Guwahati Newsletter, Vol 22:3, September

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Guwahati Newsletter, Vol 22:3, September MISERICORDIA ET MISERA Introduction: One of the post popular jubilee years that were announced by the last several popes, the Jubilee of Mercy caught the imagination of the people. With characteristic practical suggestions and personal examples Pope Francis showed what a person can do to be more God like by being merciful in a world where people are struggling for survival. His visits to jails, hospitals, homes for the poor, refugee camps, tells individuals and nations that they should see the misery of the poor and take steps to alleviate it. He was not lacking in words in advising people and their leaders that their greed for money through trade in weapons and war mongering, indifference and narrow minded and selfish polices, they are taking the lives of millions or causing immense suffering to innocents. They will have to answer God for their behaviour. New Apostolic Letter, MISERICORDIA ET MISERA: The Jubilee Mercy came to an end with the closing of the Door of Mercy on the Feast of Christ the King. The Pope wants that the spirit of mercy should continue to permeate the Church and the world. The immense suffering of individuals and nations calls on all believers to come up with new measures of showing mercy and be like the Father who is never tired of showing mercy. To continue in the same spirit he has come out with an Apostolic Letter named MISERICORDIA ET MISERA or Mercy and Misery at the end of the Jubilee Year. The title is borrowed from the commentary of St. Augustine on Jesus meeting the woman caught in adultery (Jn 8: 1-11). The accusers of the woman were ready to stone her but Jesus intervened and said "Let him who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." Her accusers sneak away. There 'Misery meets Mercy' - the woman is left alone with Jesus, who says, 'Neither will I condemn you."This reaction of Jesus helps her to hope for a future and start a new life. Let us Celebrate Mercy: God has been merciful and in the same vein we his children need to have the trait of forgiveness. Pope suggests "None of us have the right to make forgiveness conditional." Forgiveness gives rise to joy. The Apostolic Letter calls us to celebrate mercy and to renew the force of mercy daily which the Pope calls as 'Pastoral Conversion'. We celebrate mercy in the sacraments especially the Eucharist and the Confession. Pope wants the priests to prepare carefully for the ministry of confession. It is an invitation to man to turn back to God and experience his closeness anew. So the priests need to be welcoming and fatherly helping the penitent to walk in the penitential journey. He reminds us that every sin separates us from Guwahati Newsletter Vol 22:3 Page 01 God and some sins are very serious. God limits forgiveness if one intends to commit the same sin even after confession yet he informs the priests that all of them have the power to absolve the sin of abortion if the person is truly sorry. It does not diminish the seriousness of this sin but lets them know God cares for them. Pope hopes that the sacrament of reconciliation regains its central place in Christian life. Mercy is Familial: Family is the privileged place where we have been loved and learned to love, where we have been forgiven and have learned to forgive. It is built upon the sacrament of marriage where one experiences joys and sorrows, struggles and pains but is drawn to the fullness of justice, love, and mercy by the power of the sacrament. Life in the family draws us to God with the assurance of his unending forgiveness and care. Mercy is Social: Pope reiterates in this letter his call to launch new initiatives of practising corporal works of mercy which he had been doing in the Jubilee Year. We have witnessed several new ways of showing mercy but the Pope insists that it is not enough. Our world continues to create new forms of spiritual and material poverty that assault human dignity. It demands that we banish indifference and hypocrisy and build up a new civilization of love. Pope gives the example of unemployment, poor salary, homelessness and discrimination on the basis of one's faith, race and social justice as areas that assault human dignity to which we must respond with human solidarity. The mercy we preach becomes a reality when we take the hands of our brothers and sisters who are waiting for someone to walk with them. It will transform not only their lives but also give us a new heart. Conclusion: Pope St. John Paul II called on the world to promote a 'culture of life' and now Pope Francis calls upon us to promote a 'culture of mercy' that no one looks at another with indifference or turn away from their suffering. He concludes his Apostolic Letter calling on the Church to celebrate the Thirty Third Sunday of the Year, the Sunday before the Feast of Christ the king, as the 'World Day of the poor'. Christ identified himself with the poor and will judge the world on works of mercy. He warns us that there will be no justice if we do not care for the 'Lazarus at our gate.' I wish you all a Happy New Year. May we be more merciful and just in dealing with our brothers and sisters especially those to whom we are most associated! Their joy is God's blessing for us. +John