Zagreb, (IKA) – From September 21 to 23, the regular annual meeting of delegates of the European Bishops’ Conferences for University Pastoral Care Workers was held in Zagreb. The meeting was organized by the Catechesis-School-University Commission of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE). The host for the meeting, held at the spiritual center of the Daughters of Divine Love, was the vice president of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences, Archbishop Cardinal Josip Bozanić of Zagreb. The meeting participants included approximately forty representatives from Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Hungary, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Rumania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden (in charge of Scandinavian countries), Turkey, the Ukraine and Great Britain. Also participating were the delegate from the Polish Bishops’ Conference for University Pastoral Care Workers, Auxiliary Bishop Marek Jedraszewski of Poznan, who performs the duties of the vice president of the Catechesis-School-University Commission; the delegate from the Slovakian Bishops’ Conference for University Pastoral Care Workers, Auxiliary Bishop Tomas Galis of Banska Bystrica; the undersecretary of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences, Dr. Ferenc Janka, who also performs the duties of the secretary of the Catechesis-School-University Commission; the secretary Commission’s University Section, Msgr. Lorenzo Leuzzi; and an expert from the University Commission, Dr. Augustin del Aqua.
On the first day of the meetings, the participants, including many new delegates, had the opportunity to become acquainted with the organization of the Catechesis-School-University Commission of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE), which strives to provide the most efficient possible Church ministry at universities. It was emphasized that in the light of the completion of the Bologna Process in 2010, the Church in Europe must accept new challenges in order for the university as an institution to become “Ex corde Ecclesiae.” A report was given of a meeting of university professors on the topic of “New Humanism for Europe: The Role of the University,” which was held this year from June 21 to 24 in Rome. The words of Pope Benedict XVI were stressed, who at an audience with participants of this meeting emphasized that Europe must reassert its mastery with the tradition of humanism, based upon Christian values, and universities must profoundly study the “crisis of modernity,” allowing religion and reason to work together and respond to the cultural and spiritual needs of the person. Guidelines for pastoral ministry at universities were also presented and a series of connections were pointed out, for example scientific reason and Christian faith, i.e. knowledge of science and fundamentals, the role of the university in seeking the truth, and the relationship between the university and theology. All of this, in order to bear witness to the Gospel at the university, would be achieved in seeking the truth, which results in the joy of “intellectual benevolence.”
On the first day of the meeting, there was a presentation of the activity of the pastoral ministry for students and young persons in Croatia. On the second day, the participants exchanged experiences in working groups and discussed the guidelines for university pastoral ministry, with particular emphasis upon the need for the formation of chaplains. On the last day of the meeting, a presentation was held on the topic of “The Formation of Student Chaplains.” The guidelines were also presented for the Sixth European Student Day, which will be held on March 1, 2008. There was also a presentation of the European Student Meeting planned for 2009.
The meeting was ended with a Mass on the occasion of the 375th anniversary of the dedication of the academic church of St. Catherine, led by Cardinal Josip Bozanić in concelebration with the meeting participants. The next meeting will be held in Bucharest from September 26 to 28, 2008.