In 2018, you participated in the Friends of Together for Europe meeting in Prague. Shortly afterwards you entered politics. Is there a relationship between these two facts?
Sure! And it is a very important relationship for me. If one wants to live politics with the ideal of service, one needs to get to know other politicians who have the same goal. The possibility of creating a ‘positive network’ with others also during the meeting in Prague helped me a lot at the beginning of my political life. And it still helps me.
What motivated you to get involved in politics?
Seeing and understanding how much effort it takes. Politics is a specific field, which touches the life of each one of us. And it is crucial that only those men and women who want to put themselves at the service of others enter politics. Otherwise, one leaves room for those who seek only power. I try to invite other friends into politics, especially young ones.
How do you deal with disappointments if working ‘together’ is not successful and certain opinions/views seem irreconcilable?
Politics is in need of good ideals! If these are missing, it only becomes a ‘technocracy’, and later an ‘autocracy’ of someone, who instead of ‘together’ puts ‘I by myself’. Not everyone is seeking ‘togetherness’. However, we are called upon to do our best, because we believe that this ‘togetherness’ is exactly what our world needs. We strive to do well our part and leave the rest in the hands of the Lord.
You were a candidate in the European elections. You were only a few votes away from being elected. Had you been elected, what would you have committed yourself to in the first place?
For four years I have been the Vice-President of our regional government. The region is called ‘Southern Bohemia’ I am mainly involved in agriculture and ecology; if I had been elected to the European Parliament, I would have been a member of these committees (AGRI and ENVI). The election campaign was a wonderful time in my life. In our list, the top six were elected: I was in seventh place. But I am sure that the Lord knows why. So, I look forward to seeing where he invites me next time.
The democratic values seem to be overshadowed. How could Together for Europe contribute to politics?
The biggest challenge, in my opinion, is that few engage in politics. I know cities where nobody wants to be mayor. If no democratic politician will do it, an extremist will come along and take this space for himself. This may also happen in our parliaments. The most important thing is to invite new men and women to engage in politics, ready to ‘put their hands in the pie’ and serve others through politics. Helping people understand this responsibility is something that Together for Europe could contribute to my generation.
In Rome, at the event organised for Europe Day, I meet Aldo Bernabei, who has long been committed in the political world to create opportunities for young Europeans to meet, engage socially and work together. On this occasion, he tells me about a recent European Union Project: the European Solidarity Corps.
The European Solidarity Corps: what is it all about?
It is an EU-funded project, approved in 2018, for young men and women between the ages of 18 and 30, with the aim of developing young people’s sense of European citizenship through a period of voluntary work. It must be offered in at least three different European countries and include a prior training course.
How is it organised in concrete terms?
It is intended to offer young people the opportunity to engage in programmes aimed at the common good. Within their own countries, national associations or agencies propose the funding of projects aimed at social initiatives, helping people in poverty, also in non-European countries, or undertaking cultural activities, e.g. on the identity of their own country. These work assignments give European-level credits that can be used for entry into the labour market.
What is the long-term outlook?
It is hoped that ‘national civil services’ will be established throughout Europe, so that in the future there will be a civil service at European level and that volunteer status will be mutually recognised by all countries. To this end, an appeal was formulated>>, addressed in particular to MEPs, for their support of the Programme ‘European Solidarity Corps’ in view of a Europe of solidarity, active citizenship and peace.
TOGETHER2023 – TO SUPPORT THE SYNOD OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
We give space – in summary form – to a communication received from the leaders of the Ecumenical Community of Taizé, promoter of the Vigil.
Dear friends,
With our team we have returned to Rome for the final preparations of Together. What a joy and beautiful challenge to walk on the same path with so many of you and also with the Secretariat for the Synod and the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.
The songs for the prayer vigil are published at https://together2023.net/info-page/songs/ as well as the new Adsumus Sancte Spiritus song prepared especially for the ecumenical prayer vigil of September 30.
Building on last year’s success, Together for Europe wished to repeat a popular mobilisation in Strasbourg: a procession of around 150 people marched peacefully through the city under the slogan: ‘Together for Europe – Objective Peace’. It started at the European Parliament and ended at a Protestant church in the city centre.
We proclaimed loudly that, as Christians, our priority yearning is peace, and that creative solutions must be found. The Together for Europe groups from Lyon and Landau (Germany) also participated.
