CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Czech RepublicChurch property: nearing restitution? Government proposal concerning the restitution of the Church property will be submitted to the representatives of Churches and religious communities in Czech Republic on 30 May by the Minister of Culture Jiri Besser. As predicted, the government commission plans to restitute maximum of grounds, forests and real estates. Financial compensation will be considered only in case the restitution of property wouldn’t be executable for some reasons. Its estimated amount could reach tens of billions of Czech crowns (1 euro=24,4 CZK). Concrete proposal will be open for the comments and suggestions by the Churches. Ministry of Agriculture has already prepared the registry of adequate grounds and forests. According to the Press office of the Czech bishops’ conference – 95 percent of them could be restituted by the end of this year, depending on the result of negotiations with Churches and religious communities. The Government tries to use the least possible amount of money from the state budget. Final version of the property composition between the State and the Churches should be ready by 2012. Persisting problems regarding this matter are the heritage of the Communist regime that ended in the country in 1989. The cultural programme of the World Youth Day. Music, theatre performances, film projections, exhibitions all this will be a part of the cultural programme of the World Youth Day (WYD) 2011 that was officially presented in Madrid in late April. Czech Republic will participate with three projects: photo exhibition "Gate of hope" by Jindrich Streit, about spiritual dimension of human life from birth till death, is to be seen in the cultural centre Fernan Gomez; traditional Czech dance by the folklore ensamble Dubrava will be performed in front of the Church of St. Barbara; and concert of Biblical songs by the composer Antonin Dvorak, interpreted by Jan Sprta and Pavel Borsky, can be heard in the Church of St. Barbara. Czechs will therefore be among 37 nations that will show their traditions and cultural preferences at WYD 2011. Pilgrims officially registrated to participate at the event will be allowed to see all the performances free of charge. A recognition to the diocese of Litomerice. Encouragement of others, faithfulness to the Gospel of Christ, considering the service to God and neighbour a mission for entire life those are the attributes to be met by the laureates of the Papal Order of Saint Gregory the Great according to the Czech bishop Jan Baxant. Two extraordinary people received this honor from his hands and the hands of an apostolic nuncio in Czech Republic, Mons. Diego Causero, on 19 May in the town of Litomerice: Petr Mikula – deputy chancellor of the Bishop’s curia and Milan Zboril, M. D. – personal doctor of four succeeding bishops of the Diocese of Litomerice. The Papal Order of Saint Gregory the Great is one of five Orders awarded by the Holy See. It was established in 1831 by the pope Gregory XVI and his laureates have been men and women of an exemplary reputation, working for the good of society, Church and the Holy See. Both new bearers of this honour became members of the Order of Saint Gregory the Great, with the title "Knight". As Mons. Causero affirmed, the gratefulness and appreciaton of the Holy See is extended to whole Diocese of Litomerice to "all those who have in some way contributed to the growth of the Christ’s Church in the region". Slovakia"Switch off the TV, turn on your life!". "Switch off TV, switch on yourself!". Campaign with this slogan started on 23 May in Slovak parishes. Organized by the Movement of Christian Children’s Communities, the initiative aims to show all the people that free time can be spent in more creative and active ways than by sitting in front of television. For the 11th time thousands of children and adults all over the country have officially registered for more fun in a form of games, trips, competitions and creative workshops in more than 130 towns and villages. "We want to distract kids from the television screen because they spend far too much time sitting in front of it", says one of the project coordinators Veronika Brandysova. This year’s motto is "Time for open hearts" and the Movement of Children’s communities offers complete informative and educational materials, as well as concrete proposals and plans on its website: www.erko.sk/vtzs. The week without television is due to end on 29 May.
