CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Ukraine: delegation of AUCCRO in BrusselsThe delegation of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (AUCCRO) met with the European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy tefan Füle on 6 March, with aim to exchange views on the European prospects of Ukraine, in regard to various difficulties in the European integration process. According to the Institute for Religious Freedom, the heads of the Ukrainian denominations emphasized the importance of moral principles that are necessary not only for the development of Ukrainian society but also for the entire European community. They expressed awareness of their responsibility before God to uphold high moral values for the sake of future generations, which determines an appropriate public stance in the dialogue with the authorities and citizens. tefan Füle expressed his deep respect for the spiritual and moral principles that the leaders of Churches and religious organizations represent and embody in Ukraine. He stressed the uniqueness of the Ukrainian experience of interreligious understanding, which includes not only the peaceful coexistence of different religions, but also represents a successful example of interfaith cooperation. According to the European commissioner, this positive experience that characterizes the religious community of Ukraine is important not only for Europe but also for the entire globalized world, which includes representatives of different nationalities, religions, philosophies. Both sides agreed on the need for a joint search for answers to issues related to contemporary social problems, the demographic crisis in Europe being one of them. The heads of the denominations focused on spiritual and moral preconditions of social crises, calling to multiply good and resist evil. In their opinion, religion is an important part of building a civil society in Ukraine. The meeting outlined steps for further cooperation for the European Union and for Ukraine.Czech Republic: "Lenten" beer from Zeliv The monastery brewery of the Premonstrate Order in Zeliv, Czech Republic, has prepared a special type of beer made of five kinds of malt for the Lenten period. The tradition of a "lenten" beer made by monks origins in the 17th century in the Neudeck ob de Au monastery of St. Francis de Paul in Munich. "They drunk this strong beer called a liquid bread also during the Lent, because it made them strong and full of energy. However, they doubted if it was appropriate for the season of fasting and they decided to ask pope Inocent X to approve it. They sent him a sample of the beer for tasting but it perished. The pope found it very untasteful and considering its drinking a self-sacrifice, he allowed the monks to drink it", explains Jirí Novák, brewer of Zeliv. Since then, the tradition of so-called "lenten" beers made in monasteries has flourished. Production of beer in Zeliv started in the 14th century and it ended at the beginning of the 20th century because of fire that destroyed the manufacture. It was renewed in 2010 with new brewery technology.Slovakia: inspiration from italian parishesThe sacrament of marriage as a gift and its role within the Church is the main theme of the visit of Italian priest, Mons. Renzo Bonetti from St. Joseph parish in Bovolone, to Slovakia. He has been invited by the Family Center in the Archdiocese of Bratislava to introduce a project "Family – Church" that has been successfully running in several Italian parishes. On 11-17 March he travels around Slovakia and gives lectures on the role of family in the Church. His program includes interviews by Catholic TV Lux and Radio Lumen, presentation at the Commenius University in Bratislava and the Faculty of Theology of Catholic University in Kosice, meeting for married couples on "Mystery of the sacrament of marriage", participation at the spiritual retreat for married couples in Gabcíkovo, as well as several eucharistic celelebrations dedicated to "family as a fireplace of faith".
