COLLOQUIUM OF EUROPEAN PARISHES

CEP originated through a circle of European friends in the Theological Department of Bonn University, who were working on the renewal of liturgy in the various countries of Europe even before World War II. At that time they were mainly studying the practice of the German oratories and other German-speaking parishes. It is likely that the first deliberations concerning better contact between Catholic parishes in Europe also originated here.

After a space of time, some of the members of this circle, had become priests in large city parishes in Paris, Cologne, Turin, Barcelona and Lausanne. They were challenged repeatedly by the question of how the churches in Europe could learn from and support each other - despite their differences in detail. They wrote to many bishops in the various countries. Only one bishop replied and Francis Connan, then a priest in Paris, was invited to have talks in Vienna.

Cardinal König in Vienna encouraged Francis Connan to call into being a contact between priests in Europe, as the bishops at that time were not yet ready to take the initiative themselves. After certain preparations, in 1961 about 60 city priests from France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland met in Lausanne for a first Colloquium. At the end of their discussions, they decided to meet somewhere in Europe every second year, to exchange experiences and ideas and thus co-operate in the bringing together of the peoples of Europe.

Steady growth

Since 1973, the priests have brought lay men and women to the Colloquium, and their numbers have grown steadily ever since. In 1991 half the participants were lay people; now the number is 60%. Of course the Colloquium reflects the general tendencies. Since the fall of the 'Iron Curtain' we have been encouraging the integration of priests and lay people from Central and Eastern Europe.

We now have approximately 1,000 registered members on our files who, however, vary in their participation in the Colloquia - some only attending their national events. In Prague, there were more than 400 participants, while only half the number attended Woldingham. However, over the years CEP represents about 650 parishes in Europe, which by cautious calculation accounts for a total of about 2×5 million Catholics.

Since 1978 CEP has been counted among the Non Governmental Organisations with Advisory Status in the European Council, and in recent years has provided the Secretary to the Co-ordinating Committee in Strasbourg. We are not an official institution of the Church, but a free union of Christians, who are interested in the future of Europe. As circumstances permit, we seek again and again to work in a trustful relationship with the church leadership. From time to time a member of the European Bishops' Conference takes part in the Colloquium.

Organisation

The spokesman of the founding group (Francis Connan, F) was General Secretary until 1983 and then passed on his office to his successor (Ottfried Selg, D). All the presidents work in an honorary capacity and bear most of the costs of their work and especially their travel themselves.

In each country one priest and one lay person are appointed, who in some cases also organise national events. Besides a step by step inclusion of Eastern Europe, last year began a special targeting of young people who share responsibility in the parish. In some countries, cheap travel is being offered to the Colloquia. The national representatives can provide information about this.

The aims of C.E.P.

CEP is working towards co-operating in the construction of a society in Europe, which is characterised by mutual respect, reciprocal acceptance and all-round learning from each other. On a practical level, we are seeking to achieve this by:

mutual acquaintance through visits by people and groups from different countries
exchange of experience about the life and work in parishes and joint search for future-orientated answers at the Colloquia
co-operation in the European Council in the context of the recognised NGOs, of which there are at present somewhat more than 400 from the various countries and with very varied aims.

In the long term, the plans for the next Colloquia are Fribourg, Switzerland 2003 and Eastern Germany 2005. With this information, you now know a little more about CEP, and we should be very pleased to welcome you to the next Colloquium, or for your support in any other way. If you join in, there will be even more solidarity in Europe! 'Bear one another's burdens'