Preparing Evangelization Synod: Council Stresses Family's Role

The 12th Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops held its seventh meeting, highlighting the important role of the family in evangelization.

Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, secretary general of the Synod, led the preparatory meeting for the Oct. 7-28 synod, that will consider evangelization and the transmission of the faith.

The council worked on a draft of the "Instrumentum laboris" or working document of the forthcoming Synod, pausing to examine the issue of "the recipients of the new evangelization and the identity of Christians in their relationship with Christ."

The debate was particularly intense concerning the primacy of the faith at this time in history, characterized as it is by a crisis in faith which is also a crisis in the transmission of faith. Mention was made of the 'fruitlessness of current evangelization,' also due to the influence of modern culture which makes the transmission of the faith particularly difficult.

"The primary place for the transmission of faith was identified as the family," the communiqué added. "There the faith is communicated to young people who, in the family, learn both the contents and practice of Christian faith.“

Even the Pope is on Twitter

The Pope will soon have his own Twitter account to use for his Sunday Angelus and the more important discourses, according to Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. An initial trial is already underway beginning with Lent.

Through the account @pope2you, which was created to help young people get to know the Pope, a "tweet" will be sent each day through Easter with a short message from Pope Benedict XVI. Through this new form of presence in the world of communications, the Pope again proves his awareness of the opportunities the new technologies offer for communication.
Through Twitter his words can touch the hearts of many people who are distant and who would probably never read the text of a Papal speech.

Dublin Eucharistic Congress Sets High Goals for Youth

This summer's international Eucharistic Congress in Dublin is aiming to attract youth with a program being described as "one of the most ambitious youth ministry programs ever presented in this country."

Young people from across Ireland are being invited to celebrate their faith at the June International Eucharistic Congress 2012.

The program called "Go! Be Church!" will happen in an area known as the Chiara Luce Youth Space at IEC2012, and is aimed for youth from age 17 to 25.

Around 2,500 young people are expected to participate in "Go! Be Church!" this summer and, in preparation for the upcoming Congress, more than 350 young people from across the Dioceses of Ulster gathered in Tyrone last Sunday to celebrate faith through music, workshops and prayer at an event called Crossroads 2012.

"The 50th International Eucharistic Congress 2012 provides a once-in-a lifetime opportunity for the people of this island to pause and reflect on the deep human hunger; for meaning, love, God, healing and communion. Adults may well need to see, hear and listen to young people much more than the youth need the adults!"