WE ARE COMMITTED

 

 Volunteer, the army 

of "despite"

On World Volunteer Day, we dedicate our website's homepage to them, with the "ten words" that are the driving forces of volunteerism today. It's our "thank you" to the 4.7 million Italians who give freely for others and for the common good: today, despite everything. The ten words are taken from the November magazine, "Volunteer, why do you do it?": a forceful issue that forcefully defends the rationale and meaning of "we commit ourselves." Together, they represent a sort of modern-day rewriting of the beautiful text written by Don Primo Mazzolari in 1949, which we reproduce here in its original version.

 

by Sara De Carli

 

Research has been telling us for some years now that voluntary action is no longer motivated by solidarity. In an age marked by impotence, "wanting to change the world" mostly sounds like utopia. And if there are those who choose... Rage -bite as "word of the year , " we say that volunteering is the most powerful antidote to anger, cynicism, and resignation. As Riccardo Guidi writes in VITA , "volunteering is one of the most valuable collective strategies for responding to frustration through care." And as Andrea Cardoni reminded us , quoting the poet Angelo Maria Ripellino during the magazine presentation we held in Florence, "we are all 'despites,' buffeted by the wind, trying to resist the suffering of life."

The issue of VITA dedicated to volunteers, "Volunteer, why do you do it?" , is a stand-up issue: a choice of sides and a huge "thank you" to the millions of volunteers in Italy who, every day, dedicate themselves to others and the common good. On World Volunteer Day, we dedicate our website's homepage to them, featuring the "ten words" that today represent the driving forces of volunteering: from "community" to "frustration," from "desire" to "imagination."

Ten signatures reflecting on the new drivers of volunteering

Together, they represent a sort of modern-day rewriting of the beautiful and ever-timely text that Don Primo Mazzolari wrote in 1949, "Our Commitment ," here in the original version shared by the Don Primo Mazzolari Foundation. Let's start from here, let's start from ourselves.

Our commitment

We are committed

us and not the others

only us and not others

neither he who is above nor he who is below

neither those who believe nor those who do not believe.

We are committed

without expecting anyone else to make any commitment to us or on our behalf, like us or otherwise.

 We are committed

without judging those who don't make an effort

without accusing those who don't commit themselves

without condemning those who don't commit themselves

without trying because he doesn't commit

without giving up because others don't.

We know that we can do nothing about anyone, nor do we want to force anyone's hand, devoted as we are and as we intend to remain to the free movement of every spirit rather than to the success of ourselves or our convictions.

The world moves if we move it changes if we change it becomes new if someone becomes a new creature it becomes barbaric if we unleash the beast that is in each of us

We can do nothing about our world, about this reality that is our outside world, poor as we are and as we intend to remain, nameless. If we feel we have power over something—and we firmly desire it—it is over ourselves, over ourselves alone.

The world moves if we move

it changes if we change

it becomes new if someone becomes a new creature

it becomes barbaric if we unleash the beast that is in each of us.

The new order begins if someone makes an effort to become a new man.

Spring begins with the first flower

the night with the first star

the river with the first drop of water

love with the first dream.

We are committed 

Why…

We know exactly why we are committed : but we don't want to know, at least at this first moment , according to a reasoned procedure, the only one that satisfies many even when they don't understand , precisely when they don't understand.

We know this and we say it to ourselves more than to others:

We are committed 

because we couldn't help but try.

There is someone or something within us—an instinct, a reason, a calling, a grace—stronger than ourselves.

In the most dire moments, we orient ourselves by calls whose origin is unclear, but which constitute the surest certainty, the only certainty amidst the general disorientation. The spirit can also open a path through the resistance of our selfishness in this way, preparing us for those new, continuous obediences that can be imposed in each of us by conscience, reason, and faith.

We are committed 

To find meaning in life, in this life, in our life, a reason that isn't one of the many reasons we know well and that don't capture our hearts, a usefulness that isn't one of the usual traps generously offered to young people by practical people. We only live once, and we don't want to be "tricked" in the name of any petty interest.

we are not interested in career

we don't care about money

We are not interested in women if you present them to us as females only.

We are not interested in the success of ourselves or our ideas

we are not interested in going down in history.

marble scares us. 

We are not interested in being heroes or traitors before men if it costs us our loyalty to ourselves.

We are interested

to lose ourselves for something or someone who will remain even after we have passed and who constitutes the reason for our finding each other.

we are interested

to carry an eternal destiny through time

to feel responsible for everything and everyone

to set out, even through long wanderings, towards Love, which has spread a smile of poetry over every creature, from the flower to the child, from the star to the maiden, which makes us pensive before a cradle and waiting before a coffin.

We are committed not to rearrange the world, not to remake it to measure, but to love it.

We are committed

not to reorder the world

not to remake it to measure

but to love him

to love

even what we cannot accept

even that which is not lovable

even the one who seems to refuse love

because behind every face and under every heart there is, together with a great thirst for love, the face and heart of Love .

