Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vallendar (Agenzia Fides) – From March 15 to 18, the headquarters of the Academy of Philosophy and Theology (Philsophisch Theologische Hochschule, PTH) in Vallendar (Germany) will host a symposium entitled "The Gospel of Jesus Christ – Inspiration for the New Evangelization in German-Speaking Contexts," organized by the Cardinal Kasper Institute of the PHT, in collaboration with the Pontifical Mission Societies - “Missio-Germany.” The aim of the study days is to find new ways and approaches to the urgent effort to renew faith and evangelization.
"The Churches in Europe, and especially in the German-speaking areas, are facing enormous challenges: the number of believers is declining, fewer and fewer believers regularly attend Sunday Mass, and also with regard to volunteering in parishes figures are declining" say organizers of the symposium, which will therefore pose the following questions: "How can you awaken the people's enthusiasm for the faith? What kind of witness is able to transmit the faith and strengthen the Christian communities? How can the New Evangelization and the Christian mission succeed?"
The answers to these questions, in their theological and pastoral aspects, will be addressed by several speakers, including the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Cardinal Ivan Dias, who will present the theme "Evangelization in the Context of Universal Church.” Also, the President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Cardinal Walter Kasper, will talk about the "New Evangelization as a Theological, Pastoral, and Spiritual Task." The list of speakers also includes the President of the Commission for Missionary Pastoral Ministry for the German Bishops, a Commission that was founded earlier this year (see the Fides 14/01/2010), Bishop Joachim Wanke of Erfurt, who will speak on "Being Missionaries in a Liberal Society." (MS) (Agenzia Fides 26/02/2010)
