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s2smodern

Ecumenical Opening of the Social Year at the Chapel for Europe in Brussels.

Jesus Christ said he had never been to a football match. So his friends took him to one.  It was a ferocious battle between the Protestant Punchers and the Catholic Crusaders. The Crusaders scored first. Jesus cheered wildly and threw his hat high up in the air. Then the Punchers scored. And Jesus cheered wildly and threw his hat high up in the air.
This seemed to puzzle the man behind him. He tapped Jesus on the shoulder and asked, "Which side are you rooting for, my good man?" "Me?" replied Jesus, visibly excited by the game. "Oh, I'm not rooting for either side. I'm just enjoying the game." The questioner turned to his neighbor and sneered, "Hmm, an atheist!" (A. de Mello sj)

So there we are, in the Chapel for Europe in Brussels, on 26th of September, beginning the “game” of the new social year. Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox, Anglicans and others, not playing one against the other but playing in the common team. And we believe that Jesus cheers.

The harvest is plentiful… Go! I am sending you out!”:  these were the Gospel keywords for this year. Being sent to bear witness of God’s love and to act to make Europe more human. There was a very prayerful ambience, a dynamic musical animation by the Chapel's choir Gabriel’s Band and a lively reception afterwards, possibility to meet old friends and new acquaintances.

Every year our Ecumenical celebration ends with a kind of symbolic gesture, inspired by the given Gospel, to remind the mission throughout the year. So what can be better for someone who is sent that the pair of sandals? Well, the Gospel recommends not to take sandals for the road but what about the only one sandal…?  So this year we shared funny key-rings with a small sandal and a Bible quotation. A quite original and highly appreciated gift.

As the Chapel was packed, much more people came than expected – from year to year this celebration becomes more and more popular – finally there was not enough sandals for everyone. However even those who didn’t get it were quite motivated to continue their route throughout this new year of work.

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s2smodern