EUROPE/GREECE - Appreciation of Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew for the Holy Childhood Meeting for Countries of the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe held for the first time in Greece: “May your work bear fruit for the good of little ones and the glory of the Most Holy Trinity”

Monday, 5 December 2005

Corfu (Fides Service) - The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I sent a brief message of appreciation and congratulations to participants at the 5th Holy Childhood Meeting for Countries of the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe, held 13-17 November in Corfu, Greece, on the theme “Missionary animation in our countries: Contents, methods and tools”. The Patriarch said he was overjoyed to the hear that for the first time the Meeting of the Pontifical Holy Childhood Society was being held in Greece: “From early times the Great Holy Mother Church of Christ has always shown profound pastoral interest for children and prayed for them in her Divine Liturgies. All Christians know that many holy child martyrs admirably shed their blood for their faith in Christ”.
The message continues: “The Church has always given special attention to pastoral care for children with catechesis and spiritual and human education”. Bartholomew I expressed congratulations for this initiative organised by the Holy Childhood Society and said he hoped the work of the participants and the animators would bear much fruit for the good of children and the glory of the Most Holy Trinity.
The work of the Meeting was co-ordinated by the General secretariat of the Pontifical Holy Childhood Society and local organisation was directed by the National Office of the PMS in Greece. The 40 representatives of the countries taking part Greece, Malta, Spain, Egypt, Syria, Holy Land, Bosnia, Croatia, Poland, Czech Republic Slovakia, Slovenia, Germany presented their activity of missionary animation among children in the respective countries.
A note of particular significance was the involvement of civil and religious authorities of the Greek nation. In fact at the opening Mass participants included Catholic Archbishop Ioannis Spiteris of Corfu, Zante and Cefalonia; the representative of the Orthodox Church and the governor of Corfu greeted the participants. Nectarios Metropolitan of Corfu, Pacsi and Diapontie islands said: “Your invitation to my person, an invitation addressed also to our particular Church gives us great honour and joy and at the same time an occasion of communion. We are certain that missionary work will be an excellent way of promoting reciprocal closeness and knowledge through fruitful cooperation”. (RZ) (Agenzia Fides 5/12/2005, righe 30, parole 406)


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