Dear Latins,
I would like to draw your attention to some matters of which the first 2 may be particularly important to you at this time.
1. Latins commencing their military service There is a decision by the Minister of Defense dating back to 2009 by which enlisted men belonging to the Latin Community will be facilitated by serving only in towns where there is a Catholic Church in order to be able to attend Catholic Mass . This comes into effect after their basic training. Therefore our enlisted young men must present the National Guard with a certificate that they belong to the Lain Community. As a reminder, there are Catholic Churches in Nicosia, Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos.
2. Latin pupils at private schools I would like to remind you that the government provides a subsidy for all children who belong to the Latin community and attend private schools.
3. Activities by Latin charity associations - Saint Catherine’s Benevolent Society in Limassol raised € 2100 from their Easter bazaar and lottery on 24 April. - St. Anthony’s Benevolent Society in Nicosia collected € 4000 from their bazaar and lottery on 13 June. Congratulations to all the volunteers and contributors!
4. Agreement for the participation of the Latin Community on Europeana The Digital Heritage Lab of the Technological University of Cyprus has extended the Latin Community its services for the archiving, preservation and promotion of our Community on Europeana, the EU digital platform for cultural heritage. The program aims to create a digital online collection of photographs, newspaper clippings or any other items which showcase the cultural hιstory of the Latin community in Cyprus.
There are already municipalities, communities, institutions and other religious groups of Cyprus which are already present on Europeana.
I kindly ask members who can provide us with any material showing the cultural history of the Latin Community of Cyprus, to please get in touch with us. Material can be in the form of old photos (e.g. showing religious rites such as Baptism / First Communion, any past social events, photos from the Latin schools, etc.) or newspaper clippings or old certificates etc.
All material must be free of copyright limitations and will be digitized and returned to you.
The cultural history of the Latin Community has had an indelible and significant influence on Cyprus society. I look forward to your positive response in order to make the history of our Community visible to any interested person, from anywhere in the world.
Thank you and I wish you all a wonderful summer.
Yours sincerely,
Αntonella Mantovani
