chURCHES IN BRIEF
Slovakia: 500,000 pilgrims at LevocaAbout half a million pilgrims came to venerate the Virgin Mary at the biggest event of its kind in Slovakia – national pilgrimage to the Marian Hill in Levoca on 2-3 July. “Who is going to tell this world who is God and what is he like?” – asked the archbishop-metropolitan of the Archdiocese of Kosice, Mons. Bernard Bober, in his homily during Sunday Holy Mass, exhorting the faithful to read the Bible and bring the Christian witness dilligently to the places and situations of everyday life. He pointed out that many people are subject to religious indifference and many Slovak families face the crises of faith. Mons. Bober suggested the solution of this situation could be found in a new evangelisation and mentioned the Synod of bishops that will be dedicated to this topic in October 2013 in Vatican. Also present at the pilgrimage was apostolic nuncio to Slovakia, Mons. Mario Giordana, who forwarded the greetings and the apostolic blessing of the Holy Father to all participants and entrusted them under the protection of Mother of God. Marian pilgrimage to Levoca takes place every year at the occasion of the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated on 2 July. Pilgrims have been coming to pray at the Marian Hill since 13th century, the first chapel was built here in 1247.Ukraine: a humiliation and a memory”No such fact has ever happened in the twenty years of independence of our country. The Cross, which is Jesus Christ’s sign, has been cruelly desecrated. It is the first time the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine has been humiliated so much”. This is how mgr. Stanislav Shirokoradiuk, vicar general of the diocese of Kiev-Zhytomyr, commented on the desecration of the Cross, which was blessed in the square where the Church of Saint Francis will be built, in Kiev. In the night between 3rd and 4th July, the Cross was cut up into pieces and burnt by someone who does not want the church to be built in this new area of Kiev. Since 1993, the Roman Catholic community in Ukraine had been asking for a parcel of land to build the church in. In 2004, permits were granted, and in 2010 the land became the property of the Roman Catholic Church. Now, the parishioners meet in the small chapel for Sunday Mass, but the place cannot accommodate all devotees and the nearest church is one hour’s train away. 30,000 Roman Catholic Churches were destroyed in Ukraine, in the years 1917-1991. In Kiev, about 5 thousand devotees go to Sunday Mass.About 40,000 people came to commemorate 10th anniversary of visit of blessed John Paul II in Ukraine on 26 June. Pontifical divine liturgy, presided by His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, took place in the church of the Nativity of Theotokos in Lviv. “True freedom comes when we get closer to God, when we choose Him, when we follow the path of Ten God’s Commandments. Talking about that path as the development of civilization, John Paul II reminded all of us that true civilization consists not only of economical prosperity, but foremost of human, moral and spiritual growth”, said His Beatitude Sviatoslav in his homily. Also present was Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops of Catholic Church – Mons. Nikola Eterovic, who recalled that “among 1,345 blessed and saints canonized by John Paul II there are many Ukrainians”.Czech Republic: new secretary of the CECNew Secretary General of the Czech Bishops’ Conference, Mons. Tomás Holub, has taken over his duties on 1 July. He was elected during the 85th Plenary Assembly in June, replacing Mons. Ladislav Hucko who held the position for the last five years. From 2008 Mons. Holub served as a Vicar General and a moderator of the Curia in the Diocese of Hradec Králové. After Mons. Jan Vokál was appointed a bishop of the diocese in spring 2011, Mons. Holub became his chief advisor. He is also active in Christian youth leadership in so-called JUMP courses, gives lectures at the Czech Christian Academy and Czech Charisma Renewal and has experience with organising contemplative pastoral courses for youth and married couples.
