Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bucharest (Fides Service) - In the Rumanian Transylvanian city of Sibiu, consecrated European Culture Capital 2007, the 3rd European Ecumenical Assembly EEA3 will be held from 4 to 9 September. Theses religious cultural events interwoven offer the country an opportunity to share with the rest of Europe the values cultivated in this part of the continent and to learn more about other traditions. The EEA3 is “a sort of pilgrimage of learning more about Europe’s different confessional-spiritual traditions and the Christian roots of the continent”. From the title chosen - inspired by Jn 8,12: “The light of Christ shines on everyone. Hopes for renewal and unity in Europe” -, emerges the biblical perspective of this ecumenical journey across Europe.
On the occasion of the 3rd EEA Lap held in Wittenberg (Germany) 15 to 18 February (see Fides 13/2/2007), the community of the Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate (OMI) in Rumania organised a seminar of ecumenical formation. On 17 February Fr. Gheorghe Gârbea, professor of liturgy at the Sfanta Mucenita Filoteia Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Piteşti spoke on the theme ”Unity”, the first of nine themes to be treated at the EEA3. The seminar was an opportunity for Roman Catholics, Greek Catholics and Orthodox Christians to meet and share their faith experiences. In the afternoon of the same day Fr. Giovanni Bini, OMI, traced the development of the ecumenical movement in Europe before and after the Ecumenical Assemblies. The participants discussed and proposed initiatives to create awareness and involve more Christians in the ecumenical pilgrimage.
Some 2,500 delegates from all over Europe are expected to gather for the EEA3 in Sibiu, to reflect on: unity, spirituality, witness, Europe, religions, migration, creation, justice, peace. The OMI community will continue this pilgrimage with initiatives of awareness building and formation. There will be other meetings from May 18 to 20 and an ecumenical session in harmony with the EEA3 in Sibiu 4 to 9 September.
The Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate arrived in Romania in 1998. They also have communities in Maracineni and Roman. In the diocese of Bucharest OMI missionaries help with youth pastoral, parish missions and ongoing formation for consecrated persons and families. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 19/2/2007; righe 31; parole 419)