Moolachira Archbishop of Guwahati Page 2 Guwahati Newsletter Vol 22:23 Wish you a happy New Year … As we flip the calendar to a New Year, it gives us some time to reflect on what has passed and to look ahead to the opportunities to come. The New Year with all that it has in store for us, I believe, will open before us newer opportunities. The momentous decisions we have taken at the close of last year have set us on a new direction. Certainly, the learning we had from the experiences of the past enable us to widen our horizon. As the New Year offers a fresh start, it is up to us to decide and choose the direction we want our life to go on in life. Setting motivational goals are important in life. They don't have to be enormous; know what's achievable for us and strive to reach those marks. Let's remember that just because we're not able to reach our goals as fast as we'd like, or we have some setbacks along the way, doesn't mean that they're unattainable. Let's keep plugging along to be the best we can be! Great things seldom happen. They're the product of resolution, strategy and hard work. There's a truth to that. If resolution and relentless efforts blend well with perseverance, success is the sure result. It isn't often just big universal events that define a year, but personal things. 2017 might be the year we begin seriously to live our life or deciding to do things differently. These are life's milestones and they take us to the new heights. The call of Pope Francis to be "merciful like the Father", took the world by storm. Although the year of mercy has ended in November, the message of mercy carries on. If we have been living out the corporal and spiritual works of mercy in 2016, let us not give them up. And if we haven't started living, it's never too late to begin. Living mercifully in our daily lives means witnessing perpetually to the Father's love on earth. Let's strive to be witnesses of Father's love. The turning of the calendar provides for us the impetus for change. Let us then move on to the direction we have set our mind to go and achieve what we have decided to. Happy New Year ! Fr. Jobins Vengathadathil MSFS Guwahati Newsletter Vol 22:3 Page 3 FAITHFUL IN THOUSANDS TAKE PART IN ANNUAL EUCHARISTIC PROCESSION T h e A n n u a l E u c h a r i s t i c Procession of the Archdiocese of Guwahati was held on Sunday 20 November 2016 through the three kilometres or so route along the National Highway where Catholic faithful in thousands from far and near took part chanting prayers and singing hymns as they venerated the Holy Eucharist taken out in portable altar. The faithful who took part in the procession came from the 44 parishes of the Archdiocese of Guwahati. The day started with the solemn Eucharistic celebration presided over by His Grace Most Rev. John Moolachira and several priests from the Archdiocese concelebrated with him. In his homily, the Archbishop said that the Eucharistic procession gives us an opportunity to proclaim our faith and love the Eucharist which is the body and blood of Jesus Christ. He also reminded the faithful to live their faith through exemplary lives and to say no to all that prevent them from living the Christian faith and teaching to its fullness. The history of the Eucharistic procession in the Catholic Church traces its origin to the 13 century when, in 1264, Pope Urban IV, made a feast for the universal Church. Church sources say, this desire was present right from the beginning. But in the year 1200, in Canterbury, England, the Christian community spontaneously came into the streets and walked in an orderly procession, offering prayers and chanting religious hymns.
Recommended publications
  • Catholic Church & Resources
    Aug. 7-8, 2021 / Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time CAAVT HEO LMI C AC HRU RICAH 5068 Annunciation Circle, Ste. 101, Ave Maria, FL 34142 | 239.261.5555 | [email protected] | M-F 9am-5pm Weekly Reflection Our Priests Fr. David Vidal, Ph.D. Pastor [email protected] Fr. John Andem, S.Th.D. Parochial Vicar [email protected] Fr. Piotr Paciorek, Ph.D. Parochial Vicar [email protected] Our Deacons Jeffrey Ball Deacon [email protected] Gary Ingold Deacon [email protected] In his Apostolic Letter, “At the Beginning of the John Jarvis Deacon New Millennium” (Novo Millennio Ineunte, [email protected] 2000), St. John Paull II presents the road map Tom Kinnick Deacon of our journey towards Heaven. He tells us that [email protected] “We shall not be saved by a formula but by a Our Parish Staff Person, and his assurance: ‘I am with you Martha Baca always, until the end of the age!’ (Mt 28:20).” Data Entry Clerk [email protected] Becky Hampton Dir. of Religious Ed St. John Paul II makes another important [email protected] observation: “Conscious of the Risen Lord's Craig Kadlec Business Manager presence among us, we ask ourselves today [email protected] the same question put to Peter in Jerusalem Dcn. Tom Kinnick Dir. of Youth Ministry immediately after his Pentecost speech: ‘What [email protected] must we do?’” (Acts 2:37). Marian Mandy Dir. of Music [email protected] Jesus offers us salvation. Now, what must we Stephanie Pointz Secretary do? We must believe in Christ, of course, but at [email protected] the same time, our belief must be James Stephens Facilities Manager accompanied by works of faith.
