https://www.kul.pl/News / Newsen https://www.kul.pl/daffodils-of-remembrance-from-the-catholic-university-of-lublin,art_106613.html The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin joined the socio-educational campaign "Daffodils," initiated by the Polin Museum of the History of Polish Jews. The university's rector, students, and staff distributed flowers commemorating those who fought in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. April 19 is the Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust and for the Prevention of Crimes against Humanity. Today is the 81st anniversary of the outbreak of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising – the largest armed uprising of Jews during World War II. The immediate cause of the uprising was the decision to liquidate the ghetto, taken as part of the Germans' plan to exterminate the Jews.In a battle that lasted nearly a month, soldiers of the Jewish Combat Organization and the Jewish Military Union resisted SS and Wehrmacht units, among others. During this time, the Germans razed the ghetto to the ground. On May 8, in a shelter at 18 Miła Street, uprising leader Mordechai Anielewicz committed suicide along with a group of several dozen soldiers. The uprising ended on May 16, 1943. The POLIN Museum's "Daffodils" campaign remembers the fallen fighters of the 1943 uprising. Mark Edelman, the last leader of the Jewish Combat Organization who survived the liquidation of the ghetto, initiated the tradition. Every year, on the uprising anniversary, he would honor his fallen comrades by placing a bouquet of daffodils in front of the Warsaw Ghetto Heroes Monument until the end of his life. 1.5 years ago, Fr. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski, rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, established the Abraham J. Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations. Its mission is to deepen the dialogue between Catholics and Jews on the scientific, educational, and cultural levels. Photos https://www.kul.pl/they-will-play-for-john-paul-ii,art_106614.html This Sunday we invite you to a concert by the Schola and Orchestra of the Catholic University of Lublin entitled "Sanctus mundi - saint of the world." The event is dedicated to St. John Paul II. - On April 27 we will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the canonization of John Paul II, who is inextricably linked with our university. Sunday's concert, which is part of this anniversary celebration, will have an unusual form. It will be a kind of oratorio, with texts by the pope-poet," says Catholic University of Lublin vice spokesperson Monika Stojowska. John Paul II is inextricably linked to the Catholic University of Lublin. Karol Wojtyla - first as a priest associate professor, then bishop, archbishop, cardinal - headed the Department of Ethics at the Faculty of Philosophy of the Catholic University of Lublin. He worked there for almost a quarter of a century - from 1954 until the conclave in 1978, when he became head of the Catholic Church. He had a circle of devoted friends and students at the Catholic University of Lublin, who called him "Uncle" during their summer trips together. - We continue to draw from John Paul II, who as a human being was a genius because of his teaching that encompassed the totality of human life. Our university feels very strongly about this mission to tell people in Poland and around the world about him," says Monika Stojowska. Admission to the "Sanctus mundi, or Saint of the World" concert at the Catholic University of Lublin's academic church is free. It will begin on Sunday at 1:30 pm. https://www.kul.pl/catholic-university-of-lublin-rector-opposes-attacks-on-israel-dialogue-needed,art_106515.html “We firmly oppose military attacks on Israel. The only solution for the Middle East is talks leading to lasting peace,” emphasizes Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, Rector of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. Prof. Kalinowski, a founder of the A. J. Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations, noted that the military actions carried out by Iran against Israel are extremely dangerous, given the already complicated situation in the region, including Gaza. “Israel has the right to the security and protection of its territory and citizens. The international community should take all actions to de-escalate the tension because the situation is becoming extremely dangerous and has an impact on global geopolitics, especially in the context of Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine,” the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin said. He also recalled that Pope Francis calls for peace and resolving interstate conflicts through dialogue. “John Paul II appealed so movingly: ‘Never again war!’ Let us pray this Sunday for peace in the world, especially in Israel, the entire Holy Land, and Ukraine,” the Catholic University of Lublin Rector added. Media reported that U.S. President Joe Biden, after speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stated that the U.S. had helped Israel shoot down almost all of the drones and missiles. https://www.kul.pl/brown-mosten-international-client-consultation-competition-iccc-2024,art_106534.html From April 10-13, 2023, at the Faculty of Law, Canon Law, and Administration of the Catholic University of Lublin, the Brown Mosten, the most important International Client Consultation Competition, took place, directed to law students. The organizational partners of the event were the Faculty of Law, Canon Law, and Administration, the Centre for the Advancement of Legal Skills, the University Legal Clinic KUL, and the Foundation Institute for Law and State. We co-hosted with our colleagues from Ukraine, including the Association of Ukrainian Legal Clinics. Students from over 20 countries participated in the national-level eliminations, from which teams were selected to represent their respective countries during the international rounds. The competition involved conducting a simulation of an initial interview with an actor playing the role of a client. Three judges observed the proceedings and evaluated the team in terms of the presence of 11 key elements of good client counseling, including meeting ethical requirements. https://www.kul.pl/study-at-kul-study-in-lublin,art_106471.html Lublin is one of the best cities to live in Poland, according to a ranking compiled by Business Insider. The authors collected data as of January 2024 on such issues as salaries, housing availability, crime or air quality. Lublin became the runner-up in the ranking, ahead of Warsaw or Cracow in the category of a good city to live in. Lublin is worth living and, of course, studying in. Nearly 60,000 students are educated at five public and four non-public universities. That is, every fifth resident of the city is a student. One of the largest universities is the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. About 9 thousand people are educated here. Lublin and Lublin's universities, including the Catholic University of Lublin, are eagerly chosen by foreigners from more than 100 countries of the world - there are about 9 thousand of them. And they are attracted by nearly 200 fields of study, the university's rich research facilities, scholarship programs and, of course, the extraordinary climate of Lublin and its student life. That's why Lublin was the first city in Poland to win the title of European Youth Capital 2023 , and now it has a chance to become the European Capital of Culture. https://www.kul.pl/prof-abraham-skorka-s-thoughts-on-catholic-easter-and-jewish-passover,art_106286.html Prof. Abraham Skórka, Honorary Doctor of the John Paul Catholic University of Lublin and member of the Council of the Abraham Joshua Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations at the KUL, on the Celebration of Freedom, Redemption, and Divine Mercy that bridge the Christian celebration of Easter and the Jewish celebration of Passover. https://www.kul.pl/the-catholic-university-of-lublin-opens-up-to-brazil-john-paul-ii-centre-for-the-study-of-polish-culture-established-in-porto-al,art_106194.html "John Paul II used to emphasise that culture and spirituality unite people. I might add that the university and science do, too," said Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin during the official inauguration of the John Paul II Centre for the Study of Polish Culture in Porto Alegre. The Centre was set up jointly with the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS). This event furthermore begins the activities of the Catholic University of Lublin's Centre for the Polish Diaspora in Brazil and Latin America. As a research unit, the John Paul II Centre for the Study of Polish Culture aims to promote and teach the Polish language, disseminate Polish history and culture in Brazil, as well as safeguard Polish cultural heritage, which is present in numerous places across the country. "The inauguration of the John Paul II Centre for the Study of Polish Culture in Brazil offers a meeting place to those who want to enrich one another. As the oldest Catholic university, the Catholic University of Lublin is undertaking the teaching of the Polish language, desk study in archives and the use of their resources. We must also be mindful of the cultural, didactic, and scientific support for the numerous Polish Diaspora in Brazil," said Rector of the University, Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski. Fr. Prof. Kalinowski received the invitation to Brazil 3-4 years ago in an e-mail. "When I arrived in Brazil, I thought it was necessary to identify and merge the archives related to Polish emigration, " recalls Fr. Prof. Kalinowski. And that is what has been done. The Centre carried out the project "Polish History for the Polish Diaspora in Brazil". "It is a synthesis of Polish history with a special emphasis on Polish culture. It depicts the history of Poland from the perspective of the Brazilian Polish community," says historian Professor Arkadiusz Stasiak from the Catholic University of Lublin, coordinator of the Centre. The book has been translated into Brazilian Portuguese. First activities Classes for PUCRS students started in mid-March as part of the Polish Agency for Academic Exchange project Promotion of the Polish Language and Culture in Brazil. The four-month course includes Polish language classes and three series of academic lectures: in linguistics, concerning the "Specificity of Polishness in Language and Culture" (Prof. Magdalena Smoleń-Wawrzusiszyn), in history on the "History of Poland" (Prof. Arkadiusz Stasiak), and in sociology on the "Polish Success Culture" (Dr. Wojciech Wciseł). The Centre’s target group As Fr. Prof. Kalinowski points out, the activities are meant to attract anyone who wants to make an effort to study the Polish language, learn about Polish history and culture, also in the context of both countries. "These are the students of the University of Porto Alegre, Polish youth, as well as other students and Brazilian youth who have any links with Poland," adds the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin. During the opening ceremony of the John Paul II Centre for the Study of Polish Culture, PUCRS Rector Irmão Evilazio Teixeira expressed his gratitude to all those involved in the project. He added that a university is born out of dialogue with knowledge and culture. "We want to create the best possible collaboration between our universities," said Irmão Evilazio Teixeira. One of the Centre's inauguration highlights was the opening of an exhibition "John Paul II - Poland's Gift to the World". Hosted by the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande, the exhibition was part of a project carried out under the auspices of Poland's National Agency for Academic Exchange. Porto Alegre is a large centre of