Switzerland: "a blessing for the world"” “

On the occasion of the imminent 25th jubilee of John Paul II’s pontificate, on 16 October, the Swiss Episcopal Conference (SEC) expresses “recognition” to the Holy Father “for the service he has rendered to the Church and to the community of nations over the last twenty-five years, renews “its affection for the Pope” and declares […]

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Albania: "a beacon of hope"” “

“John Paul II – says Bishop Angelo Massafra of Scutari, president of the Albanian Episcopal Conference – is for Albanians, whether Catholics or not, a man who, with his strength and his personality, has illuminated and given support to contemporary man. For us, who have had the grace to have him with us in this […]

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Austria: a prophetic pontificate” “

A “pontificate of extraordinary dimension”: that’s the comment of Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, archbishop of Vienna. In a press conference held at Vienna on 2 October, Schönborn pointed out the “strong prophetic signs” that have characterised the Pope’s activity. As examples he cited the Pope’s first visit to Poland in 1979, his address to 80,000 young […]

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Spain: the thoughts of three women” “

Three Spanish women of very different age and background have spoken about the pontificate of John Paul II: Montse, 25 years old (born just as Karol Wojtyla was ascending the chair of St. Peter), Nathalie, a Protestant pastor, and Lorena, the mother of six children. According to Montse Piqué “John Paul II has replied to […]

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parishes" "

The various faces of the parish (1)” “” “

Is there a future for European parishes? What are their difficulties, hopes, and aims? These are the questions we pose in presenting a report in various instalments recounting the experiences and projects of parish communities situated both in small centres and big cities of Europe. Spain: we’ve got good news. That’s the title of the […]

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Over the ashes of Communism” “

“Classic or specialised”: that’s the distinction drawn by Father Ales Opatrny , delegate for pastoral care of the diocese of Prague, in discussing the parishes in his city. “It’s difficult to grasp the situation – he admits – unless one has emerged from decades of Communist regime, during which religion was banned. And it’s largely […]

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European Churches" "

CCEE: thoughts and commitments for the future” “

“Current European policy, the dramatic tragedy of the Holy Land, Africa and ecumenical dialogue”: these were the main themes at the centre of the 33rd plenary assembly of the Council of the Episcopal Conferences of Europe (CCEE), held in Vilnius (Lithuania) from 2 to 5 October. The participants included the presidents of the 34 Episcopal […]

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France, "extreme confusion" on euthanasia” “

No to euthanasia and no to useless therapeutic persistence: that, in sum, is the position of the Catholic Church repeated by the bishops of France in a statement issued by the Episcopal Conference on 8 October, just over a week after the death of Vincent Humbert, a young man who had become a deaf, dumb […]

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Ireland" "

The wonder of life” “"The wonder of life" is the title and content of a new pastoral letter of the Irish bishops. Distributed in 100,000 copies, it was issued to mark "Life Day 2003" and the 25th anniversary of the pontificate of John Paul II; both events are to be celebrated together on 12 October (even if the Pope’s anniversary is on 16 October). "In this strident and frenetic world – point out the bishops – it’s not easy to find spaces to contemplate the deepest truths": "Only if we take tim

No to euthanasia and no to useless therapeutic persistence: that, in sum, is the position of the Catholic Church repeated by the bishops of France in a statement issued by the Episcopal Conference on 8 October, just over a week after the death of Vincent Humbert, a young man who had become a deaf, dumb […]

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The cathedral and the time for God

The Cathedral of the Assumption at Thurles, in the county of Tipperary, in Ireland, closed for over sixty years, was reopened to the faithful on 5 October, restored to all its original splendour. Founded by Archbishop Patrick Laehy in 1865, it was solemnly dedicated, nine years later, by Archbishop Thomas Crocke. Its architecture in the […]

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