We are committed

because we believe in Love,

the only certainty that fears no comparison,

the only one that is enough to make us totally committed.

 

The source of the quotation is P. Mazzolari, Impegno con Cristo , critical edition edited by G. Vecchio, EDB, Bologna, 2007

 

MUT IST GEFRAGT ! COURAGE IS NEEDED !

 

DE-EN-FR-ES-IT

VkdL Info No. 6 / 2025

 

Liebe Leserin, lieber Leser! Das Jubiläumsjahr 2025 bildet für den VkdL eine Selbstvergewisserung im Hinblick auf sein katholisches Erbe, aber auch hinsichtlich einer verantwortbaren Vision für die Zukunft: Es gibt auch heute, 140 Jahre nach der Gründung des Lehrerinnenvereins, viel zu tun für katholische Pädagoginnen — egal, ob sie in der Kinderfrühbetreuung, an einer der verschiedenen Schularten oder an der Hochschule tätig sind.

Das christliche Menschenbild droht einer technokratischen Funktionalität und einer

inhumanen Digitalisierung untergeordnet zu werden, die langfristig die Würde des Menschen als Gottes Ebenbild bedroht. Mut ist gefragt!

E. P  

 Dear Reader, The anniversary year 2025 represents a period of self-reflection for the VkdL (Association of Catholic Women Teachers) with regard to its Catholic heritage, but also with regard to a responsible vision for the future: Even today, 140 years after the founding of the association, there is much to be done for Catholic women teachers—whether they work in early childhood education, at one of the various types of schools, or at universities.

The Christian understanding of humanity is in danger of being subordinated to technocratic functionality and an inhumane digitalization that, in the long term, threatens the dignity of humankind as created in God's image. Courage is needed!

I E. P

 Cher lecteur, l’année anniversaire 2025 représente un temps de réflexion pour la kdL (Association des enseignantes catholiques),

concernant son héritage catholique, mais aussi une vision responsable de l’avenir : aujourd’hui encore, 140 ans après la fondation de l’association, il reste beaucoup à faire pour les enseignantes catholiques, qu’elles travaillent dans l’éducation préscolaire, dans divers types d’établissements scolaires ou à l’université.

La conception chrétienne de l’humanité risque d’être subordonnée à une fonctionnalité technocratique et à une numérisation inhumaine qui, à long terme, menace la dignité humaine créée à l’image de Dieu. Il nous faut du courage !

I E. P

 Caro Lettore, l'anno 2025 rappresenta un periodo di riflessione per la VkdL (Associazione delle Insegnanti Cattoliche) riguardo alla sua eredità cattolica, ma anche rispetto a una visione responsabile per il futuro: anche oggi, 140 anni dopo la fondazione dell'associazione, c'è molto da fare per le insegnanti cattoliche, che lavorano nell'educazione della prima infanzia, in uno dei vari tipi di scuola o nelle università.

La comprensione cristiana dell'umanità rischia di essere subordinata alla funzionalità tecnocratica e a una digitalizzazione disumana che, a lungo termine, minaccia la dignità dell'uomo creato a immagine di Dio. Ci vuole coraggio!

I E. P

 Estimada lectora: El año del aniversario 2025 representa un período de autorreflexión para la VkdL (Asociación de Profesoras Católicas) en relación con su legado católico, pero también con una visión responsable de futuro: Incluso hoy, 140 años después de la fundación de la asociación, hay mucho por hacer por las profesoras católicas, ya sea que trabajen en educación infantil, en diversos tipos de escuelas o en universidades.

La comprensión cristiana de la humanidad corre el riesgo de quedar subordinada a la funcionalidad tecnocrática y a una digitalización inhumana que, a largo plazo, amenaza la dignidad de la humanidad, creada a imagen de Dios. ¡Se necesita valentía!

I E. P

        VkdL INFO

VENITE ADOREMUS - fr-en-es-it

 

NOEL 2025

 MESSAGE DE L’ARCHEVEQUE DOLLMANN

 Venez adorons le Seigneur, venez accueillons la lumière pour nos vies

 

Au terme de l’année du jubilé

Noël 2025 coïncide avec la fin de l’année sainte qui sera clôturée dans chaque diocèse à la fête de la Sainte-Famille le 28 décembre et à Rome le 6 janvier par la fermeture de la porte sainte. C’est l’occasion de faire mémoire des célébrations et des pèlerinages, des rencontres et des catéchèses qui nous ont permis de fortifier notre foi dans le Christ qui a porté la lumière du salut au monde. En posant un regard d’action de grâce sur l’année jubilaire, nous sommes interrogés en ce temps de Noël sur notre disponibilité à accueillir la lumière du Christ dans nos vies.

 Accueillir la lumière du Christ dans le monde

« Adeste fideles, accourez fidèles…Venez adorons le Seigneur », ce cantique de Noël composé au XVII^e siècle retentit aux quatre coins du monde dans les églises comme dans les magasins. Au-delà de la beauté de la mélodie, il nous invite à la conversion : « Venez adorons le Seigneur ! », et comme le précise la version française : « En lui viens reconnaître ton Dieu, ton Sauveur ».

