CHURCHES IN BRIEF
Germany: Church and media skills The efforts of the German Catholic Church to promote media training courses in the Church are marked by the new "Media Skills" professorship at the Catholic University of Mainz. It was announced by the German Bishops’ Conference (Dbk) in a release. The initiative promoted by the academic institution covers various areas. In fact, it brings together specific pedagogic proposals of dioceses, association and ecclesial institutions media while encouraging cooperation between those in charge of formation inside and outside the Church in order to step up media skills. The purpose of the chair is "to ensure that media users are capable of adopting a responsible approach towards the media", the bishops write, underlining that during the plenary in Regensburg past spring the need emerged to step up media knowledge, a "fundamental requisite for peaceful coexistence". "The most common forms of erroneous behaviour, such as digital media depeneance, abuse of personal data, apology of violence or cyber mobbing are based on ideas and habits which can’t be curbed with bans or limitations", the bishops write. "For this reason, the new chair is meant to create proposals to counter the risks linked to erroneous personal behaviour while integrating human coexistence in a constructive way".England: faith and service of Queen ElizabethChristian faith is at the centre of Queen Elizabeth’s service for the nation: this is the belief expressed by the archbishop of Westminster and Catholic primate, mgr. Vincent Nichols, during a Mass officiated tonight in Westminster Cathedral in London, the mother Church of English Catholicism, in tribute to Elizabeth II’s 60 years on the throne. This is how the Catholic community thanked the Queen for the contribution of "stability, calm and serenity" she has been giving to her subjects. "Service requires a greater good that relieves those who serve beyond their own interest – the primate pointed out -, a life of total service requires a greater good that goes beyond anything the world may offer. Faith in God is what can be found at the heart of a lifetime of service. In this, we are really blessed in our Queen". "There is no point – mgr. Nichols went on – in listing the social, economic and political changes that have taken place over the last decades. Elizabeth II has been our Queen all through such changes, ensuring great security and an important feeling of continuity to all of us". Finally, mgr. Nichols thanked Elizabeth II for her "wonderful reception" of Benedict XVI during his visit in September 2010 and for her acknowledgement of the "special contribution" made by the Catholic Church to society.Hungary: anniversary of the Greek-Catholic heparchy of HajdúdorogAlmost 2000 faithful gathered at liturgy in Hajdúdorog on 3 June, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Greek Catholic Eparchy of Hajdúdorog by pope Pius X. The celebration was presided over by eparch Fülöp Kocsis, with participation of president of the Hungarian Bishops’ Conference, cardinal Péter Erdõ, apostolic nuncio Mons. Alberto Bottari, Roman and Greek Catholic bishops from Hungary and abroad, and representatives of state authorities. "Courage and fidelity to tradition": cardinal Erdõ described in these words the efforts of the Greek Catholics of Hungary leading to the establishment of the independent Hungarian diocese 100 years ago. As he stressed, the Church is invited to announce Christ in any epoch, with a language natural to people and their culture. The president of the Bishops’ Conference pointed to the teaching of Vatican Council II about the relation between the Universal Church and particular Churches and about unity in diversity, saying that "the Greek Catholic Church with its own tradition has always represented a part of the Catholic Church in Hungary". Today, the eparchy of Hajdúdorog consists of almost 150 parishes with more than 200 priests. According to statistics, about 2.6 % of 10 million inhabitants of the country claim to be Greek Catholics.Slovakia: summer school of journalism"Topics like press, radio and TV broadcasting, photography, non-verbal communication or Christian journalism will offer not only theoretical base and knowledge but also valuable practical experience to future journalists". With these words, the vice-rector of the Catholic University of Ruzomberok, prof. Peter Oleksak, invites students of secondary and high schools of Slovakia to participate in the 3rd edition of the Summer school of journalism, due to take place on 21-24 June. Young people who are seriously considering future studies in journalism or who are just curious about the work of media, have an opportunity to register until 17 June. The program will be full of professional lectures, workshops, discussions with renowned Slovak journalists and additional events, with intention to provide deeper insight into the world of media and its practical side. The organizers from the Faculty of Arts and Letters of the Catholic University hope to provide participants with all information necessary for their decision about a possible future career in journalism. For more information: www.lsz.ku.sk.
