World Day of Prayer of the International Kolping Society Presented by the Kolping Society of Slovakia. In this way we are all Disciples of Christ

Transcription

1 World Day of Prayer of the International Kolping Society Presented by the Kolping Society of Slovakia Subject: In this way we are all Disciples of Christ October 27, 2009

2 2 / 17 Slovakia, Slovak Republic (Slovenská republika) Official Language Slovak Capital City Bratislava Form of Government Republic Head of State President : Ivan Gašparovič Head of Government Prime Minister: Robert Fico Surface 49,035 km² Number of inhabitants 5,455,407 (July 2008) Population density 110 inhabitants per km² GNP nominally (2007)[1] Mio. US$ (57.) GNP/per inhabitant US$ (43.) HDI (42.) Currency Euro Founded January 1, 1993 National Anthem Nad Tatrou sa blýska Time Zone UTC+1 CET UTC+2 CEST (March - October) Country Code SK Internet-TLD.sk International Dialling Code +421 Slovakia (slovak: Slovensko) is a state in Central Europe which arose from the division of Czechoslovakia on January 1, It borders (clockwisely) Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine and Hungary. Since March 29, 2004 Slovakia is a member of NATO, since May 1, 2004 it is a member of the European Union. On May 1, 2004 Slovakia adhered to the Schengen Treaty and in December 2007 border controls were removed. On January 1, 2009 Slovakia introduced the Euro. Slovakia has the following latitudes of its borders to its neighbouring countries: Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 215 km, Poland 444 km, Ukraine 97 km and Hungary 677 km. The most important border rivers are the

3 3 / 17 March (to the Czech Republic and Austria), the Danube (to Austria and Hungary) and the Eipel (to Hungary). Geography of Slovakia Slovakia has a longitude of 410 (East-West) and a latitude of km. In the North and in the Centre it has the characteristics of a mountainous country, but in the South it reaches to the Great and Small Hungarian Plain. The small state has a share of the surface of almost one third of the total of the Carpathian vault especially to the Western Carpathian Mountains. Part of the most important mountain ranges are (from West to East) the Small Carpathian Mountains (altitude up to 770 m) on the border to Austria, north-east the White Carpathian mountains (Biele Karpaty, up to 1000 m), farther to the East the Small and Large Fatra (Malá/Veľká Fatra, up to 1700 m), the Lower Tatra (Nízke Tatry, up to 2040 m) the Tatra mountain range (Tatry, highest peak m). The Centre of the Slovak Republic is dominated by the Slovak Erz Mountains (Slovenské rudohorie, up to barely 1500 m). To the East smaller mountain ranges follow, as well as the beginning of the Eastern Carpathian Mountains (in this region this mountain range is also called Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathian in English). The uplands are for the most part tree-covered; while the lands especially in the Tatras show a high alpine configuration. There are considerable lowlands only in the South West (Danubian Lowland) in the area of Bratislava and Nitra and in the South-East (East-Slovak Lowland East of Košice). The largest rivers of Slovakia are the Danube (at its middle section), the Tisa, the Váh, the March (Morava) and the Hron. The highest peak is the Gerlachovský štít (Gerlsdorf peak) in the High Tatras with 2655 m (which at the same time is the highest peak of the entire Carpathian Mountains); the number of mountains that are above the level of 2000 m is around 100.

4 4 / 17 Largest Cities (as of: December 31, 2004) Bratislava Košice Prešov Nitra Žilina Banská Bystrica Trnava Martin Trenčín Poprad Prievidza Zvolen Považská Bystrica Nové Zámky Michalovce Spišská Nová Ves Komárno Levice Humenné Bardejov Liptovský Mikuláš Ružomberok Banská Bystrica Bratislava Zips Castle Trnava Population There are around 5.43 million inhabitants in the country. The development of the population rather stagnated since the independence. With an average age of 35.5 years Slovakia is part of those countries with a rather young population. Ethnic Composition The census of 2001 showed the following ethnic composition of Slovakia: Along with 85.8 % of Slovaks the population of Slovakia consists of 9.7 % of Hungarian, 1.7 % Roma, 0.8 % Czechs, 0.45 % Rusyns (Ruthenians), 0.2 % Ukrainians, 0.1 % of Germans and 1.25 % other. The actual share of Roma is according to all of the relevant sources and experts significantly higher. According to the statements of local mayors and others

