Church leaders from 12 major European dioceses who hope to re-evangelize their cities during Lent 2012 met this week in Rome to finalize plans for a new initiative called ‘Metropolitan Missions,’ reports Catholic News Agency. ‘The climate of unity among the cities that share same project was very strong,’ Auxiliary Bishop Jean Kockerols of Mechelen-Brussels, Belgium told CNA at the conclusion of the Jan. 9 meeting. ‘It was very interesting to hear from the other 11 cities who are working on the same priority,’ he added.
Also represented were the Metropolitan Archdioceses of Barcelona, Budapest, Cologne, Dublin, Lisbon, Liverpool, Paris, Turin, Warsaw and Vienna. The meeting was hosted by the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization, which is headed by Archbishop Rino Fisichella. This year’s ‘metropolitan missions’ are the first of their kind. If deemed successful, they could be introduced elsewhere around the world, including the United States, in the coming years.
Pray: for the Metropolitan Missions and that through the power of the Holy Spirit they will bring revival to their cities. (Mk.13:10)