CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Ukraine: UCU awarded for best social investmentDuring the second International Investments and Innovations Forum that took place in Lviv on 6 June, the winners of the "Investor of the Year 2012" competition were awarded. The winner of the category The Best Social Investment was the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU), for opening of the Professional Master’s Program in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Master’s Program in Journalism, Certificate Program "In the Service of Life", and the Certificate Program in Conflict Studies and Management, as well as the School of Ukrainian Language and Culture, which every summer brings together foreigners from around the world to study the Ukrainian language and traditions. The most significant event was the opening of the Patriarch Josyf Slipyj Residential College. According to vice-rector of UCU, Fr. Bohdan Prakh, this award is "a recognition that social and educational projects implemented by UCU are important for Ukraine" and launching of new programs represents an investment for the future. Ukrainian Catholic University currently has 900 regular students and 600 audit students in various courses.Slovakia: beatification process of Ján HavlíkPresident of the Bishops’conference of Slovakia, Mons. Stanislav Zvolenský, has officially opened a diocesan phase of the beatification process of Ján Havlík, seminarist from the Mission Society of St. Vincent de Paul who died in 1962, aged only 37, as a result of psychical and physical torture by communists in prison and labour camps. The opening ceremony of the process took place in Skalica on 9 June. "He spent two years in labour camps and eleven years in prison but he never gave up his vocation and resisted all suffering in a deep faith in God", explains P. Augustín Slaninka, vice-postulator of the cause. "Ján excelled in humbleness, friendliness and service to others", shares his personal experience Fr. Anton Srholec who was imprisoned together with Havlík. Young lazarist was able to announce Jesus Christ also in difficult and extreme conditions behind the bars. "We wanted to bring sacrifices on the altar, but now we are going to rise our suffering and our lives instead of the hostia", he said to his mother. He was accused of "hidden attacks towards the state system through his religious reflections" and a long-term stay in severe prison conditions undermined his health so much that shortly after his release he died.Czech Republic: spiritual help to victims of floodsThe amount of money collected by Caritas Czech republic to help the victims of recent heavy floods in several regions of the country has reached 3 million CZK (120,000 ). Whole nation has shown solidarity with people affected by rivers overflowing their banks and destroying lives and properties. "Those people may look all right on TV but in a direct contact with them we see that they are desperate, that they don’t want to speak to anyone, not even to their neighbours or relatives, which means that they are not able to cope with this difficult situation", says Jitka Chvílová from the psycho-social consulting team of Caritas, adding that the victims need spiritual and psychical help as much as that of material kind. In this regard, the diocesan office of Caritas in Litomerice has opened a crisis nonstop telephone line served by Catholic priests where people can find spiritual support and advice. "I am really sorry for those who have been affected by floods but after a while, when the damages are gradually repaired, the pain will transform into something new and positive", says bishop Pavel Posád, president of Caritas Czech republic, assuring people of constant prayers and fast distribution of aid and financial support to the most affected areas.