5 5 / 17 the share is at around 5.5 %, the above-mentioned share of Magyars and Slovaks is then lower by 4 % in total. Religions In Slovakia there are 15 stately recognized religious communities. The clearly largest is the Roman-Catholic Church. According to the census of % of the population are part of it. Further large communities are: Evangelical Augsburg Church 6.9 % Greek-Catholic Church 4.09 % Reformed Churches of Christian Protest denominations 2.04 % Methodists Orthodox Church 0.94 % Jewish Community In addition there are also communities of the Baptists and parishes of the Seventh-Day-Adventists. There are also active Jehovah s Witnesses in Slovakia, which in the time of the CSSR were prohibited. In the year 2007 they were active in 160 parishes in the whole of Slovakia % of the population are undenominational and 2.99 % did not respond. Among the other 1.24 % there are the Jews, which before the war had a large number of communities. Today there are several Jewish Communities, two in Bratislava (800 members), one in Košice (700 members) as well as in the cities of Prešov, Nové Zámky, Komárno, Dunajská Streda, Galanta, Nitra and Trnava. There no longer was Jewish life in Slovakia during Communism. For many years Jewish Communities did not have religious leaders. Only after the Velvet Revolution the current chief rabbi of Slovakia, Rabbi Baruch Myers came from the USA, and Rabbi Goldstein came from Israel who lead the communities in Bratislava and Kosice. Furthermore, there are also more than 2700 Muslims living in Slovakia.

6 6 / 17 Kolping Society of Slovakia The first Catholic Journeymen s Associations in Slovakia In comparison to other Central and Eastern European Countries the Kolping Society of Slovakia was renewed only relatively late, but as far as the historic continuity of the emergence and development of the Catholic Journeymen s Associations is concerned, Slovakia is a significant country with an important consciousness. In the historic documents that are available to us, it is written that the first Catholic Journeymen s Association was founded in Bratislava in Later on the Catholic Journeymen s Association were founded in Trnava 1858, Nitra 1882, in Košice 1887, Trenčín 1889 and in Prešov The beginnings of the Kolping Society in Slovakia During the Communist rule we had good relations to the German Democratic Republic and had the opportunity to travel to this country. Here we met the President of the German Kolping Society for the first time. The ideas of the Kolping Society and its linkage to life appealed to some people from Slovakia in such a way that it was possible to register as a civil association in March 1995 with the support of the Diocesan Kolping Society of Munich Freising as a partner. Furthermore, the basics for a national structure were created. Over the course of the first half of 1995 the Kolping Society of Slovakia experienced a swift development and the first 10 Kolping Families were founded. In June 1997 during the first National Convention, where also the first board was elected the Kolping Society of Slovakia was officially accepted into the International Kolping Society (as 53 rd National Kolping Society). Reshaping of the post-communist mentality Right from the start the Kolping Sociey of Slovakia appealed more to the active Christians who do not just consider Christianity to be a liturgical affair, but who previously showed their social commitment. The Kolping- Society has distinguished itself in Slovakia as a Catholic association and at the same time as a Non- Governmental-Organization which ever since its foundation had and continues to have clear societal and political ambitions. It was necessary to change the post-communist mentality which was used to the So-

7 7 / 17 cialist accomplishment which many people nostalgically thought of. It was possible to establish a solid structure thanks to the support of the International Kolping Society, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Renovabis. Emergence of transnational Partnerships At the overall Slovak level our partners became the Diocesan Kolping Society of Munich - Freising and later on also the Diocesan Kolping Society of Eichstätt. A closer cooperation also emerged especially within the scope of the projects with other National Kolping Societies, e. g. with Switzerland, with Poland, Hungary and also with the Czech Republic. Vocational Training, work and job The most urgent problem up until this present day is unemployment in Slovakia; therefore we have decided to give actual assistance in the form of an increase of the level of education for the unemployed. In this field we saw a chance of a making significant a contribution to the mitigation of social problems. We also did not elude the traditional areas of the Kolping work specific vocational training. Tolerance and Democracy, Information on European and Euro-Atlantic structures Furthermore we saw a further area or activity in the education for becoming politically committed and for the passing on of basic knowledge on democratic structures which the people of Post-Communism were lacking. We stressed the necessity of the participation of a Christian in the societal and political life of a country. It was an important and current task to train the people for a Euro-Bourgeoisie and to support the participation of Slovakia in the Euro-Atlantic structures in the last few years. We did not dodge the current subjects of the Slovak-Hungarian relations, the relations to the ethnic Roma population and for religious tolerance.

