CHURCHES IN BRIEF" "
Czech repubic: 15 years of army spiritual serviceThe Armed Forces of the Czech republic, along with Churches and the Ministry of Defence celebrated the 15th anniversary of renewal of spiritual service in the army. Ecumenical prayer on the occasion was held in Prague on 4 June and was led by cardinal Dominik Duka, president of the Czech Bishops’conference, and Joel Ruml, president of the Ecumenical Council of Churches. The event was preceeded by a convention presenting the spiritual service in the armed forces from various points of view. “The role of army chaplains is not just to announce faith, it’s not about moralizing and reprehending. The base for his activity consists in a respect for freedom of every person, it’s about the service of listening, sharing of personal and work joys and difficulties, in a respect for intimate secrets of everyone”, explain the coordinators of the chaplaincy in the army. Currently, 28 chaplains from 8 Christian Churches serve in this area, their service is limited to 6-8 years due to high requirements regarding their mental and physical condition and availability.Ukraine: mobile museum of John Paul II A traveling exhibition on life and pontificate of blessed John Paul II is touring Ukraine these days as a part of the Night of Churches. The mobile museum covers 62 square meters and is located on in an 18-meters-long truck weighing 18 tons. Its tour started on 7 June in Lviv and the schedule includes visit to towns of Khmelnytsky, Vinnytsia, Berdychiv, Zhytomyr and Kyiv, with daily opening hours from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The project is organized by the Pope John Paul II Cultura Center “Do not be afraid!” in Krakow and its goal is to “promote the thoughts and teaching of the Holy Father”. According to the Catholic magazine Credo, visitors can see little known photographs and films about John Paul II, his personal given to the museum by cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, archbishop of Krakow; the Archdiocesan Musum of Cardinal Karol Wojtyla in Krakow; and the Archive of the Metropolitan Curia in Krakow, including the breviary used by the pope during daily prayers, his pen, rosary, pectoral cross and many more items.Slovakia: e-book on private life of pope FrancisAn electronic edition of a unique book about privacy of pope Francis, as well as its printed version, has been published by the Don Bosco Publishing House (DBPH) in Slovakia. The book entitled “Pope Francis – talks with Jorge Bergoglio” offers a possibility to get to know better the life of a “witty and modest priest, eager teacher, bright and clever man who has become the head of the Catholic Church”, reads the editor’s note. “Right after the election of the Holy Father we obtained an exclusive right to publish this book. We are very glad that Slovak readers will be able to encounter him in a private way”, explains director of DBPH, Ján Misko, adding that it is the first Catholic book in Sovakia published also in electronic way. DBPH was established in 1994 and is one of the biggest Catholic publishing houses in the country.Belarus: pilgrimage of relics of St. John BoscoThe world-wide pilgrimage of the relics of St. John Bosco will cross the border of Belarus on 25 August. The tour will start in Minsk and – according to metropolitan of Minsk-Mogilev, Mons. Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz – the first stop of the relics will be in the Archcathedral Catholic Church of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, with two holy masses celebrated on the occasion. Afterwards, the relics will travel around several Catholic Churches of Belarus until 31 August, to offer the faithful the opportunity to venerate the relics and reflect on the life of this Italian priest, his work and his dream to help and educate young people. The construction carrying the urn with relics is made of iron, aluminum and glass and its weight together with carriage is 450 kg.
