The Mediterranean meetings, it is an assembly of bishops, a session of young people from all over the Mediterranean, a cultural festival, the pilgrimage of Pope Francis, but also "parallel" courses proposed by various actors. Meeting of theologians from the Mediterranean, but also directors of Catholic education and rectors of sanctuaries from all around the Mediterranean. A small network of Mediterranean monasteries has also been formed to take up these Mediterranean challenges in prayer.
THE RECTORS OF THE SANCTUARIES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN (SEPTEMBER 21-24)
Sanctuaries have a particular and significant place in the history and current affairs of the Mediterranean: they are at the same time places of liturgical prayer and contemplation, of identity and openness, of welcome and hospitality, of reconciliation, culture, encounter and peace. “Sanctuaries remain to this day, all over the world, as a particular sign of the simple and humble faith of believers, who find in these sacred places the fundamental dimension of their existence as believers.” (Pope Francis)
This is why the rectors of the Mediterranean sanctuaries were invited to participate in the Mediterranean meetings : they will have common time with the bishops and the young people, with the
directors of Catholic education also meeting that week, and working times specific to their responsibility as rectors.
Here is the list of sanctuaries invited to participate: Notre-Dame de Lorette; Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth; Our Lady of Africa in Algiers; Our Lady of Peace in Medjugorje; Meryem Ana Evi, house of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus; Our Lady of Lebanon of Harissa; Stella Maris Monastery in Haifa; Basilica of Our Lady Ta' Pinu of Gharb; Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lampedusa; Our Lady of the Rosary Sanctuary in Pompeii; Monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat; Our Lady of Zeitoun in Cairo; Kykkos Greek Orthodox Monastery in Cyprus; Our Lady of Good Counsel in Shkodra; Notre-Dame de Fourvière in Lyon; Notre-Dame de la Garde in Marseille.
THE NETWORK OF MONASTERIES
On the occasion of Mediterranean meetings, eight monasteries of the Mediterranean, starting from the experience lived in the different geographical and cultural contexts, and following the previous experience of dialogue and friendship between the monasteries lived on the occasion of the Mediterranean Meetings of Bari (Mediterranean Border of the Peace - Bari, February 19-23, 2020) and Florence (Mediterranean Peace Border 2 - Florence, February 23-27, 2022), formed a network to pray and reflect on "monasticism and memory", "the monasticism and dialogue”, “monasticism and hospitality”. They collected in this notebook, edited by the Augustine Sisters of Pennabilli, the reflections of monastic communities.
Here is the list of participating monasteries: Benedictine sisters of Sainte Lioba - Simiane-Collongue – FRANCE; Carmelites of Tangier – MOROCCO; Poor Clare sisters of Jerusalem - ISRAEL; Little Family of the Annunciation of Ain Arik - PALESTINE, Ma'in – JORDAN; nuns of the Maronite Order – LEBANON; Poor Clare sisters of Scutari – ALBANIA; Poor Clare sisters of Bisceglie – Italy; Augustinian nuns of Pennabilli – Italy.
SESSION WITH THEOLOGIANS (SEPTEMBER 21-22)
In the spirit of Naples, Bari, Florence and Marseille, the theologians of the “Mediterranean Network” (Naples, Bari, Palermo, Rome, Bologna, Barcelona, Rabat, Istanbul, Marseille, Beirut, Cairo, Bucharest, Rijeka, Haifa) , coordinated by the Catholic Institute of the Mediterranean (ICM) have been working for two years on the drafting of a “manifesto” of the method for theological work “from” the Mediterranean. In Bari, a call for a Mediterranean of peace was launched. An updated “manifesto” will be worked on and published during the Mediterranean Meetings in Marseille. What movements does the text of the Manifesto now invite us to take? How does each present Mediterranean theological institution intend to contribute, in substance, to the “Mediterranean network”? What contribution to synodality and the progress of the churches? To share these theological reflections, two round tables will be open to the public: “The meeting as a place of revelation” and “Recounting spiritualities in the Mediterranean”.
MEETING OF DIOCESAN DIRECTORS OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION (SEPTEMBER 21-22)
This meeting will bring together the diocesan directors of Catholic education from around the Mediterranean, for a working time to welcome the challenges and experiences of education in this cultural space that is the Mediterranean and to develop concrete proposals and questions for the exchange with Pope Francis on the subject of education. Also on the program: visit to the Notre Dame de la Major school and college, guided tour of the Vieille Major, participation in the session of bishops and young people, the festival, the mass with the Pope, etc.
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