Divine Word Missionaries

SVD Mission 2000

Province
Reports
for
the XV
General
Chapter

Contents

Presentation
Four Zones
AFRAM
ASPAC
EUROPA
ESP
GBR
GE-
GEN
GES
HUN
IRE
ITA
NEB
OES
POL
POR
ROM
SLO
SWI
URL
PANAM
Statistics
Index

en Español

SVD Publications
Generalate
Rome
1999

SLOVAKIA - CZECH REPUBLIC PROVINCE

1. General Situation of the Country

Slovakia sits right at the heart of Europe, with a population of 5,300,000 inhabitants. Within her borders large groups of ethnic minorities, particularly Hungarians, make their homes. These minorities make up about 14 % of the total population.

After the First World War, Slovakia and Bohemia formed one republic which lasted until 1992, except for a short period of six years during World War II. After WWII Slovakia became part of the socialist block of nations.

Under the social and political circumstances of that time the country did not enjoy a normal development. Religious and civil rights and liberties were curtailed. The economy became subservient to the might of the state, and everything went according to the plans of those in power. This contributed not only to the economic decline of that period, but it also influenced to a great extent the people's way of thinking. The situation lasted for forty years, during which an atheistic and socialistic ideology set the tone for the country.

As the socialist block of nations began to crumble in 1989, Slovakia, while she was still a part of the republic of Czechoslovakia, opted for a change both in her economy and society. In her economic dealings she followed the path of the western nations, a step which was not easy to take and which up to now has not been entirely successful. The lack of (managerial) experience and the wrong kind of privatization led to a further worsening of the economy. At the same time, the people realized that they were still politically immature and inadequately trained.

Slovakia decided to separate from the Czech republic and to stand on its own feet as an independent state, a transition peacefully brought to a conclusion on Jan. 1, 1993. She established her capital in Bratislava.

2. Situation of the Church

The introductory clause to the Slovak constitutions contains statements acknowledging the country's historical and spiritual heritage from Sts. Cyril and Methodius.

The 1991 census gave great hope to the faithful, since 60.3 % professed their adherence to the Catholic Church. Yet behind this picture lies another reality which is not so encouraging. Many of the faithful, often because of religious ignorance, do not have a living contact with the Church. On the other hand, many others proved their fidelity to the Church and to their own consciences in the past. During the past decades, others continued to show their interest for the life of the Church. They still do today. Religious movements, as well as religious orders, which in the past existed only in secrecy and which posed a danger to those who joined them, are now beginning to launch themselves to full activity.

The religious orders, after years of repression, have once again taken up their work, dedicating themselves to the formation of new members and to the realization of their charisms. By making contacts with religious of other countries, they learn the ways followed by religious communities from around the world.

After the transition of 1990, the religious orders had a relatively big number of candidates. This was due to a certain hunger for spiritual values. With time, however, experience showed that not everyone was meant for such a life. No matter how earnest their search may have been, they had no idea what religious life was about. Since the tradition of the religious life was interrupted by historical events, the youth had no possibility to experience it.

The situation is better in the diocesan seminaries. There are six Roman Catholic and 2 Greek Catholic diocesan seminaries. Our theology students study in six diocesan seminaries. Recently, many lay men and women have graduated with a degree in theology. They are now working as catechists either in parishes or in schools.

3. SVD Missionary Service

Three facts determine our considerations: the charisma and mission of the SVD, the needs and possibilities in Slovakia and the service that our personnel can offer.

3.1 Living out our Missionary Charism

In the wake of the changes in the country, many opportunities were opened to us. We are trying to awaken the mission consciousness of the faithful, but especially to inspire in the youth a desire for missionary service. We want to realize this aim, in the first place, in our mission houses and in the parishes under our care.

Furthermore, several young confreres have been assigned to visit in the "middle schools" in order to make the students aware of the missionary vocation. We inform the faithful through our magazine Hlasy (Voices) and invite them to cooperate in the propagation of the gospel.

In collaboration with other mission orders we organized what is known as "mission vacations" during the summer holidays in different parts of the country. These vacations are designed for middle school students. For those who have already taken this vacation, we have also prepared a program so that they might deepen their faith and their mission consciousness still further. We offer students the chance to take part in spiritual recollections held in our houses.

3.2 Our Service to the Local Church

In the parishes entrusted to our care, we follow the "classical" pattern of parish work. We are searching for possibilities by which we can better realize our vocation which is typical to the SVD. Fostering mission consciousness is part of our work in the parish.

Our senior confreres who have returned to the country with a store of mission experience visit our parishes to give conferences on their former overseas activities. Sooner or later there will be enough priests for the country and we want to offer the people the chance to take part in our missionary service.

Since 1997 we are in charge of Center for Religious Activities situated in a state university with almost 10,000 students. This is a form of our service to the local church. At the same time, we want to keep awake interest in the universal church and our mission among our future intelligentsia.

3.3 The Personnel Situation

There are at present 60 members in perpetual vows in the Slovakia Province. A glance at the age structure shows the situation more clearly. 40 confreres are over 65 years old. These include those who have returned from foreign missions and those who were already members of the Society before 1950. Although they are already advanced in age, we cannot do without them in our province. We need them for their good advice as well as for the services they offer in the parishes.

It is encouraging to consider the growing number of our younger confreres. They still need time to finish their studies and to prepare themselves which will enable them to take over formation work, the direction of the province and the realization of our charisms.

In the past, young people could not be trained in religious orders nor was anyone allowed to leave the country for foreign missionary service. The situation has changed in our days. We are determined to send some confreres abroad to contribute our share to world mission. These past years, 11 priests and a Brother (from our province) went to foreign missions. We are aware that there is a great shortage of people in our province, yet we also know very well that we have to do everything to contribute our share to the world-wide mission activity of the church. This is an act of witnessing both to the local church and to the young people.

3.4 Where We Work

Bratislava: We started in Bratislava in 1991. Our theology students and the confreres who are teaching at the Theological Faculty are living in a quarters rented from the archdiocese of Bratislava-Tyrnava.

Nitra: The Nitra house, founded in 1925, used to be a High School (Gymnasium). Since 1990, the elderly confreres and those who are working in parishes, live here. The provincial offices and administration are also situated here, as well as the postulancy, where the youth get their first contact with the Society.

Vidina was founded in 1927, but we got the house back only after the transition in the country's politics. Due to its good location the novitiate is found here.

Snina is our newest house, founded only in 1994. It is located in the extreme eastern part of Slovakia and was built for mission animation and recruiting vocations in this part of the country.

Czech Republic: The Slovak Province, after the political division of the former Czechoslovakia, is active in both republics. While our Founder was still alive the first contacts between the Czech Republic and the SVD were established. The Society began its activities there only in the 1940's. At the moment we are working there in three parishes. In this way we are trying to help the local church which is suffering from a great lack of priests. At the same time, we want to awaken mission consciousness by our presence there.