8 8 / 17 Marriage and Family, work with children Our work involving families and the training of families enjoys an enormous popularity with our members and sympathizers. We were motivated to commit ourselves in this area especially by the Eurofamilia- Seminars. Social sensibilization and spirituality with regard to the ministry of the Kolping members We did not forget about the formation of our members and sympathizers in the area of spirituality. Within the scope of the formation week for the Praesides and the Seminars in the field of Catholic Social Teaching we have stressed the development of the social sensibilization. Creativity, sports and spare time We prepare spare time programmes on a regular basis creative summer camps and workshops for children. Sports, culture und spare time, Olympiads, volleyball championships, dancing courses, participation in international sports events, pilgrimages and visits with the partners are essential elements of our programme. As far as the creative activities are concerned we would like to mention semi- professional theatrical performances and musicals by the Kolping Family Bošany, which through its theatrical performances became twice pan- Slovak winner in the field of theatrical performances by amateur associations, furthermore there is a pan- Slovak competition in literature by the students which was held during a project Promotion of democracy and tolerance between National and religious minorities and the symposium of young wood carvers in Banská Štiavnica. The symposia on altar wines which we hold in the Kolping House have become a tradition. We promote the development of the creativity and the capabilities with the motivation for self-employment; we have cooperation with the world renowned naïve arts painters from Kovačica, who assist us in the formation of talented Roma-painters.

9 9 / 17 Our Kolping Centres 1. Kolping House in Spisšké Podhradie Eastern Slovakia A modern Educational Centre offering the possibility for accommodation in the centre of the spiritual and cultural activity. 2. House of Clemens M. Hofbauer and handicrafts workshop Leo Albus in Spišské Podrhradie for the support of Vocational Training of marginalized groups of the population especially of the Roma, a diagnostic motivation centre for achieving these aims, a shop for handicrafts articles. Furthermore it is about the support of the talents with the Roma-Youth and the integration of the Roma-women into the Slovak society. 3. House of Father Jozef Zahora in Štiavnické Bane Central Slovakia Seat of the National Secretariat, offers educational rooms for life-long learning and a workshop for the support of wood carving and wood carving professions, a diagnostic motivation centre for the unemployed. Protector of the Kolping Society of Slovakia: Msgr. Prof. František Tondra - Bishop of the diocese of Zips, Chairman of the Slovak Bishops Conference Our former National President Ján Figeľ who led the talks before the accession to the EU of Slovakia, in 2004 became European Commissioner.

10 10 / 17 Liturgy of the Word Entrance: Liturgical greeting: Song or Instrumental Ad libitum According to the missal Introduction: It is a great honour for the Kolping Society of Slovakia that it was able to prepare the World Prayer Day this year and that in this way an intensive linkage is created with all the National Kolping Societies throughout the world. Slovakia is a small country in the heart of Europe which only gained its sovereignty and independence 20 years ago. We never waged wars, we shoved through history in the shadow of more in the shadow of the more powerful, but thanks to the heritage of our Apostles Kyrill and Method and our Patron Saint The Virgin Mary of the Seven Sorrows we were able to preserve the most important thing the faith and our own identity. Now when we became a part of a unified Europe, we would like to continue to preserve the heritage of our fathers in this multi-cultural area and to participate in the preservation of the universal human values using our capacities. During this World Prayer Day we unite in prayer, so that all the countries of this globalized world preserve their own spiritual values and their unique identity and therefore create the prerequisites for the happy and peaceful coexistence of all the people on our planet. Kyrie: Gloria: Ad libitum According to the Missal Song Opening Prayer: Gracious God, you made the family become the basis of the human community. May the example of the Holy Family strengthen in us the love and the obedience that every community is leaning on, so that we will be your house-mates in the Eternal Happiness. For this we pray through Christ our Lord!