L’Enfant-Dieu dans sa fragilité et sa petitesse vient frapper à la porte de tous les cœurs, petits et grands, et les inviter à accueillir sa lumière de paix et de vie.

 Serviteur de la lumière du Christ

Devant Dieu fait enfant, nous ne pouvons plus nous résigner. Ses bras grands ouverts nous indiquent qu’il est toujours possible de nous réconcilier avec nos engagements et nos choix de vie. En cherchant à y demeurer fidèles, nous permettons à Dieu d’éclairer les cœurs de sa présence, même dans les enfers de ce monde. C’est le témoignage que nous laissent les 51 martyrs français, religieux, séminaristes et laïcs, proclamés bienheureux le 13 décembre 2025, à la cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris. Ils sont morts « en haine de la foi » sous le régime nazi entre 1944 et 1945.

Ces martyrs de l’espérance nous renvoient à notre mission de baptisés, celle de porter la lumière du Christ venu en notre chair, à ceux que nous côtoyons dans nos lieux de vie et de travail.

 +Vincent Dollmann

 Archevêque de Cambrai, Assistent Ecclésiastique UMEC-WUCT

 Christmas 2025

MESSAGE FROM ARCHBISHOP DOLLMANN

 Come, let us worship the Lord; 

come, let us welcome the light into our lives.

 At the end of the jubilee year

Christmas 2025 coincides with the end of the Holy Year, which will conclude in each diocese on the Feast of the Holy Family on December 28 and in Rome on January 6 with the closing of the Holy Door. This is an opportunity to remember the celebrations and pilgrimages, the encounters and catechesis that have strengthened our faith in Christ, who brought the light of salvation to the world. Looking back with thanksgiving on the Jubilee Year, we are called upon, at this Christmas time, to reflect on our readiness to welcome the light of Christ into our lives.

 Welcoming the light of Christ into the world

" Adeste" “Fellow , faithful ones, come quickly… Come, let us adore the Lord,” this Christmas carol, composed in the 17th ^century , resounds in churches and shops around the world. Beyond the beauty of its melody, it invites us to conversion: “Come, let us adore the Lord!” and, as the French version specifies: “In him, come and recognize your God, your Savior.”

The Child-God, in his fragility and smallness, comes knocking at the door of all hearts, young and old, and invites them to welcome his light of peace and life.

Servant of the light of Christ

Before God made child, we can no longer resign ourselves. His open arms show us that it is always possible to reconcile ourselves with our commitments and life choices. By striving to remain faithful to them, we allow God to illuminate our hearts with his presence, even in the hells of this world. This is the testimony left to us by the 51 French martyrs—religious, seminarians, and lay people—proclaimed blessed on December 13, 2025, at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. They died “in hatred of the faith” under the Nazi regime between 1944 and 1945.

These martyrs of hope remind us of our mission as baptized Christians: to bring the light of Christ, who came in our flesh, to those we encounter in our living and working environments.

 +Vincent Dollmann

 Archbishop of Cambrai, Ecclesiastical Assistant UMEC-WUCT

 Navidad 2025

MENSAJE DEL ARZOBISPO DOLLMANN

 Venid, adoremos al Señor; venid, acojamos la luz en nuestras vidas.

 Al final del año jubilar

La Navidad de 2025 coincide con el fin del Año Santo, que concluirá en cada diócesis con la festividad de la Sagrada Familia, el 28 de diciembre, y en Roma, el 6 de enero, con el cierre de la Puerta Santa. Esta es una oportunidad para recordar las celebraciones y peregrinaciones, los encuentros y la catequesis que han fortalecido nuestra fe en Cristo, quien trajo la luz de la salvación al mundo. Al recordar con gratitud el Año Jubilar, estamos llamados, en esta Navidad, a reflexionar sobre nuestra disposición a acoger la luz de Cristo en nuestras vidas.

 Acogiendo la luz de Cristo en el mundo

" Adeste" «Compañeros , fieles, vengan pronto… Vengan, adoremos al Señor», este villancico, compuesto en el ^{siglo XVII} , resuena en iglesias y tiendas de todo el mundo. Más allá de la belleza de su melodía, nos invita a la conversión: «¡Vengan, adoremos al Señor!» y, como especifica la versión francesa: «En él, vengan y reconozcan a su Dios, su Salvador».

El Niño-Dios, en su fragilidad y pequeñez, llama a la puerta de todos los corazones, jóvenes y viejos, y los invita a acoger su luz de paz y de vida.

