CHURCHES IN BRIEF" "
Czech republic: national symposium of Christian schoolsAbout 150 representatives of schools and educational institutions run by the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations in the Czech republic met in Hradec Králové on 14-15 November to reflect on various aspect of education and school system, with special regard to its recent development. Besides the representatives of the Ministry of Education, among special guests there was also Francois David, director of Catholic organization Notre Dame – Jeanne d’Arc Ecole – Collège, who is responsible for formation of directors of all French Catholic schools. He presented the details about Catholic educational system in France, including the relations between the state and the Church, financial aspects, professional education and formation of teachers at schools run by the Church. The event also included an introduction of a Program for the support of talented pupils and students of the American Fund for Czech and Slovak Leadership Studies. “An important part of the conference were the workshops where participants discussed problems of their schools regardless of their confessional adherence. Directors of educational institutions welcome this opportunity to talk informally about the relevant issues with their coleagues from the whole repulic”, says Martin Èech, responsible for the section of Church schools of the Czech Bishops’ conference. Currently there are 24 kindergartens, 23 basic schools, 19 grammar schools, 12 trade schools, 5 higher trade schools, 17 educational institutions of other kind and 1 conservatory run by the Catholic Church in the Czech republic. Slovakia: Church monuments among winners of competitionThe reconstruction of a foreside of the Church of St. John the Baptist at the Premostrate Abbey in Jasov, restoration of the oldest organ in Trnava, and restoration of historical wall paintings in the presbytery of the Church of St. Jacob – all these works are among the winners of the 8th edition of the competition “Cultural Monument of the Year 2012” organized annually by the Ministry of Culture of Slovakia. The works were subject to consideration of a jury of experts on architecture, historians and representatives of the government and the awards were consigned to the leaders of the respective projects on 14 November by minister of culture Marek Madaric. According to the statement of the Ministry o Culture, the aim of the competition is to “appreciate an effort of the owners of cultural monuments and the teams responsible for their reconstruction or restoration, as well as the preparation and realization of the renewal of historical environment in important cultural zones” in Slovakia. Sweden: 4thousand communities for peace Over 4thousand local communities belonging to the various Christian denominations in Sweden will be involved for seven days, until November 24, in a “global week for peace”, an initiative that this year is dedicated to the theme “Holy Peace – believers as peacemakers”, with a wide range of events scheduled across the Country: conferences, religious celebrations, fairs, initiatives for the youth. “The conflicts caused by religion today represent over half of armed conflicts. It’s important to delve into the role of religions in armed conflicts and recognize that religions share a fundamental value that is peace, not war”, said Karin Wiborn, general secretary of the Ecumenical Council of Churches in Sweden, promoter of the initiative. “The Week, which will continue addressing the issue in 2014, is an opportunity for faith, to believe that peace is much more than the lack of war: it is a promise of freedom and justice”, Wiborn said. The initiative undertaken in 2003 coincided with the Sunday of Christ the King, before the beginning of Advent. The Churches decided to step up efforts regarding global justice. Materials, information and suggestions for further initiatives are available on the Churches’ website, since “history is marked by holy wars. It’s time for holy peace”.
