Belgium
|
|
 |
Population: 10.2 million
Life expectancy males/females: 74 /81 years
Infant mortality rate: 6.1‰ |
Religions: Catholic 79%; Protestant 125,000;
Israelites 35,000; Anglican; Othodox.
Independence: 4 October 1830 (from the Netherlands)
GDP per capita: US $24,710 |
Spiritan presence: since 1900.
Personnel
In 1994, there were 44 confreres from the Province in Belgium itself
and 18 working abroad. The Province still has four communities in
the country. The house at Nijlen is primarily for retired confreres
who speak Flemish.
Activities of the communities and confreres
The Province has been historically linked to the Democratic
Republic of Congo (Zaire). This gave it a specific identity
but it also had limiting effects: the Province went well when its
mission territory was going well.
There are still several confreres working in parishes
as parish priests or curates. Others are chaplains in old people's
homes or convents. The Provincial is the National Director of the
Pontifical Missionary Works. Another is secretary to the organisation
of religious Institutes.
"Lumen Vitae" is very popular and attracts students from
other circumscriptions. The Province welcomes and helps them, a
service that is very much appreciated. The Province also helps other
circumscriptions and Cor Unum according to its means, and sometimes
even beyond them.
|
Back
to Europe
Back
to World