Open house in Slovenia” “

“Catholics comprise 83% of the population of Slovenia. There are three dioceses, Koper (Capodistria), Ljubliana and Maribor, subdivided into 803 parishes, grouped together in 60 deaneries; 188 parishes don’t have a priest of their own. There are 1,022 priests (0.6 for every thousand Catholics) but only 8 permanent deacons. There are considerable differences between the urban and rural parishes, and the situation may vary even between parishes in the same area”. These data are supplied by Father Peter Kvaternik , who heads the office of pastoral care in Ljubljana. They help to describe in some way the state of health of Slovene parishes, which still feel the legacy of the former Communist regime, though this “also led to a certain ‘purification’ of Christianity”. “As a country destined to enter the EU – says Father Kvaternik –, Slovenia will have to rapidly change from an economic and institutional viewpoint, and social life is feeling the pressure of this forced pace of change. The Church is adjusting to the new social situation with great difficulty: this may especially be noted at the level of parish life. However, most parishes enjoy ‘good health’, although consumerism and superficiality are ‘modern diseases’ that are beginning to spread”. Investing in formation and in ‘time’. “The parishes that have succeeded in proposing a variety of activities are those that best succeed in attracting the faithful”, continues Father Kvaternik, “but to do so they need many volunteers, which the parish priest succeeds in obtaining only if he has a clear view of the situation and is able to handle it in the right way. It’s easier in the parishes run by the religious orders, that have at their disposal many persons involved in pastoral care”. Nonetheless, “in recent times efforts are being made to form animators, especially the young, who have the will and, with suitable training, the capacity to help the parish priest. In many parishes the members of the parish councils are willing not only to formulate new ideas but also to invest a great deal of time in the implementation of projects”. One thing that needs to be improved is youth apostolate at the parish level. “The interest of the young in meeting together in the parish has declined – admits Kvaternik – and the work with the young is always challenging. That’s why many priests have difficulty in approaching them. However, Salesian youth clubs have been established in several parishes in recent times; they organize weekly summer camps for children during the summer”. Facilities for dialogue and meeting. “Before the second world war – recalls Father Kvaternik – Slovene parishes hosted wide-ranging cultural activities. These were limited during the war, and then banned. Facilities for cultural activities were confiscated by the regime, and all cultural institutions were destroyed. Ecclesiastical activity was confined to the sacristy. Still to this day we note a certain passivity, despite the fact that curbs no longer exist. Yet volunteers are active in many rural parishes, and many parish choirs not only ensure a pleasing liturgy but are also the focus of varied cultural activity. At times meetings of a social character are organised, to which the representatives of state and local institutions are also invited. Ever more parishes are choosing to build hospices for the elderly or kindergartens. Parish festivals are also occasions suitable for developing dialogue. A privileged opportunity for the meeting with the young is the autumn meeting in the Cistercian abbey of Stièna; from 8,000 to 10,000 participate in it each year”.