Laborious and joyful wait

Slovakia was chosen to host the next year’s plenary assembly of the Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe, which will take place on 3-6 October in Bratislava. In an interview for the SIR Europe, president of the Bishops’ conference of Slovakia, Mons. Stanislav Zvolenský, speaks about impressions associated with this decision and reflects on this year’s meeting in St. Gallen.Could you offer a brief reflection over this year’s plenary of the CCEE in St. Gallen?"I consider it to be very valuable that the meeting focused on actual situation and conditions of the Church in respective countries of Europe, in the light of new evangelization. In most of them these conditions are influenced by decisions of the institutions of the European Union. We listened to the reports on activities and received advice on how to react to these voices coming from supranational European environment. The plenary brought new impulses for common attitude to certain questions. I believe that the Catholic Church should address some problems and challenges in a way that transcends borders of individual countries".The Church in Europe is marked by the crisis of family and moral values, decline of priestly and religious vocations. How serious is this situation in Slovakia?"Of course, the influence of mentality of countries in the EU is strong. There is the agenda of so-called "new rights" formulated by the lawyers who have other than Christian points of view. This is where I see the danger. The Catholic Church and the faith itself is threatened by this development and by the fact that we live in the society marked by laws which contradict basic principles of Christianity. We are aware that the Church will overcome this period and will bear witness of faith, but it will be a difficult and painful time. That’s why we are all invited to realize this situation and to unite our efforts in front of God to bear a true personal witness in the society". Bratislava was chosen to host the next year’s plenary session of the CCEE, planned for 3-6 October 2013. What opportunities arise from this decision for the Church in Slovakia?"I am very glad about it. I see it as a great chance to introduce the community of our faithful and life of the Catholic Church in Slovakia, our culture and – on the other side – to realize the European dimension of this important event. At the same time, we understand as an appreciation and credit for the Slovak Church that the presidents of the Bishops’conferences of European countries unanimously and willingly accepted our invitation".The meeting will fall into the scope of the Year of Faith, due to be officially opened next week by pope Benedict XVI and the Year of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Slovakia. How will these two events influence your preparations for the plenary?"In fact, one of the main reasons for our invitation towards CCEE was celebration of the 1150th anniversary of the arrival of Ss. Cyril and Methodius to the region of Great Moravia in 863. I must say that we are eager to present tradition of our faith derived from the Christian heritage of these two saints. Certainly, in Europe there are nations with longer tradition than ours, but we have some extraordinary impulses to offer. We want to show how remarkably the faith has helped our nation in a complicated historical development, up until today. And how it still represents a source of new inspirations and new strength to overcome difficulties. We want to testify about it. To host the plenary session of the CCEE is a great challenge for our Bishops’conference, as it is the first time we’ll organize an event of such dimension and significance. It will definitely be an opportunity for strengthening of mutual relations and exchange of valueable experiences".