the Polish Diaspora, who have lost their native command of the Polish language through generations (mainly due to former policies of the Brazilian authorities). Polish as an inherited language is spoken by few people and at very different levels of proficiency. Young people often do not speak Polish, although many express a desire to learn the language and strongly profess a sense of Polish national identity. "These links with our homeland are still alive and strong among the Brazilian Polish community, and they do not go hand in hand with the teaching offer they can receive in their city and region of Rio Grande do Sul," concludes the Centre's coordinator, Prof. Stasiak. https://www.kul.pl/vice-rector-e-trzaskowska-we-will-use-modern-didactic-methods-in-education,art_106185.html New majors, academic scholarships for first-year students, changes in the curriculum, new forms of teaching - we already know the first details about the Catholic University of Lublin's enrollment offer for the 2024/2025 academic year. "We have tried to adapt the education in the majors we offer to the current needs of young people, to introduce modern teaching methods," Vice-Rector for Education Dr. Ewa Trzaskowska, Professor of the Catholic University of Lublin, informed during a press briefing. Although the summer semester at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin only began a few weeks ago, the university has long been working intensively on its recruitment offer for the next academic year. On March 1 this year, enrollment began for studies in English, which will last until May 9. New among the proposed undergraduate majors is management (Management). - Studies in English are attracting a lot of interest from people from the United States this year, which is a unique situation, as there has not been such a high level of interest from them before. In addition, among the candidates there are also people from Western Europe or Nigeria - said the Vice-Rector for Education. Vice-Rector Ewa Trzaskowska, PhD, informed that curricular changes are underway for most majors, which were decided on the basis of the opinions of external stakeholders and a number of internal analyses. - Our goal was primarily to make our studies more attractive. In almost every course we will have modern teaching methods - design thinking, service-learning, tutoring, mentoring - and a number of interesting activities. We have also purchased a number of programs that will also make teaching more attractive," the Vice-Rector for education announced. Of particular note is the new scholarship program for top candidates. These scholarships will be financed as part of pro-quality activities covered by an increase in the subsidy allocated to prepare for participation in the "Initiative of Excellence - Research University" competition. The Catholic University of Lublin received these funds in connection with fulfilling the statutory conditions for applying for research university status. During the press briefing, Monika Stojowska, deputy spokesperson for the Catholic University of Lublin, said that on March 21 at 11 a.m. there will be the Catholic University of Lublin's recruitment event for university candidates, called "HeLO KUL". It will be high school students from partner schools who will ask the rector and vice-rectors why they should choose the Catholic University of Lublin. The Recruitment Office will present the recruitment offer, also in conversation with a youth representative. The Career Office, in turn, will tell how it supports young people on their career paths. The event will be attended by special guests - among them Dr. Lech Giemza, Professor of the Catholic University of Lublin, known for his "Book from a Backpack" project. The entire event will be broadcast on all Catholic University of Lublin channels: Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok. In addition, the studio, which will be arranged in the theater room of the ITP Theater, will be filled by the audience (high school students). Details on recruitment for studies at the Catholic University of Lublin can be found at https://kandydat.kul.pl/. All information is updated on a regular basis. https://www.kul.pl/catholic-university-of-lublin-rector-the-new-president-of-the-episcopate-must-act-strategically,art_106157.html The geopolitical situation, social transformations, climate and economic changes, and the development of new technologies require decisive strategic actions, foresight, but also prudence, responsibility, and fidelity to the Gospel, the Rector of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski stresses, referring to Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda's election as President of the Polish Bishops' Conference. In a congratulatory letter addressed to Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda, the Catholic University of Lublin Rector notes that he accepts his election with joy and hope. "I am aware of the enormous challenges you face related to the Church's current situation in the world and Poland," he adds. Fr. Prof. Kalinowski stresses that the previous activities, experience and commitment of the new President of the Polish Bishops' Conference, guarantee an appropriate methodology for the work of the KEP and "giving direction to the Church in Poland, in unity with the Holy Father Francis and the entire universal Church." "The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin assures you of its support and readiness to make available its resources and capabilities stemming from the knowledge, experience, and diversity of our academic community," the University's Rector said. At the same time, Fr. Prof. Kalinowski thanked Metropolitan Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki of Poznań for his ten years of service as head of the Polish Bishops' Conference and congratulated the new deputy President of the Conference, whom the bishops elected. "It was with joy and hope that I received the news of Your Excellency's election to the honourable and prominent position of President of the Polish Bishops' Conference. I am aware of the enormous challenges you face related to the Church's current situation in the world and Poland. The geopolitical situation, social transformations, climate and economic changes, and the development of new technologies require decisive strategic actions, foresight, but also prudence, responsibility and fidelity to the Gospel. Your Excellency's past activities, experience and commitment guarantee such methodology not only in shaping the work of the Polish Bishops’ Conference but also in giving direction to the Church in Poland, in unity with the Holy Father Francis and the entire universal Church. The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin assures you of its support and readiness to make available its resources and capabilities stemming from our academic community's knowledge, experience and diversity." Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki served as President of the Polish Bishops' Conference for two terms. During the 397th Plenary Meeting of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, Gądecki expressed gratitude to all "with whom God has allowed him to meet and experience understanding on their part." He also spoke of the past decade's most difficult and joyful events. These include the war in Ukraine, the pandemic, meetings with victims of paedophilia, and the black marches. Among the good ones, Archbishop Gądecki counted the welcoming of Ukrainian refugees and Poland's aid to Ukraine, the ban on eugenic euthanasia, and the establishment of a Day of Judaism. https://www.kul.pl/recruitment-for-studies-in-english-has-started,art_106047.html Dear International Candidates! On March 1, 2024, recruitment for studies conducted in English at the Catholic University of Lublin began.The offer includes both first-cycle and second-cycle studies. Bachelor’s degree: Applied Anthropology Biotechnology European Studies Informatics Journalism and Social Communication Management – nowość w rekrutacji Philosophy Master’s degree: Bioanalytical Technologies Biotechnology European Union Law Philosophy Theological Studies (long-cycle programme) International Relations Information and support is provided to candidates by the Recruitment Office of KUL. Recruitment will last until July 12, 2024. APPLY https://www.kul.pl/orientation-days-for-erasmus-students,art_105884.html Orientation days for foreign students participating in the ERASMUS+ programme are taking place at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. They will spend the next six months at our university. - I am delighted to welcome so many foreign students to our university. Together with the International Relations Office I would like to thank you for choosing the Catholic University of Lublin - said prof. Beata Piskorska, Vice-Rector for Students, Doctoral Students and Development, during the opening of the orientation days. Over the next few days, before the start of the summer semester, our foreign guests will have the opportunity to gain essential information about studying at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, visit the campus, learn the basics of Polish law and receive many useful tips about everyday life in Lublin. An important part of the orientation days will also be a guided tour of Lublin, which will introduce the students to interesting places in our city. https://www.kul.pl/fr-prof-kowalski-the-memory-of-the-holocaust-is-difficult-but-we-must-keep-it-alive,art_106208.html –The memory of the Holocaust is difficult, but we must keep it alive so that history does not repeat itself, said, referring to the words of St. John Paul II, the Director of the Heschel Centre of the Catholic University of Lublin, Fr. Dr. Marcin Kowalski, professor of KUL. On the 82nd anniversary of the liquidation of the Lublin Ghetto, the Centre organized a scholarly conference entitled "From the idea of a life 'not worth living' to an unimaginable crime." Opening the conference, Fr. Dr. Marcin Kowalski recalled that as a result of the Reinhardt Action, which began on the night of 16-17 March 1942, one-third of Lublin's inhabitants were exterminated. The Jewish Quarter ceased to exist at that time and was turned to rubble. In this way, not only Lublin but also the whole of Poland lost a Jewish community that, for hundreds of years, had co-shaped Polish culture and social life and co-created Polish history. "It is our duty to remember them because it is also a remembrance of our history and our identity," stressed the Director of the Heschel Centre of the Catholic University of Lublin. The conference "From the idea of 'life not worth living' to unthinkable crime," held on 18 March 2024 at the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL), was an opportunity to reflect on the mechanisms by which the totalitarian machine of the Third Reich deemed genocide on an unprecedented scale to be justifiable. "The criminal ideology first considered the lives of the mentally ill to be unworthy of respect, then of the crippled and the handicapped, the Roma, the Poles and the representatives of other Slavic nations, ending with the Jewish people," pointed out Fr. Dr. Kowalski. Referring to the words of St John Paul II, lecturer and patron of the Catholic University of Lublin, he stressed that although the memory of the Holocaust is difficult, we must keep it alive so that history does not repeat itself. And, given the warning signs in current war zones, history could repeat. "The seeds of destruction," he said, "bear their harvest on the battlefields but sprout in silence in the minds of scientists and politicians, who also today divide human lives into those worth living and those not worth living in the name of a happier and more progressive society." He added that the Heschel Centre of the Catholic University of Lublin aims to build bridges in