INTEGRACIJSKO DJELOVANJE VOJNIH KAPELANA
THE INTEGRATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF CHAPLAINS

Summary/Abstract: In the paper "Integrational Activities of Chaplains" the author demonstrates the actual experience gained from chaplains' activities in the Vukovar-Vinkovci as well as the Livanjska battlegrounds until the year 1993. Namely, this is a matter of situational evangelization: evangelization in a period of war crisis when areas affected by war were abandoned by civilians and only the military remained. In the context of this newly created situation was the necessary and appropriate evangelization of soldiers. Some Catholic priests acted on self-initiative, others were organized in their pastoral activities during the war, but not until 1996 was the agreement between the Holy See and The Republic of Croatia concerning the spiritual guidance of Catholic believers in the military and police force signed. The content of the chaplains' activities is the spiritual care of soldiers, the celebration of sacred sacraments and prayer with the soldiers. Their work follows the well-known pastoral formula – observe, judge and act – included in the method "being together", while the criteria for the chaplains' work was taken from the essential constituents of the Church itself: liturgy, service, togetherness and testimony.

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