Poland

The European sub committee of ICCRS usually holds a gathering of representatives of NSC's, throughout Europe every couple of years. For those countries where Renewal is not yet developed enough to have an established NSC, there is a network of head contacts that are also invited. In addition, there are also some newly emerging realities that, as yet, just remain in contact with us via a correspondent. Over the last few years we have also gathered together young leaders from Europe with the intention of encouraging and building up the next generation of leaders in the Renewal.
In this anniversary year we wanted to hold a slightly bigger celebration and so we are gathering around 250-300 people together from the realities in Europe for a time of thanksgiving and celebration in Warsaw. The celebration will build on the leaders Colloquium held last June in Fiuggi. We will again be looking at the central themes of the CCR such as: the centrality of Baptism in the Spirit, growing in the Charisms, and the importance of unity, evangelisation and service.
The celebration will not only be a time of looking back and giving God thanks for all His blessings. It will also be an opportunity to look forward and seek his heart for the future.

Italia

Young People and work - IX International Youth Forum

The 9th International Youth Forum, entitled “Young People and Work”, was especially meaningful in view of the upcoming World Youth Day that will take place in Sydney in 2008.
The forum was attended by approximately 300 delegates from 80 countries around the world who were appointed either by their local Episcopal Conference or by their religious Movements. I was invited to represented ICCRS at this Forum.
The forum was organized by the Pontifical Council for the Laity (PCL). Both the President of the PCL, Archbishop Stanislaw Rylko, and the Secretary of the PCL, Bishop Josef Clemens, were present during the Forum and represented the fatherly aspect of the Church to us.
The first day was devoted to an analysis of globalization. During the discussion it was highlighted that the world is becoming smaller and smaller, and local cultures are becoming overwhelmed by a larger global culture which imposes points of reference that, from a Christian point of view, are non-values. The youth of today are also required to grow continually and to be open to a flexible working life rather than to a regular lifelong career.
On 29 March we went on an “ad limina apostolorum” pilgrimage to the graves of St. Peter and St. Paul. It was a powerful spiritual experience that really strengthened our faith and our sense of communion with the Universal Church. The experience of being at the grave of John Paul II'.
30 March was an important day, marked by the affectionate message that His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI sent to the participants of the Forum, in which he reminded us that a Christian must announce the Gospel of Work in a world that seeks to dehumanize the worker, and that Sunday rest is essential to the spiritual dimension of man and helps him to give real meaning to his work.
Professor Naughton reminded us that working is a vo-cation, a call to cooperate with God in order to create a world in which the Kingdom of Heaven can be realised
Finally, Cardinal Renato Martino (President of the Pontifical Council for Peace and Justice) indicated the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church as a compass that we can use in building a working environment where the worker is not humiliated, but appreciated for the talents that God has given him.
On March 31st, while speaking about St. Benedict's Rule, Mons. Gregor Maria Hanke (Osb. Bp. of Eichstatt, Germany) has shown us that the main goal of a Christian should be to build a world according to God's projects and not only to gain profits.
In his closing address, Archsbishop Rylko exhorted the delegates to interiorize the Gospel and the social teaching of the Church in order to face the anti-human and anti-Christian challenges of globalization, and to strive to plant seeds of rebirth in their working environments.
The Forum finished on Palm Sunday with all the participants attending Mass in St. Peter's Square. In his homily, Pope Benedict XVI reminded us that meeting the risen Christ is a source of real and full life, and that only simple hearts can recognize and welcome Him. Thanks be to the Lord and to His Church for recognising young people as an essential resource for the future of mankind.
I was greatly impressed by the forum. First of all, I really appreciated that all delegates were given time to communicate their personal experiences. This shed light on the current world situation. Serious problems emerged, above all the vast gap between rich and poor nations. In this regard, I believe that the forum is at the risk of ending as a series of mere good intentions with no real objective, but the prophetic wisdom of the Church has prevented this so far.
The Gospel is always a challenge, something that renews the world, and living it out in one's job is a demanding task that involves coping with the scandal of famine and poverty on one side and richness for a few on the other side, or facing an economic system that aims at profit only. The Gospel is like yeast, and yeast causes a reaction in the mass, with the help of the Holy Spirit, opening new roads, creating a different future, having the Gospel as the basis for a more human working environment that is actually devoted to mankind, without wishing to see the results of this action immediately. Maybe our children will be able to experience them. I think that this is the prophetic message that the Church has given to us and we all have to consider it a priority.
Marco Prandelli
Comunità Magnificat - Italy

India

Indonesia

On Friday 2 February 2007 the ICCRS President, Mr. Allan Panozza arrived in Indonesia to meet with the Executive members of the ICCRS sub Committee for Asia/Oceania (ISAO). The committee was greeted by flood waters which were inundating large areas of Jakarta, but with God's help the meeting was able to continue throughout the weekend, and a final program has now been formed for an ICCRS regional Conference (Asia/Oceania) to be held outside Jakarta 1-5 November 2007. More details later.

Perù

Perù

Unites States

Letter of thanksgiving from Al and Patti Mansfield, New Orleans

In spite of our loss of home and CCRNO office because the Katrina hurricane in September 2005, the Lord made it possible for us to sponsor our annual large Holy Spirit Regional Retreats in the last two weeks.
Rejoice with us! 400 teens and young adults on the theme "The Church Is Alive! The Church Is Young" (words of Benedict XVI) and then 680 women this past weekend. The
women came from 10 states and were extremely open to the grace of God. We want the suffering of our region to have a good purpose for our brethren around the world. Thanks to ICCRS President and Director and all the ICCRS friends for your generous support. I pray that St. Joseph is hearing your prayer for the financial needs of ICCRS as well.

Canada