Zagreb, (IKA) – On Monday, February 6, there was a meeting of the archdeacons and deacons of the Archdiocese of Zagreb, led by Archbishop Josip Cardinal Bozanić, at which the main guidelines of the pastoral initiative of the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization, entitled City Missions, were presented, with special reference to the manner of their implementation in the Archdiocese of Zagreb, according to the Press Office of the Archdiocese of Zagreb.
At the meeting, which began with the prayer of Sext, Auxiliary Bishops Valentin Pozaić, Ivan Šaško and Mijo Gorski participated, together with the archdeacons and deacons of the Archdiocese of Zagreb, heads of the pastoral offices of the Archdiocesan See, and representatives of the Croatian Catholic Medical Society and the Croatian Catholic Society of Medical Nurses and Technicians.
Cardinal Bozanić cited the importance of the initiative City Missions, expressing his joy that the capital city of Croatia, Zagreb, has been included among the 12 European cities in this initiative. Recalling that Pope Benedict XVI particularly emphasizes the importance of new evangelization, the cardinal said that it is first necessary to refresh what already exists in the pastoral practice of the Church because it is often not sufficiently present in the life of today’s Christians. “New evangelization is precisely aimed at people and places where news of Jesus Christ has come but who often live as if they do not know him,” said Cardinal Bozanić, explaining that in the context of the new evangelization, the Holy Father has announced the Year of Faith, which will begin on October 11, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second Vatican Council. At the same time, the 20th anniversary of the publication of the 1992 Catechism of the Catholic Church will also be commemorated. “Thus, the Holy Father has urged that these two documents, the document of the Second Vatican Council, which represents the comprehensive content of the faith of today’s person, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which contains faith expressed in the form of catechism, in a special way during this period should be in our hands, for us to study and understand,” said Cardinal Bozanić, noting that the initiative City Missions is focused on Lent and the cathedral—the mother of all churches in the archdiocese. The cathedral is the symbol of the city of Zagreb. It collects and preserves the memory of the Zagreb Church, said the cardinal.
“City Missions will take place during Lent, a privileged liturgical time during which the faithful are urged to be aware of the importance of their Christian mission. The originality of this initiative is evident in the unity of the local Churches and simultaneously in fulfilling missions and providing concrete signs, which will have their origin in the cathedrals due to their great symbolic significance and tendency to spread to the parish communities of the entire archdiocese and to strengthen and supplement existing initiatives. The intention is to enter deeper into the life of faith, especially with the help of confession and catechesis, to encompass all the areas of life and reveal everything that faith brings into our lives, helping all those who are drawn to Christ and Christianity to encounter him in the Church, in the community of the faithful,” explained the cardinal.
He also commented on a booklet entitled “Missio Metropolis 2012,” published by the aforementioned Pontifical Council, which contains the text of the Gospel according to Mark in the languages of the cities that this initiative will involve, including the Croatian language.
The specific pastoral guidelines within the initiative City Missions were presented by Bishop Šaško. He pointed out that they are evident in reading and reflection upon the Gospel according to Mark, which is read in Cycle B of the liturgical year, then through catechism, celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and in the specific indication of Christian charity according to needs. Catechesis will be particularly directed to catechumens, the young, engaged couples, teachers of religion and catechists, medical personnel, athletes and members of the armed forces.
Encounters for the young persons of the Archdiocese of Zagreb will be held on the five Sundays during Lent in the Zagreb cathedral. The celebration of the Eucharist at 6 p.m., including a homily and catechism, will be led by Cardinal Bozanić.
Every Tuesday, as part of the customary Lenten pastoral practices in the cathedral, at 5:30 p.m. there will be the devotion of the Way of the Cross, followed at 6 p.m. by the celebration of the Eucharist led by one of the auxiliary bishops of Zagreb. On these occasions, the bishops will provide catechesis in their homilies for the following groups of believers: February 28 for engaged couples, March 6 for teachers of religion and catechists, March 13 for medical personnel, March 20 for athletes and March 27 for members of the armed forces.
The connections among the parishes of the city of Zagreb, as part of the initiative City Missions, will be manifested in a prayer procession with the pilgrim cross of the Blessed Alojzije Stepinac, which he personally carried on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1937. The cross will be handed over in the cathedral, from where it will be carried to the deaneries, in which the devotion to the cross will take place in some churches. The cross of the Blessed Alojzije Stepinac will also be carried on the final devotion of the Way of the Cross on Palm Sunday at Ksaver, which is traditionally led by the Archbishop of Zagreb.
Since the Gospel according to Mark is at the center of the initiative City Missions, during the four Lenten Wednesdays passages will be read from this Gospel in the Zagreb cathedral, with exegetical interpretations and participation by readers from the world of culture.
In the Zagreb cathedral, at 5 p.m. on Fridays during Lent there will be Lenten Penitential Services and Examination of Conscience, which are also recommended in all the parishes of the archdiocese.
On Thursday, March 15, the cardinal will meet with the nuns of the city of Zagreb, and on Thursday, March 29, with the catechumens. On Tuesday, March 27, a meeting will be held with artists, and in commemoration of Media Day in May there will be a meeting with media professionals.