Christian-Jewish and Polish-Jewish dialogue. "We also spread them over our difficult past so that it becomes the foundation of a future based on respect for the other," he stressed. A solemn laying of flowers at the former Umschlagplatz monument preceded the conference. From there, the ghetto inhabitants were taken to the death camp in Belzec. A Christian-Jewish prayer for the victims was led by Fr. Prof. Mirosław Wróbel, the Plenipotentiary of the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin for Catholic-Jewish relations and research in the Holy Land, and Cantor Symcha Keller. https://www.kul.pl/science-at-the-john-paul-ii-catholic-university-of-lublin-current-state-and-perspectives,art_105878.html In 2024, the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, in accordance with the strategy of the development of the Catholic University of Lublin "Initiative of Excellence - a research university", will focus mainly on the internationalization of scientific research and further professionalization of the administrative support of research activity, emphasizes the Vice-Rector for Science and Human Resources, Sister Dr. Beata Zarzycka, Professor of KUL. She also reminds us that the evaluation of the quality of scientific activity carried out by independent, including foreign, experts in 2017-2021 confirmed that the Catholic University of Lublin belongs to the prestigious scientific centers in Poland. The article of the Vice Rector will be published in the current issue of "Przeglad Uniwersytecki", while its publication on the website of the Catholic University of Lublin is connected, among other things, with the Polish Science Day, which falls on February 19. Every year, I award financial prizes for the best scientific publications, and this year, for the first time, also for obtaining a research grant. The prizes are awarded on a competitive basis, from applications submitted by individual faculties and scientific disciplines. Articles published in journals indexed in the Scopus database and monographs in prestigious foreign publications are eligible. In this year's edition, 66 journal publications, 10 monographs and two fellowships were awarded. In total, 101 scientists were honored. This is a large group. I wanted to recognize the publication achievements of our researchers. What is the state of science? Let's look at the scientific activity of the University in the perspective of the evaluation of the quality of research conducted at the University, carried out by the experts of the Commission for the Evaluation of Science and covering the period 2017-2021. The scientific activity of the 14 disciplines was evaluated. Three disciplines have an A+ category (literary studies, theological sciences, canon law), six have an A category (philosophy, history, linguistics, arts sciences, legal sciences, pedagogy) and five have a B+ category (economics and finance, biological sciences, political and administrative sciences, sociological sciences, psychology). Academic categories are an important parameter for higher education institutions. They determine the entitlements of the institution in terms of system, scientific and program aspects. They give the possibility to use the title of an academic and research university, condition the authorization to grant doctoral and postdoctoral degrees, allow full autonomy of the entity in the creation of faculties, in particular of a general academic profile, and condition the amount of funding received for scientific research. In 2023, three new scientific disciplines were created: medical biology, biblical sciences and family sciences. These disciplines were granted the authority to confer degrees under Article 226a of the Law on Higher Education and Science. In summary, the University has 17 rights to award doctoral and postdoctoral degrees in six scientific disciplines (humanities, medicine, social sciences, natural and life sciences, theology and family sciences), of which 14 disciplines have scientific categories of A+, A or B+. The quality of scientific research at the KUL is high The evaluation confirmed the high quality of scientific research carried out at the Catholic University of Lublin. The university meets the requirements set out in Article 388 of the Law on Higher Education and Science to apply for the competition 'Initiative of Excellence - Research University'. Thus, the Catholic University of Lublin was one of six universities that met the requirements of this competition (apart from the Catholic University of Lublin, these were Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Jagiellonian University, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, University of Warsaw, University of Wroclaw) and one of 27 entities in Poland (taking into account all types of higher education institutions). It is also worth mentioning that according to the "Perspektywy 2023" ranking, in the criterion "Evaluation of scientific activity" the Catholic University of Lublin received 76.35 points and is the second in Poland among universities (the leader is the University of Warsaw with 77.05 points). The criterion "Evaluation of Scientific Activity" is the sum of the marks (categories) given to individual disciplines, which were evaluated by the Commission for the Evaluation of Science in a given University, weighted by the number of employees engaged in scientific activity per full-time working hour related to the conduct of scientific activity in the evaluated disciplines (the so-called N-number) and related to the total number of these employees - which accounts for 12 percent of the final score in the ranking. Speaking of rankings... The Catholic University of Lublin has again been included in the 2023 edition of THE World University Rankings, the most prestigious and recognized ranking of higher education institutions in the world, which evaluates teaching, research, knowledge transfer to the environment and internationalization of universities. In this year's edition of the ranking, 37 universities from Poland were classified. The Catholic University of Lublin was placed in the 1201-1500 group. What's in the near future? Current efforts are being made to develop and improve mechanisms and tools to support the development of research. Detailed actions are included in the development strategy of the Catholic University of Lublin "Excellence Initiative - Research University" developed for 2024-2026. In 2024, the University will focus especially on the internationalization of scientific research and further professionalization of administrative support for scientific activity. In the area of internationalization, the priorities will be the development and implementation of a system of study visits to research centers to foster cooperation and explore new areas of research, the development and implementation of a system of recruitment of foreign experts - leaders of good practice in research, and the creation of a program of internships for academic staff and doctoral students at leading foreign universities. As regards the professionalization of administrative support for scientific activity, priority will be given to improving the rules for recruitment of academic teachers and research staff on the basis of measurable quality criteria, improving the rules for quality-based remuneration of academic teachers and research staff who carry out high-quality scientific activity, and developing a system of support for young researchers starting their careers in higher education and science. The Openness Policy of the Catholic University of Lublin will be implemented, scientific journals and the Catholic University of Lublin Publishing House will be developed in accordance with international standards appropriate to individual scientific disciplines. An important activity planned for 2024 will be the implementation of a reporting and registration system for scientific needs in the form of an IT solution developed by the Warsaw University of Technology and the Sages Sp z o.o. company, as well as the further development of the ALMA library and information system in cooperation with the largest libraries in Poland. The support of the scientific activities of the University will, of course, continue in the form of internal grant competitions, financing of the editorial board of scientific journals and the costs of publishing scientific publications in the form of articles and monographs. Staff publication activity It is very encouraging to see that the publication activity of our staff continues unabated, in particular the publication of research results in journals and publications indexed in international databases. Although 2022 was the first year of the new evaluation perspective planned for 2022-2025, we did not observe a significant decrease in the publication activity of our researchers. In 2022, the researchers of the Catholic University of Lublin published 501 papers indexed in the Scopus database, compared to 495 in 2021, the best year so far. The number of publications for 2023 is also very good, currently standing at 496 and gradually increasing as new papers are published. https://www.kul.pl/students-awarded-by-the-rector-of-kul,art_106036.html The most committed students in the life of the university received the KUL Rector's Awards. - This is a celebration of students. A total of 177 students and young scientists from the Doctoral School and doctoral studies received awards in total, stressed the Vice-Rector for Students, Doctoral Students and Development, Dr. Beata Piskorska, Prof. of KUL, who together with the faculty authorities presented the awards. The awards were given for various activities for the benefit of the university, such as activities in scientific circles and other student organizations, co-creation of events or involvement in the promotion of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. Among the honorees were students from all departments of the university, including 13 students from the university's youngest faculty - the Faculty of Medicine. The largest number of awards went to students from the Faculty of Social Sciences (48) and the Faculty of Humanities (45). https://www.kul.pl/cooperation-of-the-kul-with-the-lublin-philharmonic,art_106034.html The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin has signed a letter of intent to cooperate with the Lublin Philharmonic. The cooperation envisages, among other things, the organization of joint cultural events, student internships, and media exchanges. - The Lublin Philharmonic offers many valuable musical encounters of a diverse nature, from classical to entertainment repertoire. It is an important partner for us in the field of culture, stresses the rector of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski. As Dr. Dominik Mielko, director of the Lublin Philharmonic, emphasizes, the subject of the agreement is the organization of concerts with the participation of the Academic Choir, lecturers and students of Musicology or other majors who will propose an appropriate program. So far, the Department of the Spanish World KUL has cooperated with the Lublin Philharmonic. - Thanks to a signed letter of intent, Musicology students can have professional internships with us. There are also proposals related to invitations for employees, students and doctoral students to our concerts, adds Dr. Dominik Mielko. Repertoire: https://filharmonialubelska.pl/repertuar/ https://www.kul.pl/design-the-avatar-of-kul,art_105611.html The Academy of Modern Media and Communication and the University Student Government of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin announce a competition for students to design an avatar of the Catholic University of Lublin and a graphic symbol associated with the University. The design of the avatar should refer to the figure of a student, an employee, a professor, a lecturer, and contain elements