The Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelisation is planning a “Metropolis Mission” in the major cities in Europe.
“This is an initial response to the request made by the Pope during our first plenary meeting, to overcome division and to show signs of unity,” Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella told Vatican Radio.
Archbishop Fisichella chaired the summit of bishops from a range of European cities who discussed the proposed project.
“At the moment, the initiative is limited to some of the larger European dioceses in order to more concretely test its effectiveness,” said Archbishop Fisichella, suggesting that it could be rolled out in other cities around the globe if it is found to be successful.
Events planned thus far are:
- a continual reading of the Gospel,
- the local bishop teaching young people, families and those converting to Catholicism,
- the promotion of confession, and
- a charitable initiative of some form.
Archbishop Fisichella also mentioned an event that will be both spiritual and cultural in character, such as reading from the Confessions of St. Augustine.
“These initiatives will begin in the cathedral because of its important symbolic significance, but the intention is to extend them to the parishes of the dioceses for a more direct impact in the territory,” he said.
According to Archbishop Fisichella, the metropolitan missions will be aimed at those who live the faith but often do so in a way that “lacks an awareness of how this can infuse their lifestyle.” The missions also hope to engage those who are far from the faith, but are “nonetheless attracted by the person of Jesus Christ.”
The mission will take place simultaneously in Barcelona, Budapest, Brussels, Dublin, Cologne, Lisborn, Liverpool, Paris, Turin, Vienna and Warsaw. It is the first major outreach of the newly formed council and will begin in Lent 2012.
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