The time has come to open the doors of our churches in addition to the cultural initiatives linked to museums and memorial sites to show the Christian roots of our people, our country and our city - this is how Bishop Csaba Pál József reacted when it was announced that in 2023 Timisoara will be the three European cultural centers one of the capitals.
The bishop, who has held this office since 2018, pointed out in this regard: Many denominations and nationalities have lived side by side in peace in Timișoara for centuries. "They were able to preserve their identity, seeing diversity in coexistence as a mutual gift. In mixed-marriage families and mixed neighborhoods, they learned to respect and value each other. That's why I think that what Timisoara can offer to Europe, because it has experienced it, is the spirit of peaceful coexistence".
Regarding what happened in connection with the EKF programs, the bishop said: they organized a one-week Ecumenical Youth Festival with the young people between May 1 and 7.
"Many young people from seven denominations with different mother tongues worked for fourteen months on the preparation of the youth meeting. In the preparatory phase, they set themselves the goal of making the festival youthful, Christian and radiating the spirit of unity. They succeeded in this: about 30 programs, including a theater performance at the Timisoara Opera, a procession through the city during which we visited several churches, meditation on a boat trip on the Béga Canal, various performances, a Gen Verde concert at the Timisoara Philharmonic, etc. An ecumenical choir of 40 young people was also formed, which is still participating in various programs".
Csaba József Pál pointed out: in the past, their predecessors came to Timisoara because of unemployment or the demand for professionals.
"Today we also place our coexistence on Christian foundations. After all, we are all children of the heavenly Father. For His glory, we want His children to get along, help and love each other. This could be the visible signal that Timisoara gives to Europe".
The Together for Europe association, often referred to simply as Together, is organizing an international event on November 16-18, 2023 entitled "Together for Unity - Together in Timișoara". Together for Europe organization was invited by the bishop of Timișoara to organize the annual meeting of Friends of Together for Europe in his city.
"In 2016, I participated in the extensive Together for Europe event in Munich. I really enjoyed it and thought: these people of different faiths are doing what I have always dreamed of: they live joyfully in unity in the presence of God. This is an overwhelming testimony. Now they have to bear witness to this unity in God in Timișoara as well. When they come here, we will strengthen each other in our commitment to this," said Csaba József Pál.
Together for Europe became known in connection with the large-scale European events organized since 2004. According to the organization's own definition, it is "a free association of Christian communities and movements belonging to different churches".
It is currently joined by more than 300 communities across the continent, which maintain their autonomy and act in a network, contributing with their own charisma, for common goals. "Together for Europe," they claim, "wants to be a kind of answer to the need for a 'culture of reciprocity.' Through it, different individuals and peoples can accept each other, get to know each other, reconcile, learn to respect and support each other".