characteristic for the University, including the logo. The graphic symbol should represent a characteristic element or place of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. The works can be sent to: promocja@kul.pl until February 29, 2024. The selected designs will be used in the university's social media: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and in promotional materials. After submitting the work, please submit the signed attachments and permission to transfer copyright to the Information Desk located on the first floor of John Paul II Collegium. Competition regulations Attachments Rights of authorship https://www.kul.pl/official-opening-of-the-international-student-support-center,art_105538.html Yesterday, on January 17, 2024, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin officially opened the headquarters of the International Student Support Center (ISSC) located in room 125 of the Collegium Norwidianum. This initiative, operational since October 2023 and coordinated by the International Relations Office, aims to provide comprehensive assistance and support to international students in both academic and non-academic aspects of their life at the University and in Lublin. Visiting the ISSC, every international student will find help with: visa procedures, legalization of stay, health insurance, medical and psychological care, banking services. The Vice-Rector for Students, Doctoral Students and Development, prof. Beata Piskorska, who took part in the opening ceremony, emphasized that the ISSC will also provide international students with a friendly place to relax between classes, meet other students and exchange experiences. In order to integrate the students, ISSC is planning to organize many special events, such as excursions, workshops, theme days and others. The list of exciting plans for the near future includes Valentine's Day - Love Day, Orientation Days for new Erasmus students, Easter International Workshops, Integration Workshops on Intercultural Competence, Soccer Competitions, Excursion to the Open Air Museum, African Day, and a Farewell Picnic. Right after the official meeting, the international students participated in a dumpling making workshop, where they learned how to make one of the traditional Polish dishes (the favorite of the majority of the international students, according to them). The contact person of the ISSC is Emil Jagielski, who offers assistance during the scheduled hours, as well as by phone or e-mail. Contact information and the schedule can be found on the ISSC website. The John Paul Catholic University of Lublin warmly welcomes all international students to the International Student Support Center, reinforcing its commitment to creating a supportive and inclusive academic environment. More photos from the event in the photo gallery. https://www.kul.pl/researchers-from-the-faculty-of-medicine-of-the-catholic-university-of-lublin-kul-jagiellonian-university-uj-lublin-university-o,art_105503.html The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin has received a ministerial grant for the project "Investigating the effects of the use of energy drinks and selected plant adaptogens on the health and mental state of young adults - a research project". The analyses and studies will be carried out in cooperation with research teams from the Medical University of Lublin, the Jagiellonian University (Collegium Medicum) and the Lublin University of Technology. Professor Ryszard Maciejewski is the lead scholar. The aim of the project is to conduct research on the qualitative and quantitative analysis of energy drinks and plant adaptogens, and to assess their toxicity and health effects. The researchers will analyse both the elemental composition of energy drinks (ED) and the composition of plants and plant-derived raw materials with adaptogenic, psychostimulant and nootropic effects. Furthermore, studies on the toxicity of these substances and the interactions between them will be carried out. Of importance are the planned behavioural studies on laboratory animals along with microscopic analyses of their tissues. In addition, an assessment of psychological functioning in the context of cognitive performance and the risk of developing psychopathology in young adults consuming energy drinks is planned, also with regard to the risk of possible behavioural addictions. Lead scholar Professor Ryszard Maciejewski, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the Catholic University of Lublin, observes: "The aim of the teams is to increase knowledge on the composition and adverse effects of energy drinks and selected plant adaptogens. A detailed analysis will determine whether components of energy drinks and plant adaptogens can have cytotoxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic effects on cells, whether components of energy drinks and plant adaptogens interact with one another, and how they can affect the nervous system and the whole body. In addition, we want to obtain information on the mental state of young adults who consume energy drinks and determine the characteristics of their neurophysiological activity". The project is aimed to raise awareness of the impact of the above products on human health. This will be accomplished through the preparation of teaching and information materials (based on the results obtained) and a comprehensive promotional campaign employing modern resources. https://www.kul.pl/the-day-of-judaism-in-the-lublin-archdiocese-at-the-catholic-university-of-lublin,art_105515.html “My Peace I Give to You” - is the motto of this year's celebration of the Day of Judaism in the Lublin Archdiocese, to be held on Wednesday, 18 January 2023, at 5 pm in Hall 1031 of the John Paul II College at the Catholic University of Lublin. The event with the participation of the Chief Rabbi of Poland Michael Schudrich is organised by the Archdiocesan Centre for Catholic-Jewish Dialogue and the Abraham J. Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. “Faced with prolonged wars, conflict, and social tension, it is crucial that we collectively and zealously pray for Peace. As children of one God, we Jews and Christians, wish to read the Divine Word together. It is not just a word of instruction, it is not just a call to Peace, but it is a Living Word which Creates. It acts and makes itself real here and now, through our being together, through our unity, through us ourselves” – stressed in the invitation to the archdiocesan celebrations of the Day of Judaism Fr. Prof. Mirosław Wróbel, Rector’s Representative for the Catholic-Jewish Relations and Scientific Research in the Holy Land. The meeting will begin with the song Shema Israel - Hear, O Israel, taken from the Book of Deuteronomy, one of the two most important prayers in Judaism. This will be followed by the reading of Torah and Gospel texts designated for this day by Chairman of the Committee of the Polish Bishops' Conference for Dialogue with Judaism, Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś. Two commentaries, a Jewish and a Catholic one, will follow; the notion of peace from the Jewish perspective will be discussed by Chief Rabbi of Poland Michael Schudrich, while the concept of peace from the Christian point of view will be addressed by Prof. Wojciech Kaczmarek from the Department of Drama and Theatre at the Catholic University of Lublin. Then, a joint prayer for peace will be led by Cantor Symcha Keller and Bishop Mieczysław Cisło. The meeting will be concluded with a concert of Viennese chamber musicians from the Viva La Classica! Association: Julitta Dominika Walder – soprano, Mateusz Kasprzak-Łabudziński – violin, Piotr Lato – clarinet, and Joanna Sochacka – piano. The Melancholies concert is homage paid to the artists who suffered during the time of the Third Reich. An introduction to the music of the concert will be provided by dr. Teresa Księska-Falger. The celebrations will be attended also by the Grand Chancellor of the Catholic University of Lublin, Metropolitan of Lublin Archbishop Stanisław Budzik, Vice Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin For Mission and Digitisation Prof. Adam Zadroga, and Fr. Dr Tomasz Adamczyk, Director of the Archdiocesan Centrum for Catholic-Jewish Dialogue. “The diocesan celebration of the Day of Judaism is an opportunity to develop our Christian identity, to reach out to the sources, to open up to the world of symbols and meanings in which Jesus grew up and which He used”– added Fr. Dr Tomasz Adamczyk, Director of the Archdiocesan Centrum for Catholic-Jewish Dialogue. The principal national celebrations of the 27th Day of Judaism will be held in Radom on January 17. The following day, on January 18, the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin will celebrate the Day of Judaism in the Archdiocese of Lublin. It will be organised by the Archdiocesan Centrum for Catholic-Jewish Dialogue along with the Abraham J. Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. The Day of Judaism in the Catholic Church in Poland was established in 1997 by the Polish Bishops' Conference. It is celebrated on the eve of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, i.e. January 17. It is to foster Christian-Jewish dialogue, as well as to pray and reflect on the relationship between the two religions. https://www.kul.pl/day-of-judaism-rabbi-abraham-skorka-spoke-about-peace-between-people,art_105563.html The present reality is very conflictive and dramatically aggressive. Many people do not recognize the sense of brotherhood with others and instead of emotional and collaborative integration, there is war and destruction - pointed out Rabbi Prof. Abraham Skórka, a scholar and theologian who has been involved in Christian-Jewish dialogue for many years, in connection with the Day of Judaism, which is also celebrated at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. -The word to designate the concept of peace in Hebrew is Shalom, whose root ShLM is the same as that of the word Shalem, which denotes the concept of complete, integrity ; as is seen in the comparison of the two hemistichs of Psalms 38:4. There is only peace when all the parts of a whole know how to be in a fair balance - Rabbi Skórka said, pointing to the text of Job (25:2): “He who makes peace in his heights” referring to the balance that God imposed in his creative act between the different elements of the cosmos. - The same applies to human beings, who are at peace when they find a balance between their dreams and achievements, their drives and spirituality. The culmination of the priestly blessing is that God turns his face toward the individual and grants him peace - the rabbi added, while pointing out that the human capacity to make peace comes from God's blessing. The contribution that each individual must make in their life is to create, as Rabbi Skórka stressed, a message of peace for all those around them so that they are inspired by it and in turn generate new messages of peace. -The present reality is very conflictive and dramatically aggressive. Many people do not recognize the sense of brotherhood with others and instead of emotional and collaborative integration, there is war and destruction - he assessed. - On this day of Judaism in Poland, the land where my ancestors lived, I raise my prayers so that the dimension of peace will once again be perceptible in our lives. I invite everyone to join me in this sentiment because what God expects of us is to make peace with Him, which is the essential element to honor Him and the dignity of each individual - concluded Prof. Abraham Skórka. https://www.kul.pl/share-help-don-t-throw-away,art_105463.html The community fridges installed by the Catholic University of Lublin are very popular. - This proves that we have contributed to the growth of consumer awareness in Lublin," says Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski, Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin. After