    [Show full text]
  • Stateside Pilgrimage Leaders Guide
    WORLD YOUTH DAY USA STATESIDE TM PILGRIMAGE Leaders Guide in preparation for World Youth Day 2019 World Youth Day USA Stateside Pilgrimage Leaders Guide Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth United States Conference of Catholic Bishops 1 World Youth Day USA – Stateside Pilgrimage Leaders Guide Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction to the Guide 4 The Stateside and Digital Pilgrims 6 Encounter, Accompany, Send: The Role of the World Youth Day Pilgrimage Leader 14 Hosting a Stateside World Youth Day Pilgrimage: Process and Sample Formats 23 • Stateside Model #1 (Evening Program) 39 • Stateside Model #2 (Afternoon & Evening Program) 40 • Stateside Model #3 (Morning to Evening Program) 42 • Stateside Model #4 (Two Day Overnight Program) 44 • Stateside Model #5 (Two Day Overnight Program) 46 • Stateside Model #6 (Evening Program: USA National Pilgrim Gathering) 47 • Stateside Model #7 (Evening Program) 48 • Stateside Model #8 (Interactive Pilgrim Communications) 49 • Stateside Model #9 (Local Pilgrimage Journey) 50 • Stateside Model #10 (Local Mission Work) 51 World Youth Day Follow-Up: Connecting Stateside and International Pilgrims 52 • Vocational Discernment Gathering for World Youth Day Pilgrims 61 2 World Youth Day USA Stateside Pilgrimage Leaders Guide The World Youth Day USA Stateside Pilgrimage Leaders Guide was developed as a resource and approved by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, OFM Cap., Chairman of the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). It was authorized for publication by the undersigned. Msgr. J. Brian Bransfield General Secretary, USCCB Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C.
    [Show full text]
  • An Introduction to Our Marian Mission “Schoenstatt” an Introduction Into Our Marian Mission
    “SCHOENSTATT” AN INTRODUCTION TO OUR MARIAN MISSION “SCHOENSTATT” AN INTRODUCTION INTO OUR MARIAN MISSION 2 Written by members of the Course “Anima Sion”: Chukwuma Peter E Egbo Newman I Emenike Benignus C Ibe Reginald U Okereke Kingsley K Ozioko Charles N. Edited with an introduction by Ozioko Charles N, under the direction of Father Johnson Nellissery. October 23rd 2004. 3 DEDICATED TO MARY Mother of God Mother Thrice Admirable Queen and Victress of Schoenstatt AND Peter Ejiofor Chukwuma The First Nigerian to Be Ordained Deacon In The Community of the Secular Institute of Schoenstatt Fathers 4 TABLE OF CONTENT Introduction Chapter One FATHER JOSEPH KENTENICH AND SCHOENSTATT - Fr Joseph Kentenich: A Short Biography - His Consecration - What is Schoenstatt? - Schoenstatt: A Beautiful Place - A Movement of Renewal - A Unique Spirituality in the Church Chapter Two WHO IS MARY? - Mary in the Scriptures - Mary in the Church - Mary according to Father Joseph Kentenich Chapter Three MARY IN SCHOENSTATT - The Experience of Lourdes - The Experience of Fatima - The Experience of Schoenstatt 5 - The Schoenstatt Shrine - The Daughter Shrine - The Covenant of Love - Why with Mary? The Trinitarian Dimension - Mary Our Educator - Contributions to the Capital of Grace - The Pilgrim MTA Chapter Four THE MISSION OF MARY IN OUR TIME - The Signs of Our Time - Mary and the Family Life - The Home Shrine - Mary is the answer - Mary’s Faith – a leap into the dark - Everyday Sanctity - The Practical Faith in Divine Providence: A Responsible and active Faith Appendix ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE MOVEMENT - The Pilgrim Movement - The Apostolic Movement - The Apostolic Union - The Institutes - The Structure in Tabular Form 6 Introduction The mere mention of the name Blessed Virgin Mary elicits different reactions among many people.
