On the occasion of their visit to the Dicastery, the couple Peter and Christiane Annergan, who live in Belgium, were interviewed about their experience as directors of the international Secretariat of the Equipes Notre Dame since 2012 (this Movement of Spirituality was chaired until that date by Maria Carla and Carlo Volpini, consultors of the Pontifical Council for the Family), consultors of the Pontifical Council for the Laity. Peter Annergan is the President of the European Forum of National Laity Committees (the organization that coordinates the lay Catholic leaders and delegates in Europe, not limited to members of the Union).
What is the aim of your lay associations on the international level and how do they work?
«Both of these organizations were founded twenty years ago, with the objective of sharing our experience in practice and service as lay people engaged in the delicate and difficult task of mediation and dialogue between the civil society and the Church, in view of the common good. The lay apostolate has indeed become even more important, valuable and fundamental for the Church, in the last decade and especially in recent years, in the face of the advancement of secularization and de-Christianization in the Western European society. So, the European Forum of lay associations, recognized by the local Bishops’ Conferences, is also present in countries with a Catholic minority, for example in Scandinavian countries like Sweden, where only 3 percent of the population is Catholic. Every two years, we meet in a plenary session, to discuss topics and issues that we find particularly important or even urgent in our apostolate. Last year we met in Vienna, Austria, to talk about the vision of man in the Church and in society; and next year, from June 28th to July 1st, we'll all be in Rome, at the Domus Mariae, to reflect on the future of young people in the Christian perspective».
What difficulties do you encounter?
«We try to work together with priests and bishops, in co-responsibility according to each one’s rights and duties and through mutual cooperation. Until ten years ago, this relationship of respect and mutual support between the clergy, religious and laity, equal and united in the diversity of charismas for witnessing to Christian values in the concrete life of our time and world, was not easy, because a hierarchical conception prevailed in the Church, which saw the laity as somehow ‘subordinate’ to the priests. But the situation has changed, and increasingly we work together, side by side. John Paul II said that the laity participates in the Church’s life and mission in communion with Christ together with the pastors, priests, men and women religious, distinguished by the specific nature of their vocation, which is not inferior to that of the clergy. We are all together the Church, said Benedict XVI, and the laypeople play a vital role for the sanctification of the world, which is becoming increasingly important. Pope Francis will certainly help many to rediscover the authentic bond of communion among the different vocations and charismas in the Church, without hierarchies, in shared Christian life, and he will surely help to value the laity more. Yet, of course, he doesn’t have a magic wand, and on this journey we shall still meet other obstacles. Two months ago, we organized a meeting in Stockholm to reflect together precisely on ways and opportunities for fraternal cooperation between the laity and priests».
How, in particular, are families the subject of evangelization today?
«The role of the family in the Church and in society is not distinct from that of the laity. The Christian family, however, has its own specific task for the spiritualization, even before the evangelization, of the culture and the people of our time. Especially, with regard to education of the young for life and the transmission of a Christian vision of each person’s dignity and freedom as the full realization of the human being, in every material, moral and spiritual dimension. In our society, in fact, the material values have the greatest importance. We are immersed in a culture of individualism, selfishness and competition, based on power, desire and possession. Even in their studies, children aim to outdo one another, and to show off the most beautiful and fashionable things. The family has a great responsibility. Christian families have the responsibility of witnessing to the values of our faith, of communion, fraternity and hospitality, of true humanity, religious freedom and authentic love. In the living witness of Christian families Christ’s light shines forth in our time».
Declaration
