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11.12.2009 |
Projects -
Articles
[de]
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In the face of cultural, societal and social crises, the church can also contribute to a united Europe, for which it requires engaged, competent church representatives who are willing to engage in dialogue. With the social academy “Giving Europe a soul”, the social institute Kommende Dortmund is to educate East European seminarians about the church’s global responsibility in the process of European unification and encourage active participation.
The end of state oppression with the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989 presented the church with new challenges: How can and should it be involved in shaping the new democratic, market economy and culturally pluralistic relations? What contributions can the church make within its powers and as part of its societal and pastoral duties to the complex crises in “Europe: the bilding site”? How should it fulfil its societal responsibility?
To assist with orientation, courage, active participation and knowledge, adult and youth education can find and organise solutions for very specific target groups and topics. Therefore, since 2007 the Kommende Dortmund, the social institute of the Paderborn archdiocese with over 60 years of experience in political and social educational work on the basis of Catholic social teaching, has, in its East European forum, invited seminarians, theology students and trainee priests from Mid- and East European countries every year to a five-week international social academy under the banner of “Giving Europe a soul”. The project enjoys the patronage of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace “Justitia et Pax”. The seminarians should, on the one hand, be strengthened in their pastoral responsibility in the face of societal upheaval, given socio-ethical training and supported through an international exchange. On the other hand, in the academy they will be faced with concrete problems from everyday life and political and economic structures in order to become acquainted with practical models for action and alternative courses of action for their work and active involvement in society.
In 2009, the Kommende Dortmund, a member institution of the AKSB (Association of Catholic Social Training Centres), took the fundamental upheavals in the economy and society as an opportunity to highlight the unification process in Europe and the role of the churches as well as the political, cultural and religious values and their significance for co-existence in society during their social academy event. Focal points were the concrete current challenges in work and unemployment, social security and poverty, family situations, strengthening families and solidarity which has been called for or which people have been reminded of in the face of globalisation, responsibility for Creation and threats to the environment. The political, social and economic structures and the challenges in the participants' native countries always played an important role in this. Alongside topics in work and social fields concerning the changes in work environments, training, unemployment and work ethics and topics in the fields of European institutions and politics as well as European cultures, the situation of the churches and society in Germany were also examined. Another important aspect was the design of seminars in modern adult education, where reflection, accompanying others, cultural, church-based and social excursions, or also exceptional, targeted opportunities for placements have a great significance. The highlight, and also the final part of the social academy’s seminar was, therefore, a five-day social placement at a therapeutic farm for young people with drug addictions. The design of this exceptional project, in particular the mix of learning, living, working, intensive international encounters and joint prayer and spirituality ensured its success, which, under the leadership of the institute director Prelate Dr Peter Klasvogt and his representative Detlef Herbers, has, since its inception, had around 80 seminarians from twelve East European countries so far, from Latvia to Macedonia. The participants of the social academy will continue to be supported with a yearly alumni meeting. The long-term goal is to establish a wide European network of church representatives to support active church participation for a united Europe.
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Topics/Keywords:
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Practice => Continuing education
seminarians; Eastern Europe; unemployment; active participation
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1256 |
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