11 11 / Reading: Ac 3: 13-15, A reading from the Acts of the Apostles Peter said to the people: The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And his name by faith in his name has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all. And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out. 1 Responsorial Psalm: Ps 4: 2,4 and 7,8-9 Make your face shine above us, o Lord! R Answer me when I call, * O God of my righteousness! 2 You have given me relief when I was in distress.* Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! (R) 4 But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; * the LORD hears when I call to him. 7 There are many who say, "Who will show us some good? * Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!- (R) 8 You have put more joy in my heart,* than they have when their grain and wine abound. 9 In peace I will both lie down and sleep;* for you alone, O LORD, make me(p) dwell in safety. (R) 1 All passages from the Bible taken from: The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

12 12 / Reading: 1 Jn 2: 1-5a A reading from the First Epistle of John My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. Hallelujah: Hallelujah, Hallelujah. Lord Jesus, make the Scriptures accessible to us! Make our hearts burn when you talk to us. Hallelujah. Gospel: Lk 24: From the Holy Gospel according to Luke That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he inter-

13 13 / 17 preted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?" And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying: "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. Address: Lk 24: The Church is a place where usually the so-called big subjects are discussed. Discussions on God, on religion, faith, love; We also touch politics and the family, as well as justice and sin... We would also find further subjects we reflect or could contemplate. I admit, I do not feel comfortable in the role of an annotator of what is great and important. I feel better when we get to a subject jointly of simple questions and problems. The theologian, author and Jesuit Michael Gallagher voiced a similar feeling when he said to his students: Let us not talk about God, let us talk about you! When we are open-hearted, we admit that we only hide behind the so-called big subjects. We talk about what could be done differently in politics or in the Church or in the upbringing of one s own child, however, we are not getting any place, if the solution of the problems does not start with us. If we start to perceive the reality of our politics, of our Church, of our Family, of our children... of ourselves not in an honest way, we cannot find a good solution. For the disciples of Jesus HE was the big subject and the Kingdom of God proclaimed by him! As we can read in the 24th chapter of the Gospel of Luke, the disciples linked high hopes to Jesus: But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. (Lk 24: 21) They had hoped that he would liberate the Jewish Society from the domination of the Romans as well as that he would assist the people in their physical difficulties and God, which Israel believed in he testifies this also in front of sinners and pagans as the only and true God. After his

14 14 / 17 death all of these hopes broke down. In the recount of the two disciples on their way to the village of Emmaus the Gospel according to Luke recalls this disappointment and at the same time it offers this experience how it is possible to overcome this disillusionment and to experience the risen Christ. The story of the two disciples who following the destination of their journey also received the attribute "Emmaus Disciples" is the longest recount of the apparition of the risen Jesus within the entire Book of Gospels. The recount has two parts: The conversation with Jesus and a joint meal at the table with him. During the conversation they do not recognize Jesus, but bit by bit they get more and more happy: "Their heart is burning". According to the Evangelist Luke the conversation took place with the explanation of that what was written on Jesus with Moses and the prophets (in the Old Testament): The Messiah had to suffer first to rise again and be with the living God. The disciples learn to believe in the risen Jesus during the joint dinner. The apparition itself is described similarly to what Jesus did in the Last Supper: When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. (Lk 24: 30) The apparition of the risen Jesus described by Luke is not only just the testimony of the experiences that two men made but it is also the testimony of how the first Church experiences the acclaimed presence of the risen Jesus. She experienced this through the exposition of the word of God, not simply (just like Christian Fundamentalists believe up until today) by reading the texts of the Bible alone. The apparition happened but their eyes were not opened during the conversation on the Bible, but upon Breaking the bread, during the celebration of the Eucharist what today we call Holy Mass. Behind these experiences are not only the habits of the Christians to interpret the Bible in a new fashion and to celebrate the joint meal in commemoration of Jesus but especially from the conviction that God acts in such places where the disciples of Jesus at their joint meetings and during the sharing exposition of their experiences, their hopes, frustrations and joys have themselves led by through the spirit of God. All of what we say here does not have to be an odd religious experience. However, we ask us: What actually is the religious experience? It is the interpretation of our life in the light of the faith in the risen Lord. Jesus spoke with the people about their letdowns and hopes, not about religion. In this way he also talked to the disciples who went to Emmaus. He would like to talk to us in the same way. Adolph Kolping said: Christianity does not consist of nice words and empty phrases: It has to be practiced in an active, committed and sacrificial way, so that it be clearly identifiable in the world and strongly influence its surroundings. People who search for special experiences in prayer do not seem to be trustworthy, who cannot share with their fellow men their daily tribulations and hardships and who are not interested in the life of their