 Siervo de la luz de Cristo

Ante Dios hecho niño, ya no podemos resignarnos. Sus brazos abiertos nos muestran que siempre es posible reconciliarnos con nuestros compromisos y decisiones de vida. Al esforzarnos por permanecer fieles a ellos, permitimos que Dios ilumine nuestros corazones con su presencia, incluso en los infiernos de este mundo. Este es el testimonio que nos dejaron los 51 mártires franceses —religiosos, seminaristas y laicos— proclamados beatos el 13 de diciembre de 2025 en la Catedral de Notre Dame de París. Murieron «por odio a la fe» bajo el régimen nazi entre 1944 y 1945.

Estos mártires de la esperanza nos recuerdan nuestra misión como cristianos bautizados: llevar la luz de Cristo, que vino en nuestra carne, a quienes encontramos en nuestros entornos de vida y de trabajo.

 +Vincent Dollmann

 Arzobispo de Cambrai, Asistente Eclesiástico UMEC-WUCT

 Natale 2025

MESSAGGIO DELL'ARCIVESCOVO DOLLMANN

 Venite, adoriamo il Signore; venite, accogliamo la luce nelle nostre vite.

 Alla fine dell'anno giubilare

Il Natale 2025 coincide con la fine dell'Anno Santo, che si concluderà in ogni diocesi con la festa della Sacra Famiglia, il 28 dicembre, e a Roma il 6 gennaio con la chiusura della Porta Santa. È un'occasione per ricordare le celebrazioni e i pellegrinaggi, gli incontri e le catechesi che hanno rafforzato la nostra fede in Cristo, che ha portato al mondo la luce della salvezza. Guardando con gratitudine all'Anno Giubilare, siamo chiamati, in questo tempo natalizio, a riflettere sulla nostra disponibilità ad accogliere la luce di Cristo nelle nostre vite.

 Accogliere la luce di Cristo nel mondo

" Adeste" “Fratelli , fedeli, venite presto… Venite, adoriamo il Signore”, questo canto natalizio, composto nel XVII ^secolo , risuona nelle chiese e anche nei negozi di tutto il mondo. Oltre alla bellezza della sua melodia, ci invita alla conversione: “Venite, adoriamo il Signore!” e, come specifica la versione francese: “In lui, venite e riconoscete il vostro Dio, il vostro Salvatore”.

Il Dio Bambino, nella sua fragilità e piccolezza, bussa alla porta di tutti i cuori, grandi e piccini, e li invita ad accogliere la sua luce di pace e di vita.

 Servitore della luce di Cristo

Davanti a Dio fatto bambino, non possiamo più rassegnarci. Le sue braccia aperte ci mostrano che è sempre possibile riconciliarci con i nostri impegni e le nostre scelte di vita. Sforzandoci di rimanervi fedeli, permettiamo a Dio di illuminare i nostri cuori con la sua presenza, anche negli inferni di questo mondo. Questa è la testimonianza lasciataci dai 51 martiri francesi – religiosi, seminaristi e laici – proclamati beati il 13 dicembre 2025 nella cattedrale di Notre-Dame a Parigi. Morirono “in odio alla fede” sotto il regime nazista tra il 1944 e il 1945.

Questi martiri della speranza ci ricordano la nostra missione di cristiani battezzati: portare la luce di Cristo, venuto nella nostra carne, a coloro che incontriamo nei nostri ambienti di vita e di lavoro.

 +Vincent Dollmann

 Arcivescovo di Cambrai, Assistente Ecclesiastico UMEC-WUCT

 Immagine

NIGERIA EMERGENCY

 

Nigeria's "kidnapping factory"

 from jihadism to mafia crime

Attacks on Christian churches and schools

 and kidnapping of teachers and students

Hundreds of "missing" students

Schools closed to avoid risk

UMEC-WUCT stands with its Colleagues in Nigeria and wishes an end to All Violent Acts

The federal government has failed to respond first to Boko Haram's actions, the persecution of believers, and now to the gangs. And only yesterday did the president declare a "national emergency" due to kidnappings.

 

-         by GIULIO ALBANESE

-          The current Nigerian landscape is characterized by a highly complex and stratified geography of violence, a heterogeneous set of dynamics that defies reductive interpretations and sensationalist media narratives. Among the most significant manifestations of this complexity is the phenomenon of kidnapping, which has evolved over the past two decades into a form of parallel economy and, simultaneously, a symbolic and operational device of power. Analyzing the transformations underway in West Africa's largest country means recognizing the inadequacy of an interpretative approach limited to jihadism: kidnapping today constitutes a tool adopted by a variety of actors, situated within interconnected social, political, and cultural frameworks.

International media narratives often tend to associate kidnappings with the operations of extremist Islamist militias active in the northeast of the country, starting with the infamous Boko Haram and its offshoots. Undoubtedly, these armed groups use kidnappings as a weapon of terror, a source of funding, and a propaganda tool. Their incursions into villages in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa , as well as attacks on schools, have left an indelible mark on collective memory, fueling a widespread climate of fear and distrust of institutions. The 2014 Chibok schoolgirl kidnapping —which brought an already deeply rooted tragedy to the global stage—is just one of the most emblematic cases. The targeting, and to some extent continuing to target (given the movement's smaller reach), Christian communities responds to a logic parallel to "traditional" persecution, but is no longer the primary objective of their actions.