    [Show full text]
  • Annualreport13.Pdf
    Annual Report 2013 enter Contents Who we are 3 Message from the Caritas Internationalis leadership 4 Emergency responders 5 Voice for change 7 Pope Francis 9 Strengthening Caritas 11 Caritas in the Church and the World 13 Finances 15 Food reaches survivors after a huge storm hits the Philippines. ryan Worms/Caritas Front Cover: Caritas in the Middle east helped Syrians fleeing war. Sam tarling/Caritas 2 Caritas internationalis annual report 2013 PreviouS Page next Page ‘one Million Stars’ events took place across europe. Caritas germany Who we are Pope Francis said, “Caritas is the caress of the to disasters, promote human development Working together and in partnership with the Caritas Internationalis has its General Church to its people, the caress of the and advocate on the causes of poverty and people we serve are key to Caritas organisations. Secretariat in the Vatican and delegations at Mother Church to her children, her conflict. Inspired by the Gospel and Catholic teaching, the United Nations in Geneva and New York. tenderness and closeness.” Through its over 160 national member Caritas Internationalis strives to promote peace The confederation is made up of seven organisations worldwide, Caritas between peoples, sustainable development, the regions in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America Caritas is the service of the Catholic Church to Internationalis dedicates itself to lifting people right to food, safe migration, decent work and and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North improve the lives of poor people. The Church out of poverty, regardless of their religion or good health, especially for people living with Africa, North America and Oceania.
    [Show full text]
  • Annualreport11.Pdf
    Caritas Internationalis Annual Report 2011 Caritas Internationalis is a global confederation of 164 Catholic organisations under the umbrella of the Holy See, which responds to humanitarian disasters, promotes integral human development and lobbies on the causes of poverty and violence. Inspired by Christian faith and gospel values, Caritas works in most of the world’s countries with the poor and oppressed, vulnerable and excluded, regardless of race or religion. It promotes just and fraternal societies where the dignity of every human being is enhanced. Depending on the size of the Catholic community and the will of their bishops’ conference, Caritas national members range from small entities to some of the world’s largest social, humanitarian and development organisations. Combined, they have over a million staff and volunteers. Caritas Internationalis has a General Secretariat in Rome, which coordinates the confederation’s response to major humanitarian emergencies, supports members and advocates on their behalf for a better world, based on justice, compassion and fraternity. Caritas Internationalis also has delegations in New York and Geneva representing the confederation at the United Nations. The Caritas delegations work with other international institutions and nongovernmental organisations and in close association with the Permanent Missions of the Holy See. Caritas Internationalis is made up of seven regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa, North America and Oceania. 2 Caritas Internationalis Annual Report 2011 Contents 4 One Human Family, Zero Poverty By Cardinal Óscar Rodríguez Maradiaga, President 5 Introduction By Michel Roy, Secretary General 6 60th anniversary and the General Assembly: Caritas looking back, moving forward 10 Emergencies: Compassion in action 18 Advocacy: A voice for change 24 Building the confederation 26 Summary of Emergency Appeals 2011 30 Financial information Front Cover: Caritas supports a water project in this Kenyan South Sudan becomes village after a independent.
    [Show full text]
  • America's Church
    Inside Twenty Something Slowing down and saying thank you, Criterion page 12. Serving the Church in Central and Southern Indiana Since 1960 CriterionOnline.com November 13, 2009 Vol. L, No. 7 75¢ Cardinal praises vote for health America’s care reform with CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec federal ban on church abortion funding ‘Nation’s parish’ WASHINGTON (CNS)—Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago, president of the celebrates 50 years U.S. bishops’ conference, praised as place of prayer the House of Representatives for approving a reform and pilgrimage bill that provides WASHINGTON (CNS)—The Basilica of the National “adequate and Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington—the affordable health care largest Catholic church in North America and one of the to all” and “voting 10 largest churches in the world—is a familiar place to overwhelmingly” for a U.S. Catholics who regard the immense structure as prohibition on using their own. federal money to pay The basilica, which marks the 50th anniversary of its Cardinal Francis E. George for most abortions. dedication on Nov. 20, is not a parish or a cathedral. An amendment to Instead, it was designated by the U.S. bishops as a national ban abortion funding sponsored by Rep. Bart place of prayer and pilgrimage, something the basilica’s Stupak, D-Mich., and other House members 1 million annual visitors know well. passed 240-194, and led to passage of the The book America’s Church, published by Our Sunday Affordable Health Care for America Act in a Visitor in 2000, describes the basilica as having “no parish 220-215 vote.
