Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lisbon (Fides Service) - While engaged in intense preparations for the International Congress on New Evangelisation scheduled for November 2005 in Lisbon, the Church in Portugal is almost ready to welcome about 50,000 young adults from all over Europe for the 27th Meeting organised by the Taizé Community 28 December 2 January in Lisbon. This ecumenical event will draw Catholics, Orthodox, Reformed Churches, church movements etc who cross human and geographical borders to underline what unites people rather than what divides and to look to the future with hope rather than pessimism. The event follows previous Meetings held in Hamburg, Paris, Budapest, Barcelona and Warsaw.
Cardinal José Policarpo, Patriarch of Lisbon is a great supporter of the event and he has invited the people of Lisbon to welcome the young visitors. He wrote: “The purpose of both the International Congress on New Evangelisation and 27th Meeting of the Taizé Community is to tell people that fraternal love and dialogue born of the Gospel are not only a religious phenomenon, they are a phenomenon of civilisation”. He also wrote “the Meeting can be a sign that young adults can be bearers of hope, not fearing God, finding in faith the strength to be builders of a new world”.
The organising Committee says that 200 parishes in Lisbon and many families are preparing to offer hospitality to the young visitors. The daily programme of the meeting will include prayer, reflection and sharing with local youth; community prayers at midday and midnight at the FIL building in Lisbon’s Exhibition Park; in the afternoons Taizé Brothers will animate reflection on various issues: economy, peace, fight against poverty, solidarity, security etc. (R.Z.) (Agenzia Fides 14/12/2004, righe 26, parole 342)