the Christmas and New Year break, the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin has returned to full-time study and work. This means that you can use the freedge: bring your own food and help yourself. The community fridges of the Catholic University of Lublin can be used by anyone. The idea of food sharing was presented in Lublin in December 2018. The first social fridge was set up on Tysiąclecia Avenue, at market no. 1. As of December 2023, there are already three freedges in Lublin - two new ones are located on the campus of the Catholic University of Lublin: the Main Campus and Poczekajka. In Poland, almost 5 million tons of food are wasted every year, and the average Pole throws away about 247 kg of food. These statistics make us think and call for concrete preventive measures. One of the organizations promoting a more conscious approach to food is Foodsharing Poland. The social refrigerators save good food from being thrown away. There are already 103 Foodsharing Polska locations, with another 43 similar places in operation. To the satisfaction of many, their number is increasing every year. - Our freedges were set up out of the need of the heart. After all, a person's wealth is not measured by what he has in his pocket, but by what he has in his heart. And this is the message we want to share on this occasion," said the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski. The community fridges have one main goal - to save food from being wasted. It's a place where everyone can share and at the same time eat food that would otherwise most likely end up in the trash. If you can't manage surplus food or don't know how to do it, but don't want to throw it away, you can bring it to the community refrigerator. It is important that the products that go to the fridge are fit for consumption. Keep in mind that the eatery is for everyone - that is, anyone, regardless of their financial status, can feel comfortable taking what they want from the fridge, free of charge. - This is a fantastic initiative. Probably each of us has faced the dilemma of what to do with food that is good but is just left in the fridge. I don't like to throw food away, but I know that many people don't even think about it. Now I will remember that if I can't eat something, I can bring it to our freedges," said one student. The social fridges are located in two sites. The first is placed on the first floor of the John Paul II College, entrance from the Post Office, and the second is on the Poczekajka campus, in the biotechnology building. The fridges can be used during the university's opening hours, i.e. from 6 am to 9 pm. https://www.kul.pl/in-this-world-there-is-a-brought-space-for-catholic-universities,art_105433.html What is the situation of Catholic universities in Poland and around the world? What are the values of studying medicine at such universities as the KUL? What is to be faced in the sphere of science, but also mission at Catholic universities? An interview with Fr. Dr. Armando Puig i Tarrech, who visited The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) in his capacity as chairman of the Holy See's Agency for the Evaluation and Promotion of the Quality of Education in Universities and Faculties of the Church (AVEPRO). Monika Stojowska: The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin is the oldest and the first university in Poland to be certified by AVEPRO. What does it mean in practice? Ks. dr Armand Puig I Tarrech: The system of Catholic Church regarding the Certification of quality is a special one because we don’t work like the national agencies which have a kind of direct control of the situation and the universities are obliged to do this evaluation, to allow people to come there, to control and to decide which is wrong, which is right and so on. In our case, we think that the evaluation starts with a wish, with a desire. When somebody says and thinks that in order to improve quality it is good to self-evaluate the institution and after that to accept people coming from outside may also evaluate the raport it has been written at the occasion of intern evaluation. This is the first characteristic. The second one is that this process is performed with a very low cost. Generally speaking national agencies do their work but obliging, inviting universities to pay fees of that. How many universities have such a certificate? Jak wiele uczelni ma taki certyfikat? We have 300 institutions that are under our umbrella. Within those institutions are ecclesiastical institutions. For example, in this university there are 2 faculties which belong to the discipline of the Catholic Church, strictly speaking which is namely: Theology and Philosophy. After that you have the Institute of Canon Law. We are not going to evaluate medicine, economy or political sciences. Although those faculties belong to the catholic university like this one but those are not ecclesiastical matters in the strict sense. It is very nice in these faculties that all the students follow several religious matters which do not belong to strictly speaking to their faculties. For example, logic or ethics. If you are doing medicine, logic is a kind of strange matter because it doesn’t belong to the curriculum of medicine but if you want to share the spirit of the university, logic is an important thing. The spirit is the consequence of the identity, of the university as the catholic university. It is said the catholic universities are prestigious. In Poland it is not quite like that. What is the reason for it? When KUL was founded over 100 years ago it was among how many universities in Poland? Quite a few. How many universities exists in Poland now? A lot. Now are the online universities and so on and so forth. In this area, KUL is very important because here people have understood, the Rector of KUL and staff and so on, they cannot live over the past glory but must live for the present challenges. For instance, you in recent times set up a faculty of medicine. It is a good choice. And the small story of the numbers of those who were longing to become a student and the real number who were actually accepted? 2000 and 60. It means that it is a real demand of the univeristies when they promote real and attractive programme. At the same time, our universities should accept quality as the main scope. Quality means research, means openness to the society, to culture, not being endogamic institutions and to have this flavor of knowing how the man and women of this very historical moment are behaving and doing the things. So the comprehension of the historical moment where you live now, 2023 is very important. In this world there is a brought space for catholic universities. Because they have an identity which in the begining may sound as an old identity but explained and lived as such is an identity gives an answer to the so many question people are putting themselves today. Are the biblical studies the future? Why are they important in Poland and in the world? Well, biblical studies are strong in different countries. Here, in Lublin there is a tradition of biblical studies and it would be nice to improve and to push up this tradition because there is a certain amount of scholars that are well prepared and have already given let’s say given aspiring fruits means articles, books, monographs and so on. So, on this basis we can build the future. The faculty, the university, the institute its always the mixture of two factors. Scholars and students. If you have well prepared scholars but don’t have the students, something is wrong. And on the opposite. So, I am impressed by the quality of the publication I’ve seen coming out from this team of biblical scholars here. At the same time, I think it is a challenge for all of you to make this number of students grow.I agree with the fact that Lublin has cultural and historical position which may allow people to consider this university as a reference university in the field of biblical studies. How do you see the future cooperation between AVEPRO and KUL? This cooperation has already started, because Rev. Prof. Nowosad is a member of our scientific council. Ta współpraca już się rozpoczęła, ponieważ ks. prof. Nowosad jest członkiem naszej rady naukowej. How Catholic universities face with their problems? If there are any. I was the Dean of the Faculty of Theology but we have to distinguished the catholic univestity from the ecclesiastical faculties. I mentioned at least two problems. The problem of quality, the problem with the relationship within the culture and the society and the problem of having real project. Those are the three main problems. Thank YOU for the conversation https://www.kul.pl/visiting-professors-in-lublin-3rd-edition,art_105417.html In this year's edition of the "Visiting Professors in Lublin" competition, the Catholic University of Lublin was among six winners. The winning project of the Catholic University of Lublin's Department of the Methodology of Science will receive funding from the Lublin City Hall for the organization of a visit by Prof. Dr. Stefan Lorenz Sorgner of John Cabot University in Rome, one of the world's best-known philosophers dealing with transhumanism and posthumanism and co-founder and director of the Beyond Humanism Network. The program of Prof. Sorgner's visit to Lublin includes a series of lectures and debates on the ethics of artificial intelligence and the ethics of new technologies. A total of 23 applications were submitted in the 3rd edition of the competition. The purpose of the competition is to organize and promote visits of recognized and outstanding foreign scientists and business people, whose presence in Lublin will contribute to increasing the level of internationalization of the academic community, including scientific research and promotion of science among the residents of Lublin. https://www.kul.pl/catholic-university-of-lublin-major-events-in-2023-launching-a-study-programme-for-physicians-good-enrolment-international-colla,art_105391.html Launching a study programme for prospective physicians, prestigious awards, meetings with interesting people, debates and events related to the most pressing problem of the day as well as the inauguration of the international project known as the Three Seas University Network are some of the elements of the year 2023 at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (KUL). As Rector of KUL Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski recalled, “Despite the 105 years of operation, the Univeresity is in top shape. It is vibrant and offers multiple noteworthy initiatives to the academic community”. The Lublin Nobel Prize conferred on KUL. This is no doubt one of the highlights of January 2023. Criminal law Professor Małgorzata Gałązka from the KUL Institute of Legal Sciences won the Professor Edmund Prost Science Award of Lublin Region. The distinction was granted for the monograph “Criminal Law Limits of Innovative Medical Intervention”. The unique honour is given each year to only one representative of the Lublin scientific community; this year as many as 14 scholars were nominated. “Medical interventions engage human fundamental legal goods: health, life, right to self-determination, informational privacy. These are rights that the law, including criminal law, has always protected” – stressed Prof. Małgorzata Gałązka in an interview for Przegląd Uniwersytecki periodical. A major event in February was a visit to the Catholic University of Lublin by the Albertine Friars, who provide aid to Ukraine, struggling with Russian aggression, and a meeting with Władysław Bartoszewski's son Teofil, who not only recalled his famous father in connection with the 15th anniversary of his receipt of an honorary doctorate from the Catholic University of Lublin, but also talked about the backstage