Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Baške Uštarije (Agenzia Fides) - The European Vocations Service EVS held its annual conference at Baške Uštarije in Croatia from 28 June to 1 July. The dioceses of Zadar and Gospić welcomed some 50 directors of vocations pastoral and national delegations from 17 different countries. The Holy See was represented by Fr Frans Bonnici of the Congregation for Catholic Education and Fr Eusebio Hernandez of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life. The theme of the Congress - The Family, the vocational place - was set in the patrimony of the Second Vatican Council and the key document of vocations pastoral , “New Vocations for New Europe ” (Rome 1997). The family is the first soil to be cultivated a place of interior growth and sending. Despite many difficulties families are still places of hope.
The participants the situation of families varies from country to country in Europe, marked by a culture of self, consumerism and secularism. Europe is affected by widespread atheism a sort of intolerance to the truth, allergy to the faith, an at times a sort of “Christ-phobia”. In this difficult historical contexts life and vocations are still gifts of God. Parents are called to educate their children in the faith so that in full freedom as young people they may make wise and responsible decisions. The path to holiness is a fascinating programme to offer with joy to the new generation. A child must never be manipulated or a selfish projection of preconceived ideas. The child is a gift of God. The family is a small domestic church, a shrine of life, the place of fecundity and the natural seedbed of vocations.
Europe is suffering from a shortage of vocations to the priesthood and the religious life. There is no immediate solution, what is needed is long and patient maturing. Vocations pastoral calls for close collaboration among the different vocations: consecrated, priestly, lay, matrimonial and baptismal. It is an indispensable priority to unite to collaborate and discern the specificity proper to each vocation. In the great family of the Church we either grow together or we do not grow at.
The participants were introduced to the historical, cultural, social and ecclesial realities of Croatia and had to opportunity to share their experience to get to know the people involved in the field of vocations. The participants also shared Holy Mass and adoration and the ordination of three new priests in Zadar Cathedral. A local married couple with eleven children spoke about the birth of vocations in the family. Next year the EVS annual conference will take place from 3 to 6 July in Oporto in Portugal. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 3/7/2007, righe 32, parole 451)
