Solemn commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz

Canon Jack McDonald writes:

I was privileged to be asked by Bishop Robert to represent him at the European Parliament's official commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the extermination camp in Auschwitz on 29 January - Bishop Robert was attending the College of Bishops in London and so could not attend himself.

This is a cliché, but sometimes clichés are true: it was a profoundly moving event, begun at a reception and continued in the hemicycle, ably chaired by the president of the EP, David Sassoli. Three survivors of Auschwitz, one now British, the others Dutch and Italian, all very elderly and frail, spoke about their experiences in the death camp. One of them, in a gesture of almost unlimited poignancy, played the cello for us. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, replied in a speech explicitly given as a German citizen which hammered home the message that the EU was born out of the ashes of European culture represented by Auschwitz, and that unambiguous action against racism, antisemitism, xenophobia and discrimination would always be part and parcel of the core work of the EU. The applause was rapturous and heartfelt - I found it difficult to stop applauding after the survivors spoke.

When I looked at the United Kingdom's flag displayed in the hemicycle, which will be taken down permanently on 1 February, I felt an anguish I have never known in my adult life outside family death. Britain is unwise to leave and to continue the struggle against the rising tide of antisemitism alone.

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GO! New Year's reception

Also on the 21st, in the evening, the Secretary attended the New Year’s drink of the GO! or Gemeenschapsonderwijs, the official net of public schools in Flanders and Brussels. The reception took place at the Flemish Parliament in attendance of Mr Ben Weyts, the Minister of Education. In public Dutch-speaking schools students and pupils may opt in for Anglican Religious Education for two hours a week.

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Ecumenical Patriarch visits Brugge

On 11th November, Armistice Day, His All-Holiness The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I visited the Europacollege in Brugge to deliver a lecture on The Role of the Churches in Europe Today. His-Allholiness was welcomed and introduced by Mr Herman Van Rompay, former President of the Council of the EU. On behalf of the Central Committee, our Secretary, The Revd Jo Jan Vandenheede, attended the event.

Photo: J.J. Vandenheede

Photo: J.J. Vandenheede

Sports and lifestances

On 23rd October 2019, a meeting was held at the offices of the Belgian Olympic Committee to discuss the implementation of the charter Le sport, l’esprit de l’humanité, about lifestances, sports and the promotion of fair play and respect. You can find the Declaration in French and Dutch in our Publications section.

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