CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Russia: the priorities of Moscow’s diocese "Christianity is an event that always precedes us, which we are called to follow in order to bring to the rest of the world not our ideas or our projects but our encounter with Christ", wrote the archbishop of Moscow, Msgr. Paolo Pezzi, in the letter indicating the priorities of the Catholic Church for Moscow’s diocese in the pastoral year that will be solemnly opened on September 29. The letter, published on August 15, stems from "the outcomes of the third diocesan pastoral meeting of May 2013, devoted to the role of the laity inside the Church", the archbishop said. The results of the meeting highlight "the irresponsibility and the passivity of lay people", who, Pezzi explained, "refuse freedom" and renounce "answering the questions triggered by faith". Three steps can be made to overcome this situation, the prelate said: "to accept the circumstances given to us by God as an opportunity for personal growth and maturity in faith"; "not to live faith only within the boundaries of our community"; to contribute to a Christian community "that nourishes faith" through the sacraments, raising "challenges directed at the hearts of the laity". For Msgr. Pezzi this means to promote initiatives "on lifelong Christian formation" and "charity work": "an indispensable dimension in the life of all believers". Ukraine: head of UGCC on 22 years of independenceChristian Ukrainians must bear responsibility for the fate of the independent state, affirmed His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), on the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of the independence of Ukraine celebrated on 24 August. "If we together actively love our homeland and live and work for it every day, we will guarantee its independence and ensure that it takes its rightful place in the family of European nations", said the major archbishop of Kyiv and Halych. He drew attention to the fact that today people often in a speculative way of thinking ask "what has Ukraine given to me?" But Christians should turn the question the other way round and ask themselves "what have I done for Ukraine to make it better, stronger and more powerful?" His Beatitude Sviatoslav recalls the words of famous poet Taras Shevchenko who has invited Ukrainians to "pray" for their country and "love" it, adding that this appeal sounds "quite special to the modern sons and daughters" of Ukrainian lands. "This is not just about some feelings. It´s a love that is active. To love is to be able to sacrifice", concludes the primate. Czech Republic: Church on ethnical tensionsBishop of Ostrava-Opava in the Czech republic, Mons. Frantisek Václav Lobkowicz, has issued a statement in regard to growing tensions between Roma population and majority citizens. As he writes, "the Catholic Church is sent to all people, regardless of their nationality, skin colour of social status". The prelate turns to Roma people, appreciating their sense for the unity of family, encouraging them to develop their traditions and culture and through this to help their children to "grow in human and civil maturity". "Get actively involved in the search for possibilities of showing your fellow citizens that not all Roma people should be seen as violent people, thieves and parasites. Show that you are people with great abilities which you can use if you get the right opportunity", invites bishop Lobkowicz. His message turns also to majority citizens, exhorting them to say strict "no" to all expressions of the racism. "Don´t generalize negative experiences of other people spread and supported by massmedia", encourages the bishop, asking all inhabitants to refuse any "expression of extremism" that represents an obstacle on the way to "peace and good coexistence". Slovakia: museum of small wooden churchesThe second phase of an international project "Mini open-air museum of wooden churches" has recently culminated in Lutina, Slovakia. It was officially presented last week by Mons. Ján Babjak, Greek Catholic archbishop metropolitan of Presov, as a part of the Program of transborder cooperation between Poland and Slovak republic for years 2007-2013. The miniatures of 20 wooden churches representing a unique religious and cultural heritage of the Greek Catholics in Slovakia, are placed near the Basilica of the Dormition of the Mother of God – a famous pilgrimage place associated with apparitions of St. Nicolaus in 1851. Overall budget of the project that should cover the replicas of all 41 churches situated in the villages of the eastern part of the country and border area of Poland, built in 1:10 scale, is 52,000 EUR.