    [Show full text]
  • Climate Action Call
    Scientists say that we face a climate emergency. We need decisive action in the next 10 years to put us on a transformative pathway in line with the targets of the Paris Agreement, including efforts to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C. We must act immediately to get on track for a healthy, fair and liveable future. This will not only reduce devastating impacts of climate change but also bring major economic and social benefits, attract new investments, create new quality jobs and limit health damages. The European Parliament elections and subsequent changes in the leadership of the European Commission will shape the politics of the European Union for the next five years, a crucial period for climate action where emissions need to decline fast, targets need to be strengthened and ambitious action needs to be implemented. The new Parliament and the new Commission must address growing concerns about climate change and make climate action a top priority for Europe. Therefore, we call upon the new European Parliament, the new European Commission and all EU Member State governments to: 1. Commit to accelerate actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and reach net zero emissions as soon as possible. The world is not on track to keep temperature rise to 1.5°C. We support the call from United Nations Secretary General ​António Guterres​, upon all leaders to come to his special UN Climate Summit in September with additional commitments that will lead to halving global emissions by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2050. By the Summit, EU leaders ​should agree ​to reach climate neutrality in line with the EU’s fair share of the effort to achieve net zero global emissions by 2050.
    [Show full text]
  • Pilgrimage, Spatial Interaction, and Memory at Three Marian Sites
    University of Denver Digital Commons @ DU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 1-1-2016 Pilgrimage, Spatial Interaction, and Memory at Three Marian Sites Katherine Rousseau University of Denver Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd Part of the History of Art, Architecture, and Archaeology Commons, and the Religion Commons Recommended Citation Rousseau, Katherine, "Pilgrimage, Spatial Interaction, and Memory at Three Marian Sites" (2016). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1129. https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/1129 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at Digital Commons @ DU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ DU. For more information, please contact [email protected],[email protected]. Pilgrimage, Spatial Interaction, and Memory at Three Marian Sites __________ A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the University of Denver and the Iliff School of Theology Joint PhD Program University of Denver __________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy __________ by T.K. Rousseau June 2016 Advisor: Scott Montgomery ©Copyright by T.K. Rousseau 2016 All Rights Reserved Author: T.K. Rousseau Title: Pilgrimage, Spatial Interaction, and Memory at Three Marian Sites Advisor: Scott Montgomery Degree Date: June 2016 Abstract Global mediation, communication, and technology facilitate pilgrimage places with porous boundaries, and the dynamics of porousness are complex and varied. Three Marian, Catholic pilgrimage places demonstrate the potential for variation in porous boundaries: Chartres cathedral; the Marian apparition location of Medjugorje; and the House of the Virgin Mary near Ephesus.
    [Show full text]
  • Schoenstatt News July 2020
    Schoenstatt JULYNews 2020 Churches That International Coronation Liturgy Meet In Schoenstatt Family in Chile Homes Concert 20 Overview 4 Editorial: Let’s Make The Best Of It 5 Rome: Being Reborn In A Storm 6 Quarantine: Windows to Heaven Opened For Us 7 Pentacost Congress: Schoenstatt On The Move 8 Domestic Church: Churches That Meet In Homes 12 The Philippines: Going-Out Bans And Severe Restrictions 15 Online: International Schoenstatt Family Concert 17 European Forum - United Europe Online 19 Australia: A new Youtube-Channel and a weekly Newsletter 20 Brazil faces the Pandemie as a family and with safety 23 Chile: Coronation Liturgy 25 Norbert Martin - A Whole Life for Schoenstatt 15 27 Volontary Work: Hemma Strutz Schoenstatt News July 2020 Editors Sr. M. Cacilda Becker Pater Heinrich Walter Miguel Ramos Editorial office Carolin Strohbehn Schoenstatt International Communication Haus Regina unten Höhrer Str. 103 56179 Vallendar Germany [email protected] 27 www.schoenstatt.com 2 SCHOENSTATT NEWS Pentacost Congress: Schoenstatt on the move 20 3 SCHOENSTATT NEWS EDITORIAL Let’s Make The Best Of It ear Schoenstatt The virus still seems unpredictable. Family, Despite all this negative news, which had a significant impact on When I started our everyday life, there was also nice working here in news in the mailbox: namely that Vallendar less than people around the world are making Da year ago, we never thought that the best of the situation. Loneliness a pandemic would slow down the at home was overcome by social me- whole world like this. The economy, dia, people networked and helped travel and even private life were each other.