of Polish politics and the importance of decency in this context. Another important matter for the academic community in February 2023 was the reminder that the Catholic University of Lublin fulfils the statutory criteria for applying to become a research university. “Out of the 14 scientific disciplines evaluated, as many as nine, i.e. the majority, received an A+ or A category”, said Damian Liszka, who heads the KUL Research Evaluation Department. As the expert emphasised, this evaluation contributes to building the brand of the Catholic University of Lublin as a leading and prestigious scientific centre. March 2023 saw a successive edition of the University Areopagus; this time experts discussed refugees and war. “The attitude towards people in need of help is a measure of our humanity” this was the conclusion reached by experts from, among others, the Catholic University of Lublin, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, the University of Warsaw, and the Jagiellonian University, who took part in a debate in Poznań entitled “Refugees. Coexistence or assimilation? Social aspects of war”. In March, too, Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski set up the Polish Diaspora Centre, whose main tasks are cooperation with the Polish community, the media and Polish organisations, and the coordination and development of activities carried out by the Catholic University of Lublin for the Polish community, among others through the organisation of the Catholic University of Lublin Study Centre for the Polish Community and Poles Abroad. An undoubtedly important debate for the Catholic University of Lublin was a meeting in March around media publications concerning Cardinal Karol Wojtyła. Historians and experts in the history of the Catholic Church in Poland discussed the accusations levelled against him, as well as the surveillance and repressions of the Security Service against the Catholic Church and the clergy during the communist period. The scholars agreed that diligent work by historians who are able to critically examine historical records and take into account the historical context of the events described by the media is crucial in this matter. KUL also proposed interesting cultural events. In April, lovers of poetry, cinema and classic literature could discuss Jan Kochanowski’s Threnodies, a masterpiece of Polish literature, and its unique reflective and oneiric film adaptation directed by Damian Bieniek. The event, held as part of the Catholic University of Lublin's Festival of Polish Studies, attracted more than 550 people, mainly secondary school students and their teachers. During the discussion accompanying the screening, attended by literary scholars, musicologists and art historians, young people could learn not only about the significance of one of the key texts of Polish literary heritage, but also about the mechanisms of translating the language of poetry into that of film, in this case the outstanding funeral lyric by Jan of Czarnolas into the scenes and images of cinema. The Three Seas University Network is an initiative of the Catholic University of Lublin. It was launched, in the presence of the highest state authorities, including President Andrzej Duda, in May during the Self-Government Congress of Three Seas. KUL is the leader of this international undertaking (3SUN - The Three Seas University Network), which is intended to lay the foundations of a lasting and stable partnership of universities from as many as 12 countries of said region, i.e. between the Baltic Sea, the Adriatic, and the Black Sea. In May the University held the traditional Kulturalia 2023, with concerts in the courtyard of the Main Building by stars such as Happysad, Sylwia Grzeszczak, Ania Karwan, and Natalia Szroeder. Part of the proceeds from the tickets was donated to the Good Samaritan Hospice in Lublin. Days of Student Culture - KULturalia (formerly known as Kullages) is a cyclical, flagship project of the KUL Students' Union, organised since the early 1970s and promoting high student culture. Moreover, in May 2023 Prof. Peter Trudgill from the United Kingdom, one of the world’s preeminent sociolinguists and dialectologists, received an honorary doctorate from the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. Also in May the University launched the Centre for Diplomacy Research, tasked with e.g. collaboration with international research institutions studying foreign policies, international relations, and diplomacy. The lecture “How much God in contemporary diplomacy?” was delivered during the even by Director of the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna Emil Brix. In June, KUL was visited by chief executives of Vatican media. “We need media that help to foster dialogue and build bridges rather than divide and erect walls” – said Dr Andrea Tornielli and Dr Massimiliano Menichetti, who attended the meeting “Contemporary Media and Technologies in the Communication of the Church”. Both Italian experts, in charge of e.g. Vatican News, highlighted the fact that fundamental for the work of communications media is the truth told through the witness and accounts of people and their life experience. In June, we also learned that KUL was eligible to confer the doctoral and postdoctoral degrees in three other disciplines: medical biology, biblical sciences, and family sciences. They are added to the previous entitlements of the University to confer such degrees in 14 disciplines: legal sciences, sociological sciences, pedagogy, canon law, psychology, philosophy, history, linguistics, literary sciences, arts sciences, theological sciences, biological sciences, as well as political sciences and administration. There was no shortage of interesting events during the holiday period, either. One of them was the ceremony honouring Prof. Stefan Sawicki with the Order of Saint Gregory the Great was significant. On 18 July This eminent theoretician and historian of literature, as well as an accomplished expert in the works of Cyprian Norwid, received both the papal order and the Medal of the Minister of Education – Science Sapientia et Veritas for Distinguished Service to Polish Science. “The Catholic University of Lublin has been my great life adventure, and at the risk of being accused of triviality, I will even say: my love” - said the 96-year-old laureate. In July we also learnt the results of this year's enrolment for Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at KUL. Over 7.5 thousand candidates applied in 2023, up by almost 2.5 thousand than the previous year. The most popular field of study turned out to be the newly created medicine, as almost 1.5 thousand candidates applied to study it. As sixty freshmen were admitted, almost 25 people applied for one place in the study programme. Also popular were such majors as psychology, Italian studies (remote learning), criminology, nursing, management, English Studies, law. During the summer holidays in August, the Catholic University of Lublin once again brought together young Poles from all over the world. For one week, the House of Creative Work of the Catholic University of Lublin in Kazimierz Dolny became a meeting place and workshop venue for a group of 25 young Poles from the USA, England, Germany, France, and Italy. It is an project carried out by the Polish Diaspora Centre of the Catholic University of Lublin together with the Foundation for the Development of the Catholic University of Lublin, which gives Polish young people a chance to immerse themselves in the culture, language and history of Poland, to establish international relations and build lasting friendships among their Polish peers. The Lublin Science Festival, which took place in September for the 19th time under the motto Science for the Future, brought not only a record number of events, but also unforgettable experiences, inspiring lectures, and workshops. Along with the other cities hosting the Lublin Science Festival: Chełm, Puławy, Stalowa Wola, and Zamość, Lublin turned into a centre of scientific fascination, inspiration, and knowledge sharing. This year John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin was the principal coordinator of the festival. The events were uniquely announced during a meeting with a guest of honour, Dr Sławosz Uznański, a project astronaut at te European Space Agency (ESA). The debate “On the Prophets of Freedom in Times of Enslavement”, i.e. about Cardinal Karol Wojtyła and Father Franciszek Blachnicki, was the first important event of the new academic year, inaugurated in mid-October. An honorary doctorate of the Catholic University of Lublin was awarded on this occasion to Rabbi Abraham Skorka, a religious scholar, biophysicist, and a teacher of Judaism, who has for many years been involved in the Christian-Catholic dialogue. Recalling his meetings with Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, the current Pope Francis, the rabbi stressed that “a real turning point in relations between Jews and Catholics requires much more than mere meetings, namely an observation based on moral greatness and spiritual courage. Poland was the country where my ancestors had lived for generations. Their culture was my spiritual nourishment”. In October, the first students began studying medicine. That month the University hosted a Congress of Theologians “Faith and Theology Closer to Us”, and a ceremony to remind us that the Catholic University of Lublin has offered classes to prisoners for more than 10 years. At the Remand Prison in Lublin, a group of 20 inmates who started their studies at the Catholic University of Lublin were granted student rights. The inauguration lecture “Quo Vadis Samaritana?” was delivered by a cardiac surgery and clinical transplantation expert, Prof. Michał O. Zembala from the School of Medicine at KUL. The lecturer observed that one must never give up. Studies at KUL are to help the inmates receive higher education and acquire major ethical and humanistic values. The BA and MA studies are carried out within the Family Studies programme. In November, the Polish Diaspora Centre for of the Catholic University of Lublin launched the third edition of the Studies for Poles Abroad. More than one and a half thousand people from 30 countries applied to the 18 courses offered by the Catholic University of Lublin: artificial intelligence, speech therapy, mediation and negotiation, effective management, culture of the Polish language, and courses in reportage and journalistic interviewing. The largest number of participants, over 400, came from the UK, but the offer is also popular in Germany and France and other much more distant countries. Decemberwas a time when, among other things, the University celebrated its 105th birthday.On December 8, Prof. Carl A. Anderson, former Supreme Knight of the Order of Knights of Columbus, was awarded an honorary doctorate. Anderson was an assistant to the President of the United States from 1983-87. John Paul II entrusted him with prominent responsibilities; among other things, he appointed him a member of the Pontifical Academy for Life. “The Catholic University of Lublin is 105 years old and still remains youthful; it is a university full of energy that offers many good initiatives to the academic community,” stressed Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, ensuring that the Gospel and the teaching of the Catholic Church have invariably been the compass for the development and present-day operation of the University. The Rector emphasized the significance of international gatherings and student exchanges. He mentioned the visit of Prof. Susannah Heschel, who came with students from Dartmouth College, USA. Earlier, a Los Angeles Loyola Marymount University group accompanied by Princess Irina Wittgenstein had also visited for the same purpose. The Catholic University of Lublin students were also part of these