An anti-Christian perspective

Limiting ourselves to this perspective of deplorable anti-Christian activity (much more limited in the last five years but no less serious, as demonstrated by the kidnappings of numerous priests and pastors), however, would be to ignore a substantial part of the picture. In many regions of Nigeria, kidnappings are now perpetrated also—and sometimes primarily—by armed gangs lacking a religious ideology, motivated instead by a combination of social marginalization, structural poverty, systemic corruption, and competition for control of resources. Active primarily in the northwest, in the states of Kaduna, Zamfara , Katsina, Sokoto, and Niger, these organizations pursue no theocratic ambitions: rather, they build a predatory economy fueled by the security vacuum and the fragility of territorial control. The terrain on which these dynamics thrive is a long-term socioeconomic crisis, marked by extremely high levels of youth unemployment, inefficient public administration, and the misuse of the nation's immense wealth—oil, gas, coal, zinc, fertile lands—concentrated in the hands of a select few. In this context, kidnapping becomes a veritable market: farmers, traders, travelers, and students become commodities, kidnapped for ransoms that fuel a vicious cycle of violence and impunity. Furthermore, the line between organized crime and armed militancy is often blurred: tactical alliances, temporary collaborations, and the exchange of weapons and information make the borders extremely porous.

Anthropological and historical dimension of conflicts

A particularly relevant aspect concerns the anthropological and historical dimension of conflicts in Nigeria. The country, populated by approximately 230 million people, is an ethnic and cultural archipelago where competition for land and agricultural resources overlaps with tensions between pastoral and agrarian communities—often simplified as a clash between "Fulani" and "non-Fulani," when the reality is actually much more complex. In many of these areas, the proliferation of small arms and the weakening of traditional mediation structures have favored the transformation of local conflicts into systemic violence. At the root of the kidnappings lies a multifaceted system of insecurity, involving multiple actors. The government's response—varying between military repression and attempts at negotiation—has proven ineffective. And only yesterday, after more than 350 kidnappings in ten days, the president declared a national "security" emergency regarding the phenomenon.

Widespread corruption erodes public trust and delegitimizes any institutional intervention. Local communities, largely left to their own devices, develop autonomous forms of self-defense, giving rise to civilian militias that, though born for protective purposes, risk adding further levels of violence to an already extremely complex landscape. Ordinary people pay the highest price: broken families, traumatized children, communities forced to flee their homes. A young, vibrant, and energetic country finds itself living with the fear of travel, school, and the daily routine that elsewhere is taken for granted. Yet, despite the severity of the phenomenon, Nigeria cannot be defined solely by its wounds. It is also a place of extraordinary resilience, animated by community networks, civil organizations, religious authorities, and traditional figures who promote dialogue, reconciliation, and the protection of the most vulnerable. Christians first and foremost, especially in the central and southern states where attacks on priests continue, almost exclusively for extortion. Authentically narrating the phenomenon of kidnappings in Nigeria therefore means rejecting binaries—jihadists on one side, defenseless populations on the other—and acknowledging the coexistence of multiple Nigerias: that of globalized and dynamic metropolises, that of marginalized rural areas, that of young people seeking a future, and that of those who, deprived of alternatives, are sucked into the market of violence. Only by recognizing this complexity is it possible to grasp the true drama of a country that demands to be heard and understood before being overwhelmed by judgments and reactions.

www.avvenire.it

 

ACTIONS, NOT JUST WORDS

FATTI, NON SOLO PAROLE

Le parole hanno potere, possono ispirare, confortare e guidare. Ma quando non sono accompagnate da azioni concrete, perdono la loro forza e diventano vuote.

Il vero valore della testimonianza sta nei fatti, perché sono essi a rivelare chi siamo veramente e in cosa crediamo.

Parlare è facile; agire richiede coraggio, coerenza e impegno. È nei gesti concreti, nella pazienza, nella solidarietà, nell'onestà, nella perseveranza che si manifesta la verità delle intenzioni.

Più che belle parole, il mondo ha bisogno di esempi. Che le nostre azioni parlino per noi e che le nostre parole soltanto confermino ciò che è già visibile nei nostri atti.

(Apolonio Carvalho Nascimento)

 

ACTIONS, NOT JUST WORDS

Words have power; they can inspire, comfort, and guide. But when they aren't accompanied by concrete actions, they lose their strength and become empty.

The true value of testimony lies in actions, because they reveal who we truly are and what we believe.

Talking is easy; acting requires courage, consistency, and commitment. It is in concrete gestures, in patience, in solidarity, in honesty, in perseverance that the truth of intentions is revealed.

More than beautiful words, the world needs examples. May our actions speak for us, and may our words alone confirm what is already visible in our actions.

(Apolonio Carvalho Nascimento)

 

ACCIONES, NO SOLO PALABRAS

Las palabras tienen poder; pueden inspirar, consolar y guiar. Pero cuando no van acompañadas de acciones concretas, pierden su fuerza y ​​se vuelven vacías.

