CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Spain: the new Grupo de Comunicaciòn LoyolaIn Spain, the century-old publishing houses Sal Terrae and Mensajero, both owned by the Company of Jesus, have finally concluded, in the month of September, the merging procedures on which they had been working for the past two years. The initiative is an answer to the mandate of father general Adolfo Nicolás, as established by the 35th General Congregation that asked to adopt an apostolic plan that will adequately respond to the new needs at local, regional and universal level. Thus the merging of the two publishing houses falls within this approach, thereby confirming the natural evolution of Sal Terrae and Mensajero in order to address 21st century challenges. A new reality, the “Grupo de Comunicación Loyola” was created in their place. The Grupo has the same editorial brand of Sal Terrae y Mensajero. The merging is the first step towards the establishment of an efficient ecclesial and social service, supported by the century-old experience of the two publishing houses. At the same time, the “Grupo de Comunicación Loyola” will enrich the project with other working teams that will help the publishing group adapt to 21st century language and tools, such as the digital production service Sjdigital, with head offices in Valladolid, which includes among its tasks that of developing the websites rezandovoy.org and pastoralsj.org. This merging will provide web and publishing services, such as dedicates websites and the e-book format of all publications. Antonio Allende, Jesuit priest, appointed delegate councillor of the group, and the lay Catholic José Manuel Díaz, director general, are part of the team. Ukraine: pilgrimage of icon of Blessed Josaphata HordashevskaAt the initiative of the Main Administration of the Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate in Ukraine, who are preparing for their 125th jubilee due to be celebrated in 2017, an icon of Blessed Josaphata Hordashevska was painted with imbedded relics. The icon was painted by a Slovak painter and on the occasion of the celebration of the 1025th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus-Ukraine in Kyiv, it was blessed by His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Due to the jubilee of the Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate it will visit congregations and parishes of UGCC throughout the world. The pilgrimage officially began at the end of August with presentation of the icon by general superior of the Congregation, Sr. Teresa Slota, to Sr. Cecilia Zamuliak, superior of the Delegature of St. Josaphat in Argentina.Slovakia: film on new library of Catholic UniversityAfter more than a year of work, young filmmakers in Slovakia finished production of a new documentary film entitled simply “869”. The title reflects number of days from the moment of benediction of a cornerstone of the new library of Catholic University in Ruzomberok on 11 May 2011 until its prepared official opening, due to take place on 25 September this year. “869 days of work, striving, patience, perseverance, communication”, comment the producers. “Journalists and documentarists should always look for a man or a story – and this is what’s hidden also behind the project of the library. There were concrete people with an idea and they succeeded in transforming it into reality”, says cameraman Jakub Krska. Music for the new documentary was composed by two students of the only Catholic university in Slovakia – Ján Zborovjan and Pavol Sokolský. As they say, the project was a “great challenge”, filled by “waves of creativity and ardour” and its “eclectic nature corresponds with the story of the building”. The documentary will be premiered in the Culture Cinema in Ruzomberok on 24 September.Czech republic: Caritas DayDays of opened doors, exhibitions, presentations, musical and theatre performances, as well as holy masses and prayers of gratitude will be a part of celebration of the Caritas Day, due to be commemorated around the date of liturgical feast of St. Vincent de Paul at the end of September. The idea to introduce work of Caritas Czech republic originates in 2004 in southern part of Moravia from where it was spread all over the country. The Caritas Day was officially declared by the Czech Bishops’ conference in 2008. “Through this campaign we want to present the whole range of services provided by Caritas and awake the sensitivity of citizens towards the element of solidarity with people in need”, explains Lukás Curylo, director of Caritas Czech republic. One of the biggest providers of charitable services in the Czech republic traditionally awards the Prize of Caritas for development of charitable work, this year the ceremony will be held on 25 September. For more information: http://www.charita.cz/kampane/den-charity/.
