July
19th, 2004
From the Congregation
Province
BC
The Extraordinary Provincial Chapter
The two new Brazilian Provinces (BC and BM), issued from the former
sole BM Province, have to elaborate each their own Provincial
Directory, Apostolic Project and Ratio Formationis. For this purpose an
Extraordinary Provincial Chapter is to be held in both new Provinces.
The first Province to do so will be the Central Brazil Province as it
starts just today the first session of its Extraordinary
Provincial Chapter which is to be concluded next July 24th.
Province CH
The 60 Years of Priesthood of
Fr. Teodoro
Last 29th June Fr. Teodoro van Grieken celebrated his 60 years as a
priest. The preceding Sunday 27th June, in a church jammed with people,
including the local authorities and friends of Curicó, the
Eucharist was celebrated with the Bishop of Talca as prime celebrant
and with the sermon pronounced by the celebrant of the jubilee himself.
For 20 minutes Fr. Teodoro commemorated the days of his ordination,
during World War II. Little before the allied forces had disembarked on
the Normandy coast. On their journey by train from The Hague to
Nijmegen his parents had to step out of the train twice because of
American airborne attacks. After this, his dream to leave as a
missionary for Latin America could not be realized for inconveniences
as aftermath of the war. Finally, but not earlier than in 1946, it was
possible to set out for Argentina. Later on he went to Chile.
After the Holy Mass all the present were invited to share in a festive
gathering in the Community house. Festive treat and festive mood,
official speeches, gifts and a huge tart were the ingedients that
enlivened the event.
The subsequent Monday 28 June his fellow SCJ came from the
Santiago Community to join in the celebration of this jubilee of
the eldest member of the CH-Province: 88 years old and 60 years as a
priest!
From
the Church and from the World
The
Philippines
A settlement in search for a road
leading to peace
It seems that a settlement between the Philippines' security forces and
the separatist rebels of the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) has
been arranged in order to restrain the militiamen of the "Jemaah
Islamiah", an organization connected with the terrorist network "Al
Qaeda" and with other illegal groupings in the southern part of this
asian archipelago.
The vice-head of the Philippine general staff affirmed the importance
of this settlement for the prosecution of the processus of peace-making.
According to the Defence Secretary in Manila, some 40 militiamen of the
"Jemaah Islamiah" - who propose the constitution of an Islamic State
composed of various asian nations - , are assembling secretly on the
island of Mindanao.
The rebels of the MILF constitute an army of 12,000 unities, who have
been fighting for already 30 years for the constitution of an
independent Islamic State on Mindanao.
One doesn't know if this notice is worth the while: it looks like a
pact with the enemy to fight together against another common enemy.
Uganda
Take just one banana daily...!
You're kidding. Not at all! The banana seems to be the best cure
for those who want to refrain from smoking or at the least reduce the
nocive effects smoke can provoke in the organisms of the smokers and of
those who are unwillingly exposed to smoke. Such is the finding an
Ugandese research team of the Makerere University in Kampala has come
at. The banana contains the vitamins C, A1, B6, B2, potassium and
magnesium, which can be helpful for keeping under control the want of
lighting a cigarette.
A regular, even daily consumption of bananas is advisable to all
those who want to refrain from smoking. Take just one banana daily!
Moreover it's an easy means to support the development of the
market of primary products in countries of the Third World.
Ecuador
Social Forum of the Americas
The Agency MISNA informs of the "First Social Forum of the Americas".
The economic order in the world; the violent looks of
neoliberalism; power, democracy and State; civilization and
communication; native and afro-american populations; these are the
issues the Forum which is to be held in Quito, Ecuador, from July 24th
to 30th, will bear upon. It wishes to lay out a democratic and
multiform space accessible for all those who are engaged in the
construction of a possibly different world.
It will afford an opportunity to discuss new strategies and
alternatives in front of neoliberal globalization and militarization of
the continent, to reinforce the action of the social movements and to
make
the cultural wealth and diversity of the populations of native or
african descent show to full advantage.
Who likes to know more in detail might visit the website of the Forum:
www.forosocialamericas.org.