Nyiregyhäza 2011 (Hungary)

Parish, home of hope

… know how to give reason for our hope (1P 3,15)

Sections

Introduction

The great difficulties that our European societies are going through and the social, economic and cultural disorders frighten us. In addition, scandals and other internal problems of the Church trouble us! We risk, then, considering our faith only in the private, individualistic or devotional aspect! However, “faith, Scripture tells us, is to possess in advance what we hope for” (H 11,1). Our trust in God as a response to his love makes us discover and welcome in the present the hope of a new, fraternal and reconciled world. (cf. Ap 21,1).

Our 2011 colloquium is an invitation to look with confidence at the current reality of our parish life, of our dioceses, of the Church in our European countries.

How? Much more than in the last two colloquia, the participants will be given the floor. We will be encouraged to look face to face at our difficulties and to boldly consider evangelical attitudes and an ecclesial lifestyle that is a bearer of hope not only for our contemporaries, but in principle and above all for ourselves!

Our reflection will begin with a look at the Churches of Eastern Europe: this look will provoke us to consider the life of our parishes today. Testimonies about the Second World War will challenge us about our current testimony. The evocation of the past can indeed allow us to face the present in the hope of what awaits us (cf. Coll 1.5).

Throughout the colloquium, the experts who accompany us will help us to “give reason for our hope” (cf. 1P 3:15). Is it not as a whole – and each one for its part – that we must make our parishes “homes of hope”?

To work on the topic

Questions 2011

What does it mean for us, Christians, to be men / women of hope?
Are our parishes homes of hope? Yes; why? No; why?
What can we do so that our parishes are homes of Christian hope?

Program

Sunday, July 17
	Welcome
5:00 pm	Solemn Mass in Greek-Catholic rite Opening of the Colloquium: parliaments
	Dinner
	Meeting of National Groups

Monday, July 18
	Breakfast
9:00 am	Preader and announcements
	Red thread L. Bresan
9:30 am	Scheme by Hubert Windisch. Can parishes be homes of hope? On the situation of the Church in Europe
	Pause
	Conference Dr. Bóna Zoltán on the situation and ecumenism in Eastern Europe
	Lucca Bressan provides guidelines for working in the groups
12h30	Food
2:30 pm	Work in groups
16h00	Pause
4:30 pm	Round table: Hubert Windisch, Luca Bressan, Bishop Fülöp Kocsis, Dr. Bona Zoltan
6:00 pm	Meeting of experts with the animators and secretaries of the groups
7:00 pm	Dinner
	Free evening

Tuesday, July 19
		Breakfast
9:00 am		Preader and announcements
		Red thread H. Windy
		Conference: Sister Maier Friedericke “The structure and contents of Christian hope in the diaries of the Second World War”
10h45		Pause
11h15		Testimony of two people: one from the difficult phase of communism and Frater Peregrino who met with testimonies of the “lighter” era
12h30		Food
		Visit to the parishes.

Wednesday, July 20
		Breakfast
9:00 am		Pread and announcements.
		Red thread A. You erase
9:30 am		Klaus Wyrwoll: “The Regensburg Institute”
10h45		Pause
11h15		Ecumenical testimonies: Fathers André and Jean, monks of Chevetogne
		Meeting moderators/experts
12h30		Food
2:30 pm		Work in groups
16h00		Pause
4:30 pm		Round table: Dr. Wyrwoll and monks of Chevetogne
		Ecumenical Prayer: A. Borras et los Pares de Chevetogne
		Meeting of experts with animators and secretaries
		Dinner
		Free evening to go to the thermal baths

Thursday, July 21
	Breakfast
9:00 am	Preary and announcements – distribution of the evaluation questionnaire
	Red thread: G. Blackberry
	Conference of A. Borras and L. Bressan
	Pause
	Final conclusions
12h30	Food
2:30 pm	Conclusions of young people
	Closing of the Colloquium
5:00 pm	Solemn Mass in the Roman Catholic Church
	Feast of the Nations. Surprise!!!

Friday, July 22
	Optional pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Máriapócs.