CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Ukraine: the Greek Catholic Church andelectionsIn anticipation of the parliamentary election in Ukraine, due to take place on 28 October, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) SviatoslavShevchuk exhorts priests to refrain from any involvement at the election campaign. According to his words, “when the Church interferes in politics, it always loses. For no political party seeking to present gifts to the Church will let it remain free”. At the same time, His Beatitude Sviatoslav reminds of the pastoral address of bishops of the UGCC to the nation on the occasion of forthcoming elections, published on 24 July this year, encouraging the faithful to participate in the election, considering it “not only a civil but a Christian responsibility” of each citizen. “To stay away from the election means to dissociate oneself from the responsibility for the fate of one own country”, says head of the UGCC, warning the believers not to trust vain promises of politicians but to consider “concrete works of the candidates done for the nation”. His Beatitude Sviatoslav recalls the words from pastoral letter where the hierarchs call Greek Catholics not to sell their votes by any means: “It has become a tradition in the life of our state that various forms of material aid or increase of social payments coincide in time with election campaigns. These are attempts to substitute imitations of real reforms and changes badly needed by various sectors of social life”.Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia: IV pilgrimage Pilgrims from Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia gathered on the border among their countries to participate in the traditional Eucharistic celebration on 25 August. The Mass was presided over by Mons. Tomas Galis, bishop of Zilina (Slovakia), and the homily was pronounced by Mons. PiotrGreger, auxiliary bishop of the Bielsko-ywiec diocese (Poland). He reminded the faithful that Europe was created by peregrinating Christians and the only language understood by everyone was the love of the Gospel. “The Gospel invites us to serve. Let us build Europe on Christian roots”, exhorted Mons. Greger. The Bishop of the Ostravsko-Opavska diocese, Mons. Frantisek Lobkowicz from Czech Republic, greeted the pilgrims at the conclusion of the holy mass, offering the words of St. Benedict “Ora et labora” as a recipe for solving contemporary crisis, adding that “Europe has a marvellous future if we all work properly and pray for our continent”. The meeting of pilgrims of three neighbouring countries was held for the fourth time.Slovakia: the Community of adoringpriests”The essence of the Church and the priesthood is authentically accomplished in adoration, and face to face with eucharistic presence of the Ressurected, any conversion, understanding, receiving of any new gift and opening of any new horizon is possible,” reads the message of cardinal Mauro Piacenza, prefect of the Congregation for Clergy, on the occasion of a recent establishment of the Community of adoring priests in Slovakia. He expresses joy over this “extraordinary and beneficent initiative,” which is fully in compliance with an authentic renewal of the life of priests, desired so much by pope Benedict XVI. According to cardinal, the most urgent and necessary task for revival of faith and vitality of religious life in the secularized world is “formation and sanctity” of spiritual pastors. “Everyday commitment to eucharistic adoration, to dwell in front of the Most Holy Sacrament and to join once a week a common adoration in the atmosphere of the Cenacle, together with our Mother, “eucharistic” woman, will gradually transform the life of the priests belonging to this community and will undoubtedly influence the fruitfulness of their service, faithful to its own identity, impressed in the mystery of redemption, in the mystery of the Eucharist,” writes cardinal Piacenza, expressing hope that the activity of the Community of adoring priests will significantly contribute to the process of new evangelization.Belarus: first congress of catholic mass media The First Congress of Catholic mass media ended on 26 August in Grodno, Belarus. The three-day event took place at the initiative of archbishop-metropolitan TadeuszKondrusiewicz, with participation of about a hundred Catholic journalists from Belarus, Latvia, Ukraine and Poland, who shared experiences and listened to lectures by media experts on various topics like public relations in the Catholic Church, new technologies, media strategies, or challenges associated with new media. Special guests at the Congress included Thierry Bonaventura, media officer of the Council of the Bishops´ Conferences of Europe. He addressed Catholic journalists telling them that they are not only reporters, but that their work “influences the whole Catholic Church in Europe”, inviting them to “think globally and be open to the world”. A video message was sent to participants in the congress by archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. As he stressed, Catholics are invited to work in mass media, not with aim of “propaganda or proselytism”, but to “bear witness to Christ who is the reason of our life and joy”. One of the conclusions of the congress was the decision to establish a working group to prepare the concept of development of Catholic means of communication and support an active presence of the Catholic Church on the media scene in Belarus.