15 15 / 17 neighbours! In our time we can find many religious groups who pray to God in a special way and who are full of pride because of their own religiousness and justice. But where are the parishes and such Christians, where are the Kolping Families, with whose assistance the message spreads faster than via the Internet! Where was I able to sense that I was accepted as a person, or that someone had eaten and had a drink with me, just like Jesus had eaten and had something to drink with the simple people? Once I read that somewhere in Brazil (where there are little priests) the liturgical service was led by a simple farmer. The bishop got to know about him that he was a good homilist and was interested in him. He was surprised to find out that the farmer was illiterate. And so he asked how it was possible that he would interpret the Gospel in such a beautiful way. The farmer said to him: My oldest daughter is literate and on Monday she always reads to me the Gospel that will be read in the liturgical service the next Sunday. I think about all that everywhere and on the Sunday I tell the people, what I have understood from the word of God and how I have experienced it in my life. Let us not talk about religion, let us talk about you and me! Let us talk about where our disappointments and hopes are in the spirit of Jesus Christ. Then we can also overcome our cross and experience our own resurrection. Prayers of Intercession: Leader of the Liturgical Service: Lord Jesus Christ, you did not come to be served but to serve, give that within the community of the Church one serves the other and that love may unite us and strengthen us against evil V: Christ hear us! A: Christ graciously hear us! 1st Intercessory Prayer: You give the bishops and their assistants a share in your pastoral care for the people: Assist them in their responsible service and give our Kolping Families enough priests and Praesides. 2nd Intercessory Prayer: We ask you, assist us in the Kolping Families so that we as "the community on the way" are open to all the groups of society and strata of society and recognize the interests and the needs of each person. 3rd Intercessory Prayer: Lord, give that those people who are still searching and who do have questions may find convincing role models and reliable companions for their lives in the Kolping Family and in the Kolping Society.

16 16 / 17 4th Intercessory Prayer: You know the daily hardships and tribulations of the human life: Save us us from bad harvests and Catastrophes and give us the courage to help the needy and the starving. 5th Intercessory Prayer: Lord, encourage us to take on missionary assignments and social and pastoral Responsibility. Leader of the Liturgical Service: Gracious Father and almighty God, look with benevolence on your congregation which is redeemed by the death and the resurrection of Your son, and let it have a share in His Victory at Easter. So we ask you through Christ, our Lord. A: Amen Prayer for Slovakia There is a nest I know, and hold dear to my heart. It enfolds, as though in a Divine Net, many fathers, many mothers, and many, many children. This nest, woven by the Creator, And, has decreed for: Whomever is called to dwell in an earthly home, who will himself decide whether to open or bar his gate; who will put his hand to the plough, like one cutting bread, to slice the land given to him by God. There is a nest I know, and hold dear to my heart. It warms me day and night, like a resting-place fashioned from a mother s soft words and a father s work-calloused hands. My Gracious God, cast your eye upon it. Protect it constantly. Oh, Mighty One, but be its safeguard since You created it, so small, Slovakia. Amen

17 17 / 17 (Milan Rufus, Slovak Poet, deceased 2009) Our Father: Sign of Peace: Pater noster Offerte vobis pacem Communion Verse: The Lord says: Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Isaiah 49: 15 Song: Kolping Song: There are many questions... Prayer of Blessing: You have strengthened us with the bread of heaven. Remain with us with your grace, so that we imitate the role model of the Holy Family in our own families and our Kolping Families and after the mortal coil get in their community we will get to the heritage which you have prepared for your children. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Dismissal: