CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Czech republic: exhibition on “Being close” “Being close” is the title of an exhibition opened on 20 October at the Faculty Hospital in Olomouc, presenting work and activities of hospital chaplains in the Czech republic. Photographer Filip Fojtík, laureate of a prestigious competition Czech Press Photo Canon Junior Awards in 2010 and 2011, was capturing hospital chaplains in various situations from July till September 2013 and the exhibition of 25 large-scale black and white photographs forms an interesting picture of their service to seniors, sick and dying people in hospitals and hospices. During the following six months, the exhibition will tour several hospitals and healthcare institutions in the Czech republic. Work and activities of hospital chaplains were also the main theme of a Round Table discussion, broadcasted live by Christian TV Noe on Friday 18 November. Delegates for pastoral care in hospitals tried to answer questions on what it means to be a hospital chaplain, what problems and difficulties clergy in healthcare institution must face today and how they are seen by patients or hospital personnel.Slovakia: VIII Social Activities FairThe eighth edition of the Social Activities Fair was held in the commercial centers of Bratislava, Trnava and Nitra in Slovakia on 21 October, under the motto “Come, get to know, support!” The event organized by the Forum of Christian Institutions (FCI), started on the first weekend of October in Kosice during the International Peace Marathon, where charitable and social institutions presented their activities. “The aim of the fair to address the public and make it more sensitive towards people who face existential difficulties was succesfully reached”, said Jozef Predác, one of the coordinators. As he added, 52 organizations and institutions presented their work and achievements in several towns of Slovakia and the commercial centers became places to exchange experiences, make new contacts and share ideas for charitable and social initiatives. “For participants of the VIII Social Activities Fair it was a great encouragement to get to know each-other better and create better conditions for the needy in a common service”, underlines Pavol Kossey, vice-president of FCI.The event, co-organized by the Social Subcommission of the Bishops´conference of Slovakia, Konrad Adenauer Foundation and deputies of the European Commission in Slovakia, took place on the occasion of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2013.Sweden: ecumenical pastoral vademecum During the week the publication “meeting people in joy and suffering” was presented in Stockholm in the seat of the Council of Christian Churches in Sweden. The publication contains “simple pastoral advice on how the Churches can jointly respond at local level to questions on baptism, the Eucharist, Confirmation, marriage and burial”. The coordinators of the working group of the Council of the Churches for theological and pastoral questions that worked on the publication said: “the religion landscape in Sweden is changing rapidly. Sweden is a multireligious and multicultural society. All major world religions and all major Christian traditions to greater or lesser degrees are represented in our Country”. For this reason the Council of Churches with this volume intends to respond to the need and to the wish “of in-depth, mutual understanding”, whilst furthering proposals to the members of various Christian Churches who live their daily life in local communities, sharing important moments of their lives.Russia: Orthodox Church, forming new social workers A “webinar” is an online seminar, such as the one organized by the Synod Department for Charity of the Orthodox Russian Church designed to offer formation to the future workers of church social projects. The course began on September 30 with a video-interview of bishop Panteleimon, president of the department, on love and Christian charity. Courses will be held until the end of April. Every month is dedicated to an-depth reflection, starting with a sociological-legal introduction on the theme of social work. Some 150 registered participants from across Russia’s diocese attend the online course held twice a week, consisting of video-conferences and online meetings. Each student will be asked to present a final project in the area of social work that will have to include all aspects ranging from funding, structures and staff. A panel of experts will examine the projects, awarding the best ones.
