Hungary: appeal to wear a white ribbon

Many celebrations are being planned in Hungary to commemorate John Paul II. At Budapest, in the Church of Matthias (in the Castle of Buda), the rosary will be recited on 2nd April, in the same place where hundreds of faithful gathered in prayer for the dying Pope last year. On the following day the members […]

di Redazione

Ireland: vigils and masses with the Polish community

Events organized by the Irish bishops to commemorate John Paul II, a year after his death, include an intention during masses on 2nd April and a particular celebration on the following day, with special attention to the sizeable Polish community that lives in the island. A special prayer in memory of John Paul II has […]

di Redazione

Slovenia: Mozart’s Requiem in memory of Lolek

Mozart’s Requiem will be performed in memory of John Paul II in the cathedral of Ljubljana on 5 April.

di Redazione

Czech Republic: an exhibition and a film

An exhibition on the life and pontificate of John Paul II was opened at Hradec Kràlové on Saturday 26 March. Centrepoint of the exhibition is the projection of a film with footage of the Pope meeting Czech youth during his visit to the country. A celebration is also being planned in the vicinity of the […]

di Redazione

Belgium: 9 May, day for peace

A “Day of prayer for peace in Europe and in the world” with the aim of “manifesting together to other citizens that Europe is constructed not just on the political, economic, legal, social and financial terrain, but also by taking account of the religious dimension”: that’s the initiative being promoted in Brussels on 9 May […]

di Redazione

Germany: the theme of the Katholikentag

“Justice in the sight of God”: the motto of the 96th “Deutsche Katholikentag”, a biannual event of German Catholics, which this year will be held in Saarbruecken from 24 to 28 May, is taken from the Benedictus ( Luke 1:75). Its organization is assigned to the ZDK (Central Committee of German Catholics), chaired by Hans […]

di Redazione

Holland: problem of surplus churches

An independent initiative, not supported by the Churches themselves, was launched on Wednesday 22 March. Its purpose is to convince the political authorities, and arouse a movement of public opinion, to prevent the further demolition of so-called “surplus” churches in Holland. Too many churches have been destroyed in Holland in recent decades, according to the […]

di Redazione

FRANCE

Questions to youth

“We are living in a social and political crisis that has its roots in the history of past decades, a crisis that especially reveals a particular anxiety about the future. Messages of apprehension about the future, in particular for those living in situations of professional precariousness. That’s why we need to stop to reflect on […]

di Redazione

SPAIN

Youth believe in fidelity

In the first three months of 2006 divorce in Spain increased by 28% over the same period in 2005. On the scale and immediate impact of the law approved by the Parliament in July 2005 that makes divorce easier in Spain SIR interviewed LORENA ASENSIO , vice-president of the Group of Catalan family associations (www.sobrelafamilia.org), […]

di Redazione

UNITED KINGDOM

The movements grow

There are 38,000 churches in England and Wales: of the 1000 new churches built over the last seven years, half belong to the pentecostal and half to the charismatic movement. That’s what emerges from a research survey conducted by “Christian Research”, according to which the more traditional denominations, Methodism and the Church of England, are […]

di Redazione