DIRECTORS OF TOURISM PASTORAL MINISTRY MEET IN VATICAN

VATICAN CITY, JUN 7, 2001 (VIS) - The Second Meeting of National Directors of the Pastoral Ministry for Tourism In Europe begins today in the Vatican under the presidency of Archbishop Stephen Fumio Hamao, president of the Pontifical Council of the Pastoral Ministry for Migrants and Itinerant Peoples. The meeting concludes tomorrow. The previous meeting was in 1999.

The national directors present for this meeting are from Belgium, Croatia, Germany, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Hungary.

Each director will present a report on the activity undertaken in their country in the last two years, referring particularly to the points made in the final document of the 1999 meeting: 1. consolidating the presence of the pastoral ministry for tourism within the ordinary pastoral ministries of countries, dioceses and parishes; 2. proposing and realizing programs for this pastoral ministry for coming years; 3. promoting formation structures for this ministry; and 4. strengthening collaboration between European countries, especially among Eastern European countries.

Council Secretary, Archbishop Francesco Gioia, will illustrate the outlines of a document the council is preparing on the pastoral ministry for tourism.

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