in response to the invitation of the bishop of the diocese. They live here devoting themselves to a life of prayer. They give a warm welcome to everyone who […]

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Spain: Gospel in Arabic for migrants” “

“Operation Transit” is a missionary initiative that each year presents a Gospel in Arabic to the thousand of Maghrebis who cross through Spain on their way to Morocco every summer. The Gospel, in a bilingual Arabic-French or Spanish-French version, is usually handed out gratis in the main ports. Apart from the Gospel, videocassettes of the […]

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