Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Ulm (Fides Service) - From 16 to 20 June in Ulm, in the diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, the Church in Germany will celebrate its 95th “Katholikentag” with the motto “Drawing life from the Power of God”. The programme of the event, organised jointly by the German Catholics Central Committee and the Rottenburg-Suttgart diocese, includes 800 initiatives, stands, panel discussions, workshops, liturgies, prayers, theatre and music and festive activities. The organisers expect about 30,000 people to take part.
Stands on show at “Katholikentag” will include Catholic aid agencies such as missio, “Die Sternsinger” (Holy Childhood) , Misereor, Adveniat, Renovabis and Caritas International united with the motto “Six agencies for the same world”. Through debates, information, music and prayer these agencies will illustrate their activity in the universal mission. Group spokesman Mgr. Winfried Pilz, national director for Holy Childhood in Germany, explained: “Although each Catholic agency or society has its specific task we work all together at the service of the universal Church. Also at Ulm we intend to bear witness to this active commitment which exists in the Church in Germany”. Funds collected during the Katholikentag will go to support programmes aimed at providing street children with a future.
An important aspect of the event will be ecumenism, following the example of an ecumenical “Kirchentag ” held in Berlin last year, 2003. Among the special guests speakers Cardinal Walter Kasper President of the Pontifical Council for the promotion of unity among Christians, formerly Bishop of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, who will speak on June 18 on “Theological foundations of Ecumenism of Life”. (MS) (Agenzia Fides, 15/6/2004 - righe 20, parole 258)
Fore more information in German see: www.katholikentag.de
