Dňa 20. septembra 2008 usporiada Výbor katolíckych biskupských konferencií Európy (COMECE) deň modlitieb a úvah na tému zmierenia v meste Kranenburg na nemecko-holandských hraniciach. Pozvánka je určená pre zamestnancov inštitúcií EÚ, ako aj všetkým, ktorým záleží na budúcnosti Európy.
A day of prayer and reflection
on 20 September 2008 in Kranenburg
Looking beyond
What it is about:
You work for or with the European institutions? European Business or Politics are on your work agenda? Yet in your daily life you hardly find the time to think about the other dimensions of Europe? Whatever your belief or traditions, Kranenburg is the very place to fill this gap.
Therefore we should like to invite you to a day of reflection and prayer on the theme of reconciliation on Saturday, 20 September. Following on the Taizé day with Brother Alois in January 2007, we wish to offer another occasion to live and share the spiritual dimension of our European engagement.
Starting with morning prayer at 8.15am in the Chapel of Resurrection, Rue van Maerlant (for those who wish), we shall go by bus at 9.00am from there to Kranenburg, a German sanctuary at the Dutch-German border. We will return to Brussels at 10.30 pm. This year, the pilgrimage to the Cross in Kranenburg is seven hundred years old. Kranenburg is close to the ‘Reichswald’, an important battle field during the final days of the Second World War (www.wallfahrt-kranenburg.de).
The Kranenburg sanctuary is a place to remember Europe’s often conflict-ridden and murderous past. It invites us to acknowledge the reality of the Cross in our own life as well as in Europe’s past and present. It stresses the importance of being attentive to all threats to human dignity. In the light of Christian hope Kranenburg is an invitation to look beyond the Cross and to experience love and reconciliation as the ultimate truth. For these reasons we decided to go to Kranenburg and to invite you to join us.
The day’s programme
8.15 Opening - Morning Prayer at the Chapel of Resurrection (voluntary)
9.00 Departure from Brussels
11.30 Arrival at Kranenburg
12.00 Witnessing cross and reconciliation in Europe
Dr. Piotr Cywinski, the director of the Auschwitz museum, will speak to us about the singular datum of the Shoah in European history and witness about his hopes for Europe.
Mrs Desney Cromie from Belfast will give us a report on her personal efforts to come to terms with the Northern Irish troubles and to concretely work for reconciliation.
13.00 Pique-nique
14.00 A Brother of Taizé will be with us. He will speak about Taizé, this unique place of reconciliation in Europe in Burgundy/France and invite us to a time of personal reflection and a moment of silence.
15.30 Exchange in small groups
17.00 Coffee break
18.00 Vespers
19.00 Free time with the possibility to continue prayers
19.30 Departure for Brussels
Practical information
Please bring a lunch with you. We will ask for a participation of 15, - Euros for the bus transfer. A booklet with hymns and texts will be provided. Come with your musical instruments. English will be our common language for the day.
Please send your inscription by 15.09.2008 via mail to kranenburg@comece.org
In the name of the organising team:
Stefan Lunte
COMECE