    [Show full text]
  • Marian Calendar December 1
    Marian Calendar December 1 - Our Lady of Ratisbon, Bavaria (1842) One of the most famous examples of Our Lady’s bounty in granting favors to the wearers of the Miraculous Medal occurred less than ten years after the medal had been struck. Alphonse Rathisbonne was a French Jew who had no religion. When his brother Theodore became a Catholic and then a priest, Alphonse was filled with aversion. He was a typical intellectual of the nineteenth century, a worshipper of humanity, who sneered at anything spiritual in his pride and ignorance. In November 1841, Alphonse found himself in Rome, although his itinerary had not called for a stop in the Eternal City. There he met Baron de Bussiere. The Baron urgently requested him to wear the Miraculous Medal and to recite daily the prayer of Saint Bernard, “The Memorare.” Alphonse did so in the spirit of acceptance and of dare but without the slightest bit of faith. On January 20, 1842, Monsieur de Bussiere saw Alphonse walking along the street and invited him into his carriage. They stopped at Saint Andrea delle Fratee because the Baron wished to see a priest there. In order to kill time, Rathisbonne entered the church. He was not very much impressed and was walking around rather listlessly. Suddenly the church seemed to be plunged into darkness and all the light concentrated on one chapel. Very much startled he saw there our Blessed Mother bathed in glorious light, her face radiant. He went toward her. She motioned with her right hand for him to kneel.
    [Show full text]
  • European Youth Foundation
    EUROPEAN YOUTH FOUNDATION 2017 Annual report EUROPEAN YOUTH FOUNDATION 2017 Annual report Prepared by the secretariat of the European Youth Foundation, Youth Department Directorate of Democratic Citizenship and Participation DG Democracy Council of Europe French edition: Le Fonds Européen pour la Jeunesse Rapport annuel 2017 All requests concerning the reproduction or translation of all or part of the document should be addressed to the Directorate of Communication (F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex or [email protected]). Cover and layout: All other correspondence concerning this Documents and publications document should be addressed to: production Department (SPDP), Council of Europe European Youth Foundation 30, rue Pierre de Coubertin Photos: Council of Europe, ©shutterstock F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex France © Council of Europe, February 2018 E-mail: [email protected] Printed at the Council of Europe CONTENTS THE EUROPEAN YOUTH FOUNDATION 5 Key figures 5 INTRODUCTION 7 PARTNER NGOs 9 EYF SUPPORT 10 1. Annual work plans 11 2. International activities 11 3. Pilot activities 11 4. Structural grants 12 5. Integrated grant 12 EYF PRIORITIES 13 1. Young people and decision-making 13 2. Young people’s access to rights 15 3. Intercultural dialogue and peacebuilding 16 4. Priorities for pilot activities 17 FLAGSHIP ACTIVITIES OF THE EYF 19 1. Visits to EYF-supported projects 19 2. EYF seminars 19 3. EYF information sessions 20 4. Other EYF presentations 20 SPECIFICITY OF THE EYF 21 1. Volunteer Time Recognition 21 2. Gender perspectives 21 3. Non-formal education
    [Show full text]
  • XXVI General Assembly FIMCAP Westmalle, Belgium, August 2019
    XXVI General Assembly FIMCAP Westmalle, Belgium, August 2019 The value of play MISSION STATEMENT Introduction FIMCAP, a Catholic, intercontinental, umbrella youth organisation, acknowledges that play is essential in the lives of children, youngsters and adults. It is important for children, youngsters and adults to play. This is supported by article 31 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)1. The CRC even goes further, saying that playing is a basic right for all children. 1. States Parties recognize the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts. 2. States Parties shall respect and promote the right of the child to participate fully in cultural and artistic life and shall encourage the provision of appropriate and equal opportunities for cultural, artistic, recreational and leisure activity. But we need to remember that the right to play is not the only children´s right that needs to be met. Children also have the right to be loved and cared for, to be healthy and fulfilled. They have the right to education, food, shelter and safety. If these fundamental needs are met, children can play. The XXVI General Assembly discussed the value of play, and the expertise of youth movements from around the world put us in the unique position to make sure that the right to play is implemented. What is play? When we talk about games, we mean an activity that follows set rules and might have a clear leader.
    [Show full text]