El verdadero valor del testimonio reside en las acciones, porque revelan quiénes somos en realidad y en qué creemos.

Hablar es fácil; actuar requiere valentía, constancia y compromiso. Es en los gestos concretos, en la paciencia, en la solidaridad, en la honestidad y en la perseverancia donde se revela la verdad de las intenciones.

Más que bellas palabras, el mundo necesita ejemplos. Que nuestras acciones hablen por nosotros, y que nuestras palabras, por sí solas, confirmen lo que ya es visible en nuestros actos.

(Apolonio Carvalho Nascimento)

 

DES ACTES, PAS SEULEMENT DES MOTS

 Les mots ont du pouvoir ; ils peuvent inspirer, réconforter et guider. Mais sans actions concrètes, ils perdent de leur force et deviennent vains.

La véritable valeur d'un témoignage réside dans les actes, car ils révèlent qui nous sommes vraiment et ce en quoi nous croyons.

Parler est facile ; agir exige du courage, de la constance et de l'engagement. C'est dans les gestes concrets, la patience, la solidarité, l'honnêteté et la persévérance que se révèle la vérité de nos intentions.

Plus que de belles paroles, le monde a besoin d'exemples. Que nos actes parlent pour nous, et que nos paroles seules confirment ce qui est déjà visible dans nos actions.

(Apolonio Carvalho Nascimento)

 

ENTHUSIASM AND COMMITTEMENT

en-it-es-fr 

 

EDUCATION JUBILEE: All in all, inspiring days, enough to think about!

By Elizabeth Boddens Hosang - Netherlands

Every 25 years, the Catholic Church proclaims a jubilee year: a year to reflect on a specific theme, to think about one's own faith and life. This year the theme was 'hope': important in this time. On October 31 and November 1, meetings took place around the Vatican as part of this jubilee year, aimed at those who work in and for education. I was allowed to be there on behalf of SCOL, The Foundation for Confessional Education in Leiden, the Netherlands.  It was very special to see the Holy Father, and especially many people from different countries, working in all kinds of educational institutions. The enthusiasm and commitment with which people talk about their work is universal: from uncertainties in North America, to challenges in teaching girls in Afghanistan, or education for girls from lower castes in India.

In the Friday morning audience with the Holy Father, he named four important aspects for Christian education: interiority, unity, love and joy. Interiority means that real education comes from within, with the inner voice of teachers and students at the centre. Unity emphasizes that education is a joint effort and sharing knowledge is an act of love. Love is even essential, because education is not only about transferring knowledge, but also about empathy and supporting vulnerable people. Joy is also crucial, because committed teachers bring joy to their teaching. The Holy Father suggested these values as central to education. The Holy Father renewed the importance of the “Global Compact on Education”. On Friday afternoon there were meetings around global education projects where I spoke briefly talk about my work and WUCT. There was some surprise and even jealousy that in the Netherlands all schools are financed by the government. On Saturday morning, Leo XIV named John Henry Newman a Doctor of the Church and co-patron of Catholic education. He called on teachers to "shine like stars" by committing themselves to truth, justice and young people, especially the poor. In times of fear and uncertainty, they must offer a "Kindly Light". The task of education is to offer this friendly Light to those who struggle with pessimism and fear, injustice and uncertainty. All educational institutions must always be gateways to a civilization of dialogue and peace, where the value of every human being is recognized and supported. As a guideline, the Holy Father mentioned the beatitudes of Jesus as the core of Christian education. On Sunday and Monday there were lectures and meetings in the context of the annual meetings of the 'World Union of Catholic Teachers' (WUCT/UMEC). Of particular interest was the talk by Leuven professor Didier Pollefeyt and his call for a revision of the concept of 'Catholic school'. Speaking of the 'Catholic dialogue school', he advocates a Catholic school where a serious and mature conversation about religions takes place at all levels, and this as well by those from a critical and/or non-religious perspective.

All in all, inspiring days, enough to think about!

Elizabeth Boddens Hosang

 

ENTUSIASMO E IMPEGNO

Di Elizabeth Boddens Hosang - Paesi Bassi

Ogni 25 anni, la Chiesa cattolica proclama un anno giubilare: un anno per riflettere su un tema specifico, per riflettere sulla propria fede e sulla propria vita. Quest'anno il tema era la "speranza": importante in questo periodo. Il 31 ottobre e il 1° novembre, si sono svolti incontri in Vaticano nell'ambito di questo anno giubilare, rivolti a coloro che lavorano nell'istruzione e per l'istruzione. Ho avuto il permesso di essere lì per conto della SCOL, la Fondazione per l'Educazione Confessionale di Leida, nei Paesi Bassi. È stato molto speciale vedere il Santo Padre, e soprattutto tante persone provenienti da diversi paesi, lavorare in ogni tipo di istituzione educativa. L'entusiasmo e l'impegno con cui le persone parlano del loro lavoro sono universali: dalle incertezze in Nord America, alle sfide nell'insegnamento alle ragazze in Afghanistan, o all'istruzione per le ragazze delle caste inferiori in India.