Led in song by a group of young people from Taizé, the procession ended in Temple Neuf with an hour full of prayer, praise and conversion to peace; this was an ecumenical prayer promoted by the Council of Christian Churches in Strasbourg for reconciliation and the unity of Europe. There were about 400 people present, including representatives of the European Parliament and the Council of Europe.
Belgium
Astenet (Eupen) is known as the country of the three borders (Belgium, Holland, Germany). On 27 April, a delegation of Together for Europe – consisting of people from the Charismatic Renewal, Community of St Egidio and Focolare – went there to the shrine of St Catherine of Siena, patron saint of Europe, to mark her feast day.
After a fraternal meeting with the local Catharines, we participated in the Eucharist. At the end, we presented our ecumenical network and our initiatives for Europe Day. We experienced a fraternal, prayerful and joy-filled meeting. This opens new horizons for our network in Belgium.
Germany
For a number of years now, the city of Munich has been inviting people around 9 May to a ‘Europe Day’ to raise awareness of various issues concerning our Continent.
Together with some thirty organisations and associations that care about our Continent, for the second year running ‘Together for Europe’ was also present with a well-attended gazebo and a few ‘gondola’ rides in the big wheel, which offers a panoramic view of the city. One ride (10 people) lasted 25 minutes and offered the opportunity to talk about our network, initiatives and the ideals that move us.
As Christians from various Churches, we felt challenged to witness our commitment to a more fraternal Europe and, above all, to peace. We have already made an appointment for next year!
Portugal
A prayer for peace in Europe was also held in Porto on 9 May; it was promoted by Together for Europe and the city’s Ecumenical Commission, in the Igreja de Cedofeita. Representatives of six Churches, the bishops of the Catholic and Lusitanian Churches, and various Movements were present. The prayer was centred on the phrases of the Lord’s Prayer; while the European countries for which they were praying were mentioned, the flags of these countries were carried to the altar.
The Novena, a nine-day prayer for peace in Europe, written this year especially for Europe Day, has also been translated into Portuguese (cf: Article on our website: The Lord’s Prayer – a prayer for Europe, 30.3.2023).
Many places in Europe prayed the Novena intensively; in Vallendar, at the Schönstatt International Centre, the entire community of that movement did so.
Europe Day in Vienna, 6 May 2023. More than 100 people from six Central European countries gathered for the event promoted by ‘Together for Europe – Austria’ in the Schönstatt Centre in Vienna-Kahlenberg.
Under the title ‘Building Bridges of Hope’, ten speakers shared their experiences as ‘bridge builders’. On this day, the dream became reality, a day of encouragement in an often-discouraging daily routine.
In Innsbruck, Gottfried Rießlegger is involved in an ecumenical exchange between a Catholic and a Protestant parish, which have their own churches, and an Orthodox parish without a church. Two churches, 150 metres apart, separated by a fence. One day the desire to be together was stronger than fears and reservations – two big scissors, one on the left, one on the right – and already there was a big hole in the fence, the beginning of a blessed enrichment. The Orthodox community has a kit in a large chest; and every Sunday, after the Catholic liturgy, the iconostasis is set up in front of the altar.
From Slovenia, Marjeta Bobnar reported on the fruits of the ‘Summer job’ project. This project builds relationships with people in need through aid of a physical nature and, of course, between young people from different parts of Slovenia.
In Hungary, Tibor Héjj is ‘building bridges’ with minibuses. People with disabilities are transported day by day to the workplaces of various companies, where they work and live with people without disabilities.
Also, from Hungary we had the choir ‘Vox mirabilis’, which made bridge building a tangible experience.
In the Czech Republic, Dagmar and Petr Peňáz are bridge builders with heart and soul. They build bridges for people with special needs. They build bridges between Christians, for example through ecumenical pilgrimages in Moravia, and bridges between the nations of the former Monarchy.
MEPLukas Mandl recounted the tensions he experiences in his parliamentary work, in which he could not agree on everything. However, as a Christian, he always tried to uphold human dignity and respect the freedom of others. Working together requires concrete work in committees, but also spiritual inspiration.
Eva ed Erich Berger gave him a 44-page collection: small stories of bridge-builders, stories from the daily lives of Christians, which can give courage and hope.
On this 6 May 2023, God showed his people that he is capable of building bridges for everyone. An injection of courage.
The building of bridges must continue, in a concrete and lasting way: on 7 May and every day thereafter.
