Information about events in the Czech Church

Brief information about events in the Czech Church for a smooth year (June 2013 - June 2014).

Ss. Cyril and Methodius Jubilee – Sixty thousand pilgrims attended the mass in Velehrad on 5th July 2013 to celebrate the highlight of the jubilee celebrations of Ss. Cyril and Methodius. Presiding over the liturgy was papal legate, Cardinal Josip Bozanić of Zagreb, Croatia.

Summer Plenary – On 6th July, Czech bishops met at their plenary meeting in Velehrad. They discussed some liturgical issues, pastoral activities for 2014, and Church schools.

National Pilgrimage to St. Wenceslaus – Thousands of people attended Stará Boleslav, a place where patron saint of the Czech state St. Wenceslaus was martyred, to celebrate the national pilgrimage to the saint on 28th September 2013.

Meeting of Czech and Slovak Bishops – On 22nd–24th October 2013, a common meeting of the Czech and Slovak bishops’ conferences was held, attended by some thirty bishops and the apostolic nuncios to both countries.

National Pilgrimage to the Holy Land – On 8th–10th November 2013, the main part of the National Pilgrimage to the Holy Land took place. Participants of the event that aimed to commemorate the Year of Faith celebrated masses on the Mount of Beatitudes, in Bethlehem and near the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

Courtyard of the Gentiles – Prof. Tomáš Halík and Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi addressed the gathering held on 14th November 2013 on the theme “Dialogue between the believers and the unbelievers” to open the “Courtyard of the Gentiles” in Prague.

Winter Plenary – On 21st–22nd January 2014, the plenary meeting of the Czech Bishops’ Conference (CBC) took place in Prague. Bishops discussed their upcoming “Ad Limina” visit, the current situation concerning the property settlement, and the preparation of events to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the International Year of the Family in 2014. The celebrations will culminate in the National Pilgrimage of Families to be held on 30th August.

The “Ad Limina” visit – Czech bishops made their “Ad Limina Apostolorum” visit of Rome on 11th–17th February 2014. They met Pope Francis on two occasions and celebrated several masses with Czech pilgrims.

The Templeton Prize for Msgr Halík – The 2014 Templeton Prize was awarded to Msgr. Tomáš Halík, Czech priest and professor. The first Czech ever to receive this honor, Msgr. Halík took over the prize in London on 14th May 2014.

Spring Plenary – On 6th–7th May 2014, Czech bishops gathered at their plenary meeting in Olomouc. Participants discussed pastoral care of the Romani people and migrants and encouraged the faithful to take part in the European elections.

Night of Churches – On 23rd May 2013, several thousands people visited the 1300 churches and religious houses opened throughout the Czech Rep.

The Church will recall the legacy of John Huss – Preparations of the ecumenical celebrations of the 600th anniversary of the death of reformer John Huss, to be held in 2015, are in progress; presiding over the preparatory commission is Bishop František Radkovský of Plzeň.

Property settlement – Claims for the property continued to be submitted in the second half of 2013; in 2014, the property started to be transferred. The procedure aims to give back property confiscated by the Communist regime or financial compensation for the property that cannot be given back.

Bishops’ Resignation – The Holy Father accepted the resignation of Bishops Petr Esterka, auxiliary of Brno (December 2013), and Jiří Paďour, OFMCap., ordinary of České Budějovice (March 2014).

New documents of the CBC – On 21st November 2013, the CBC together with the Ecumenical Council and the Prison Service signed the convention on the prison spiritual care.

On 8th April 2014, the Catholic Church and the Labour Office signed the declaration about the cooperation with the aim to ensure a job for unemployed people.

The Justice and Peace Council of the CBC addresses the current social matters, its latest documents dealing with the homelessness, pension system reform, and food banks.

(Transl.: Jiří Gračka)