Nell'udienza di venerdì mattina con il Santo Padre, egli ha menzionato quattro aspetti importanti per l'educazione cristiana: interiorità, unità, amore e gioia. Interiorità significa che la vera educazione viene dall'interno, con la voce interiore di insegnanti e studenti al centro. Unità sottolinea che l'educazione è uno sforzo congiunto e la condivisione della conoscenza è un atto d'amore. L'amore è persino essenziale, perché l'educazione non riguarda solo il trasferimento di conoscenze, ma anche l'empatia e il sostegno alle persone vulnerabili. Anche la gioia è cruciale, perché gli insegnanti impegnati portano gioia nel loro insegnamento. Il Santo Padre ha suggerito questi valori come centrali per l'educazione. Il Santo Padre ha ribadito l'importanza del "Patto Globale sull'Educazione". Venerdì pomeriggio si sono svolti incontri sui progetti di educazione globale, dove ho parlato brevemente del mio lavoro e del WUCT. C'è stata una certa sorpresa e persino invidia nel vedere che nei Paesi Bassi tutte le scuole sono finanziate dal governo. Sabato mattina, Leone XIV ha nominato John Henry Newman Dottore della Chiesa e co-patrono dell'educazione cattolica. Ha invitato gli insegnanti a "brillare come stelle" impegnandosi per la verità, la giustizia e i giovani, soprattutto i poveri. In tempi di paura e incertezza, devono offrire una "Luce Gentile". Il compito dell'educazione è offrire questa Luce amica a coloro che lottano contro pessimismo e paura, ingiustizia e incertezza. Tutte le istituzioni educative devono sempre essere porte d'accesso a una civiltà del dialogo e della pace, dove il valore di ogni essere umano sia riconosciuto e sostenuto. Come linea guida, il Santo Padre ha menzionato le beatitudini di Gesù come nucleo dell'educazione cristiana. Domenica e lunedì si sono svolti convegni e incontri nell'ambito degli incontri annuali dell'Unione Mondiale degli Insegnanti Cattolici (UME-WUCT). Di particolare interesse è stato l'intervento del professore di Lovanio Didier Pollefeyt e il suo appello a una revisione del concetto di "scuola cattolica". Parlando di "scuola di dialogo cattolico", egli sostiene una scuola cattolica in cui si svolga un dialogo serio e maturo sulle religioni a tutti i livelli, anche da parte di chi ha una prospettiva critica e/o non religiosa.

Nel complesso, giornate stimolanti, su cui riflettere!

Elizabeth Boddens Hosang

 

ENTUSIASMO Y COMPROMISO

Por Elizabeth Boddens Hosang - Países Bajos

Cada 25 años, la Iglesia Católica proclama un año jubileo: un año para reflexionar sobre un tema específico, para meditar sobre la propia fe y la vida. Este año el tema fue la «esperanza»: tan importante en estos tiempos. El 31 de octubre y el 1 de noviembre, se celebraron encuentros en distintos puntos del Vaticano como parte de este año jubileo, dirigidos a quienes trabajan en y para la educación. Tuve el honor de asistir en representación de SCOL, la Fundación para la Educación Confesional en Leiden, Países Bajos. Fue muy especial ver al Santo Padre, y en especial a tantas personas de diferentes países, trabajando en todo tipo de instituciones educativas. El entusiasmo y el compromiso con que hablan de su trabajo es universal: desde las incertidumbres en Norteamérica hasta los desafíos de la enseñanza a niñas en Afganistán, o la educación para niñas de castas bajas en la India.

En la audiencia del viernes por la mañana con el Santo Padre, mencionó cuatro aspectos importantes para la educación cristiana: interioridad, unidad, amor y alegría. La interioridad implica que la verdadera educación surge del interior, con la voz interior de docentes y estudiantes en el centro. La unidad subraya que la educación es un esfuerzo conjunto y que compartir el conocimiento es un acto de amor. El amor es esencial, pues la educación no se limita a la transmisión de conocimientos, sino que también abarca la empatía y el apoyo a las personas vulnerables. La alegría es fundamental, ya que los docentes comprometidos transmiten alegría en su labor. El Santo Padre propuso estos valores como centrales para la educación. Asimismo, reiteró la importancia del Pacto Mundial sobre la Educación. El viernes por la tarde se celebraron reuniones sobre proyectos educativos globales, donde hablé brevemente sobre mi trabajo y la WUCT. Hubo cierta sorpresa, e incluso cierta envidia, al saber que en los Países Bajos todas las escuelas son financiadas por el gobierno. El sábado por la mañana, León XIV nombró a John Henry Newman Doctor de la Iglesia y copatrono de la educación católica. Exhortó a los docentes a «brillar como estrellas» comprometiéndose con la verdad, la justicia y la juventud, especialmente con los más pobres. En tiempos de temor e incertidumbre, deben ofrecer una «Luz Bondadosa». La tarea de la educación es ofrecer esta luz de esperanza a quienes luchan contra el pesimismo y el miedo, la injusticia y la incertidumbre. Todas las instituciones educativas deben ser siempre puertas de acceso a una civilización de diálogo y paz, donde se reconozca y apoye el valor de cada ser humano. Como guía, el Santo Padre mencionó las bienaventuranzas de Jesús como el núcleo de la educación cristiana. El domingo y el lunes se celebraron conferencias y reuniones en el marco de los encuentros anuales de la Unión Mundial de Maestros Católicos (UMEC-WUCT). De particular interés fue la ponencia del profesor de Lovaina, Didier Pollefeyt, y su llamado a revisar el concepto de «escuela católica». Hablando de la «escuela católica de diálogo», aboga por una escuela católica donde se procure un diálogo serio y maduro sobre las religiones en todos los niveles, incluyendo a quienes tienen una perspectiva crítica o no religiosa.

En resumen, ¡días inspiradores que dan mucho que pensar!

Elizabeth Boddens Hosang

ENTHOUSIASME ET ENGAGEMENT

 Par Elizabeth Boddens Hosang - Pays-Bas

 Tous les 25 ans, l'Église catholique proclame une année jubilaire : une année de réflexion sur un thème spécifique, un temps pour méditer sur sa foi et sa vie. Cette année, le thème était « l'espérance », un thème particulièrement important en cette période. Les 31 octobre et 1er novembre, des rencontres ont eu lieu au Vatican dans le cadre de cette année jubilaire, à destination de tous ceux qui œuvrent dans le domaine de l'éducation. J'ai eu le privilège d'y assister au nom de SCOL, la Fondation pour l'éducation confessionnelle de Leiden, aux Pays-Bas. Ce fut un moment exceptionnel de rencontrer le Saint-Père, et surtout de rencontrer de nombreuses personnes venues de différents pays, travaillant dans toutes sortes d'établissements scolaires. L'enthousiasme et l'engagement avec lesquels chacun parle de son travail sont universels : des incertitudes en Amérique du Nord aux défis de l'enseignement des filles en Afghanistan, en passant par l'éducation des filles issues des castes inférieures en Inde.

Lors de son audience du vendredi matin avec le Saint-Père, celui-ci a cité quatre aspects essentiels de l'éducation chrétienne : l'intériorité, l'unité, l'amour et la joie. L'intériorité signifie que la véritable éducation vient de l'intérieur, plaçant la voix intérieure des enseignants et des élèves au centre. L'unité souligne que l'éducation est un effort collectif et que le partage des connaissances est un acte d'amour. L'amour est même essentiel, car l'éducation ne se limite pas à la transmission de savoir, mais englobe également l'empathie et le soutien aux personnes vulnérables. La joie est également cruciale, car des enseignants engagés insufflent de la joie dans leur enseignement. Le Saint-Père a présenté ces valeurs comme fondamentales pour l'éducation. Il a réaffirmé l'importance du Pacte mondial pour l'éducation. Vendredi après-midi, des réunions sur les projets d'éducation à l'échelle mondiale ont eu lieu, au cours desquelles j'ai brièvement évoqué mon travail et l'Église universelle catholique. Le fait qu'aux Pays-Bas, toutes les écoles soient financées par l'État a suscité une certaine surprise, voire de la jalousie. Samedi matin, Léon XIV a proclamé John Henry Newman Docteur de l'Église et co-patron de l'enseignement catholique. Il a exhorté les enseignants à « briller comme des étoiles » en s'engageant pour la vérité, la justice et la jeunesse, en particulier les plus démunis. Dans les moments de peur et d'incertitude, ils doivent offrir une « lumière bienveillante ». La mission de l'éducation est d'offrir cette lumière bienveillante à ceux qui luttent contre le pessimisme et la peur, l'injustice et l'incertitude. Toutes les institutions éducatives doivent être des portes d'entrée vers une civilisation de dialogue et de paix, où la valeur de chaque être humain est reconnue et soutenue. À titre d'exemple, le Saint-Père a cité les Béatitudes de Jésus comme fondement de l'éducation chrétienne. Dimanche et lundi ont été consacrés à des conférences et des rencontres dans le cadre des assemblées annuelles de l'Union mondiale des enseignants catholiques (UMEC-WUCT). L'intervention du professeur Didier Pollefeyt de Louvain, qui a plaidé pour une refonte du concept d'« école catholique », a particulièrement retenu l'attention. Évoquant l'« école du dialogue catholique », il défend une école catholique où un dialogue sérieux et constructif sur les religions s'instaure à tous les niveaux, y compris par ceux qui adoptent une perspective critique ou non religieuse.

En résumé, des journées inspirantes qui donnent matière à réflexion !

Elizabeth Boddens Hosang