BRUSSELS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE NEW EVANGELISATION

The good news is that there is so much good news, reports Mary Callan from York, who attended this year's ICNE in Brussels, 29 Oct - 5 Nov:
the wisdom and wit of the cardinals and principal speakers, the buzz of mixing with catholics from so many nations, the personal witness,
and the outreach into city and parishes, high and low.

'I'm bored stiff with your Christian music,' grumbled a weary middle-aged shopper, 'the streets are full of it!' but she cheered up when we offered to help carry her shopping, and accepted a leaflet as we said farewell. Mary was part of England's CASE (Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation) delegation, and led a workshop asking: 'What are boys for?' - society's most important question today, says Mary. The CASE delegation also enjoyed Mary's 'society gossip's report from the wedding feast at Cana'.

The New Communities were everywhere, with their enthusiastic mix of laity, religious and young seminarians. England's Timothy Radcliffe OP was Tuesday's speaker, asking 'Where are our Nathaniels; and what is the guile they refuse to sign up to today?' (St John's gospel, 1,45-50). Each evening the cardinals held a round table session with different panels of experts. 'Seeing you guys, from five different countries, so friendly with each other, has made the greatest impression on me,' commented a journalist.

Conscious that in England, evangelisation cannot ignore the other churches, Mary was encouraged by a report on prayer initiatives in Hungary: by the time the Iron Curtain fell, leaders from all churches had been praying together secretly for twenty years. Recently a day of prayer in a
football stadium was attended by 60,000 Christians from all churches. Hungary is host to next year's ICNE, in Budapest, 16-22 Sept 2007.
'Let's fill a coach from Middlesbrough!' says Mary. 'At least, let's outnumber the Australians!'

Further information:

Mary's talks: www.notsodeadpoet.com

Brussels 2006 participants: www.bruxelles-toussaint2006.be

CASE website: www.caseresources.co.uk