meetings. *** From the perspective of the past 12 months of work, it was a very intensive but successful year. “Our university has done very well in terms of media visibility, as evidenced by numerous publications in local, national, and international media. On several occasions we have been among the top Polish universities when it comes to social media management” - says Monika Stojowska, Deputy Spokesperson for KUL. One token of recognition in this respect is the first place in the March 2023 ranking of the Institute of research of the Internet and Social Media. In cooperation with the Holy See media and the Knights of Columbus, in 2023, the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin launched a media project related to the popularization of John Paul II and his teachings. The project aims to promote his teaching, thoughts, and presence in Poland and worldwide. Within the framework of the project, for almost a year, the Catholic University of Lublin has been creating original multimedia materials: texts, photographs, films, video and audio recordings, and thematic series, as well as organizing events, including debates, panel discussions, exhibitions in Poland and abroad, in which the best experts in particular fields participate. All press texts and event reports are widely published in university media: Facebook (52 thousand observers, the best profile among universities in Poland), X (5 thousand observers), Instagram (5, 667 thousand observers), Catholic University of Lublin's YouTube (5 thousand subscribers), the university's website (July-October 1.8 million unique users) and are sent to journalists at home and abroad. *** 2023 was also a year of intensive work by the Abraham J. Heschel Centre for Catholic-Jewish Relations at the Catholic University of Lublin. The Centre has been an active ambassador of our University and the Church in Poland, undertaking cooperation and discussions with over a dozen universities and entities responsible for research, education, and Christian-Jewish dialogue in the world, commemorating significant anniversaries and organising religious and cultural events at the Catholic University of Lublin (such as Day of Judaism, Hanukkah at the Catholic University of Lublin), by publishing and promoting books for dialogue and mutual understanding of Polish-Jewish history (bookWartime Rescue of Jews by the Polish Catholic Clergyanda publication on the Ulma family). The Heschel Center also prepared a visit and recording for the Berkeley Center with Prof. Rabbi Abraham Skorka, sponsored a series of multimedia Christian-Jewish biblical commentaries, and conducted student exchanges. https://www.kul.pl/letter-from-the-rector-of-the-catholic-university-of-lublin-on-christmas,art_105387.html Letter of Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin for the Nativity of the Lord The advent of God on earth is a call for dialogue and reconciliation, stressed Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, who addressed a letter to the faithful and friends of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin for this year's Christmas. During this time of Christmas, the most family-oriented holiday, which should be permeated with the spirit of peace and reconciliation, I wish that the culture of dialogue becomes more and more a reality, wrote the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin. For Christians, the Nativity of Christ is not merely a historical event, but above all a great mystery of faith. Its essence is the coming of God Himself to humanity and the encounter of the loving Creator with His creation - these are the first words of the letter of Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, who pointed out that the encounter that took place in Bethlehem can be described as dialogue between heaven and earth. Father Rector observed moreover: The Son of God, entering humanity, began a salvific dialogue, knocking at the gates of our hearts and patiently asking to be received and listened to. Our life is an attempt to continually respond to this God's call. It is only when we listen to His voice, when we honestly present our reasons to Him, confronting our own views with His will, that we can grow internally and build a vital relationship with Christ. Only when we learn to argue and reconcile with God will we be able to speak honestly, sincerely, and humbly with another person. However, the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin pointed out that observation of various spheres of public life prompts the reflection that dialogue with God is gradually losing its importance and that people forego dialogue in favour of quarrelling: Interlocutors are unable and unwilling to listen to each other, unable to calmly present their arguments and seek consensus, and are not interested in seeking the truth but in pursuing their own interests. If this dangerous process is not stopped and remedied by means of Christian principles, it can lead to the dissolution of social bonds and of the sense of community, symbolised in the Bible by the confusion of languages and the unsuccessful construction of the Tower of Babel. In several sections of the letter entitled "Christ teaches humanity to dialogue", "Conditions for fruitful interpersonal dialogue", "Catholic University as a school of dialogue", Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin pointed to the importance of a closer look at the role of dialogue in the relationship not only with God, but also with people: This ongoing dialogue between God and us proceeds not only at the level of words recorded in the books of Holy Scripture, but goes back to the most difficult deeds performed by Jesus. This is what the incarnation of God's Word consists in; it did not remain at the level of theory, but materialised in the person of Christ, showing extraordinary solidarity with creation, for which the Creator felt responsible. Furthermore, Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski recalled that dialogue requires an active participation of those who meet: In order for dialogue with others on personal or social levels to be fruitful, certain conditions must be fulfilled; these conditions can be found in Christ's attitude towards His interlocutors. First, one should approach the other person with respect and have the goodwill to seek the truth. Second, both parties should listen calmly to each other's points of view, seeking first and foremost commonalities rather than differences. Third, when criticising or rejecting the views of the interlocutor, one should not hurt the person and violate his or her dignity. Fourth, making a remark, criticising, or proposing a difficult solution must not be based on prejudice or a hostile attitude on the part of the person offering criticism. On the contrary, such remarks must not be perceived by the admonished person as a personal attack but as a proposal to rethink his conduct. When addressing His interlocutors, Christ always looked into their faces with love, which is the prerequisite for fruitful dialogue. Only by respecting the interlocutor is it possible to listen patiently, to put forward one's views without force or offence, to come to an understanding, to defend the truth and, at the same time, to learn certain things even from someone with whom we fundamentally disagree. In the context of a Catholic university such as the one in Lublin, dialogue implies the creation of an atmosphere for a sincere exchange of ideas, getting to know each other and striving for truth, as well as the ability to listen to the Other, proposing rational hypotheses and solutions, free of negative emotional background, emphasised Father Rector. He pointed out as follows: Honest dialogue, supported by arguments developed through many years of academic research, has been a symbol of the activities of universities since their inception. A Catholic university has a unique role in this regard, since the person of Christ, the Son of God, is in the background of everything that is undertaken within its walls. There is no better model for conducting meetings and engaging in dialogue than Jesus Christ Himself, noted Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski. He moreover recalled the words of Pope Francis, who teaches that in the Christian understanding, dialogue begins with listening and creates communion. It is God who is the first listener; He listens to the human heart in order to open it to receive the fullness of love and the joy of life. During this time of Christmas, the most family-oriented holiday, which should be permeated with the spirit of peace and reconciliation, I wish that the culture of dialogue becomes more and more a reality, concluded Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski in his Christmas letter. The full text of the letter click here. PEŁNA TREŚĆ LISTU REKTORA KUL NA BOŻE NARODZENIE 2023 r - in Polish. https://www.kul.pl/wishes-for-christmas-2023,art_105367.html https://www.kul.pl/rector-s-invitation-to-the-christmas-wafer-meeting,art_105285.html The Rector of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski, invites you to the Christmas wafer meeting, which will take place on December 19 at 4:00 p.m. in the Musicology Hall of the Collegium of John Paul II (C-1031). - The University Christmas Wafer meeting is not only a joint caroling with the Choir of the Catholic University of Lublin but always moving and thought-provoking, on the essence of the coming Christmas, an etude of the ITP Theater. Above all, it is an opportunity to once again receive the Good News of Christmas and to put it into practice by sharing our best wishes. May this meeting be an opportunity for all of us to meet the coming Christ in each other and to build a true Academic Community of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin - with these words the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin invites you to participate in the Christmas Wafer meeting. https://www.kul.pl/advent-and-hanukkah-at-the-catholic-university-of-lublin-we-are-together-close-to-god,art_105284.html For the second time, a joint celebration of Advent and Hanukkah - "Light in the Darkness" - was held at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin on December 14, 2023. The meeting organizer was Abraham J. Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations at the Catholic University of Lublin. "These events involving the chosen people, which were the work of God-Jahweh, are part of our common history of salvation," said Mieczyslaw Cisło, auxiliary bishop of the Lublin Archdiocese, during the ceremony. The organizers of the meeting, the Catholic University of Lublin's Heschel Center, wished that in a difficult time of unrest, wars, and conflicts, being together would become an expression of hope and faith in the victory of light over darkness, which happened in the Christian Mystery of the Incarnation at Christmas and the miracle associated with the liberation of the Jerusalem Temple remembered during the Jewish Hanukkah. The celebration began with the song "Shema Israel" by the Neocatechumenal cantors. Two commentaries - a Jewish one and a Catholic one followed. The Rabbi of the Jewish Community in Warsaw, Yitzhak Rapoport, delivered a Hanukkah message about the symbolism of light: "There is something unique about light. Usually, when you divide something, it remains less than it was. I have a fruit; I divide it, and only a part remains. But if I take a burning candle and with that candle I light another candle, that first candle doesn't lose anything, and the amount of light increases. And that's why the candle and light become a symbol of spirituality and love, because if a person shares love and spirituality with another, they lose nothing, and on the contrary, gain". Academic community members, representatives of the Jewish community, and passers-by attended the symbolic meeting in front of the Collegium Norwidianum. One by one, the candles lit on the Hanukkah candlestick and Advent wreath, following the idea of the ceremony, illuminated the darkness of the December evening. "I am glad that this light burns first and foremost in people's hearts, "said Bishop Mieczyslaw Cisło, who lit the candles on the Advent wreath together with Fr. Prof. Mirosław S. Wróbel, plenipotentiary of the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin for Catholic-Jewish Relations and Scientific Research in the Holy Land. Bishop Cisło also stressed that we cannot be indifferent to acts of anti-Semitism, which are acts of hatred that require open condemnation. At the end of the ceremony, Fr. Dr. Marcin Kowalski, Director of the Heschel Center of the Catholic University of Lublin, addressed words of thanks to those gathered: "We are closer to each other, and so in this way, we are also closer to God. I think there is great warmth and love in our hearts. May this joint celebration continue; may the light of Hanukkah and Advent fill our hearts." Abraham J. Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations at the Catholic University of Lublin is a scientific and educational unit that aims to deepen Catholic-Jewish relations. Its patron is Abraham J. Heschel, a Jewish theologian, philosopher, and poet. The Center was inaugurated in October 2022. https://www.kul.pl/the-catholic-university-of-lublin-youthful-despite-its-105-years,art_105281.html The Catholic University of Lublin is 105 years old yet remains youthful and vibrant. It is a university brimming with energy, offering the academic community a plethora of good initiatives, says rector of the Catholic University of Lublin Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski before another anniversary of the University’s foundation on December 8. The Gospel and the teaching of the Catholic Church have invariably been the compass for the development of the university and its modern agenda, assures Fr. Rector. Fr. Prof. Kalinowski observes that the Catholic University of Lublin is made up of eminent scholars and academics, inquisitive, imaginative, and talented students and Ph.D. candidates, as well as reliable administrative staff and generous friends of our University. In the academic year 2023/2024, the extensive educational portfolio of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin includes over 100 study programs and specialisations in social sciences, humanities, technical and natural sciences, theology, philosophy, law, and medicine. The innovative educational offer is geared towards prospective physicians, coaches, career guidance counsellors, and AI specialists. The first estimated recruitment results from September this year indicated that approximately three thousand new undergraduates, graduates, and doctoral students would begin their studies at our University. Two thousand of them will be taught at uniform MA and undergraduate programmes and around 800 people at MA programmes. In total, there are about nine thousand students at the University, including several hundred international students. The latter come not only from the war-stricken Ukraine, which our University is trying to help, but also from distant countries in the Americas, Africa or even from Australia. The Catholic University of Lublin has embarked on a number of modern initiatives which go beyond the classical educational offer addressed only to academic youth. The three most interesting relevant endeavours include the Catholic University of Lublin Study Centre at the Remand Prison, whose inmates study as part of their social reintegration. There is also the Polish Diaspora Centre with its vast offer of as many as 18 courses for Poles abroad, or the University's youngest child, the Centre for Research on Diplomacy, whose task is to conduct national and international research on contemporary diplomacy, particularly important in today's polarised world. Studies for prisoners have been conducted by the Catholic University of Lublin for over 10 years. This initiative, unique on a European scale, is fully in line with the Catholic University's mission to provide help even to those who have gone astray in their life. In fact, the studies are intended to empower convicts to receive higher education and to acquire important ethical and humanistic values. Prisoners who, in their own words, do not want to waste time behind bars, learn how to work as assistants of dependent persons (undergraduate studies) or how to animate a social environment (graduate studies). One should never give up, pointed out Prof. Michał O. Zembala from the Faculty of Medicine of the Catholic University of Lublin, a respected specialist in cardiac surgery and clinical transplantology. During the inauguration of a new study programme, he gave an inaugural lecture entitled "Quo vadis Samaritana?". It is worth mentioning that in the current academic year more than 50 students detained in the Lublin Remand Prison have started their higher education. The Polish Diaspora Centre of the Catholic University of Lublin, active for merely a year, can boast of success, having recently launched the third edition of the Study Programme for Poles and Polish Communities Abroad. More than a thousand people from 30 countries applied to study 18 courses offered by the Catholic University of Lublin: artificial intelligence, speech therapy, mediation and negotiation, effective management, culture of the Polish language and courses in reportage and journalistic interviewing. The largest number of participants, more than 400, have applied from the UK, but the University's offer is equally popular in Germany and France and other much more distant countries. The Centre for Research on Diplomacy is the latest initiative of our University. Inaugurated in May 2023, in addition to research on contemporary diplomacy, it focuses on cooperation with foreign scientific research units engaged in the study of state foreign policy, international relations, and diplomacy. The Centre's tasks will also include the publication of monographs, scientific journals and other source publications, as well as the organisation of conferences and modern popularisation activities, and the construction of an educational offer in cooperation with external partners, including the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The lecture at the inauguration of this unique unit of the University, entitled "How much God is in modern diplomacy?", was delivered by the Director of the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna, Emil Brix, who discussed the changing relationship between international politics, churches and faith and the role of diplomacy in this context. https://www.kul.pl/rector-of-the-catholic-university-of-lublin-we-strongly-condemn-the-act-of-mp-braun,art_105246.html The Hanukkah holiday symbolizes religious freedom; today's event in the Sejm building is unacceptable and must never be repeated. The academic community strongly condemns the act of MP Grzegorz Braun and confirms solidarity with the Jewish community," stressed the rector of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski, who is the founder of the Abraham J. Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish relations. https://www.kul.pl/carl-anderson-awarded-honorary-doctorate-at-catholic-university-of-lublin,art_105210.html The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin in Poland awards an honorary doctorate to former Supreme Knight of Columbus, Professor Carl A. Anderson. During a solemn but joyful ceremony in Lublin, Prof. Carl A. Anderson was honoured with a doctorate honoris causa. In an interview with Vatican Radio, Prof. Anderson said"Receiving a doctorate from the university where Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, later Pope, taught is a great honour. This university is a special place for forming future leaders." Motivation The resolution of the Senate of the Catholic University of Lublin conferring the honorary doctorate to Anderson states that the University wished to "express respect and appreciation for the activities of Prof. Carl Albert Anderson, particularly in the development of the charitable work of the Order of the Knights of Columbus, the promotion of the teaching and legacy of St. John Paul II, and the promotion of the civilization of life." At the ceremony's opening, Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, noted that Carl Anderson is highly trusted and acknowledged Anderson's long-standing service in various Vatican institutions, where he held important positions dedicated to protecting human life and promoting Christian values within families. "Outstanding individuals can recognize their talents, put them into practice, and share the fruits of their labour, as in the Gospel parable. In my opinion, just such a man, very generously endowed by the Creator and called to important tasks, is Carl Anderson, for many years Supreme Knight of the Order of Knights of Columbus," Bishop Wieslaw Smigiel of Torun said of the laureate in his laudation. Theology of Love Professor Carl Anderson delivered a lecture titled "John Paul II in the 21st Century". In the lecture, he presented the idea that St. John Paul II's accomplishments could be compared to those of St. Augustine in historical evaluations. It is due to his ability to provide a visionary path for the future of the Church and his efforts in dealing with the decline of one era before the emergence of a new one. He also pointed out that "John Paul II's theology of love is not an academic exercise, but the core of Catholic life, the heart of the call to 'open wide the door to Christ' in the heart of the believer." By Fr. Paul Rytel-Andrianik Source: Vatican News https://www.kul.pl/the-ceremony-of-awarding-the-title-of-doctor-honoris-causa-of-kul-to-prof-carl-a-anderson,art_105180.html The Rector and the Senate of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin have the honour to invite all to the ceremony of awarding the title of doctor honoris causa to Prof. Carl A. Anderson. The ceremony will be held on Friday, December 8, 2023 at 11.00 at Collegium Aegidianum, auditorium CTW-113. Programme of the ceremony: Opening address - Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, Rector of KUL Reading of the Senate resolution Laudation - HE Bishop Dr Habil. Wiesław Śmigiel Ceremonial conferral of the honorary doctorate Congratulation Lecture - Prof. Carl A. Anderson Carl A. Anderson Carl A. Anderson has had a distinguished career as a public servant and educator. He served as special assistant to President Ronald Reagan and acting director of the White House Office of Public Liaison. He then served for nearly a decade as a member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. He was a family law professor at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome. He was the founding vice-president and dean of the American session of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. where he served as vice-chair of the Board of Trustees. Carl Anderson was appointed by Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI to serve on many Vatican commissions, including the Pontifical Council for the Family and as an auditor to four world synods of bishops. He was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to serve on the board of the Vatican Bank. Pope Francis re-appointed Mr. Anderson to the Pontifical Academy for Life. Carl Anderson was the Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus from 2000 to 2021. Under his leadership, the Knights of Columbus experienced significant growth in membership, financial, and charitable activities, and established numerous humanitarian initiatives around the world, extending its membership to the mainland of Asia and Europe. Today, there are more than 7,000 Knights of Columbus active in Poland. https://www.kul.pl/celebrations-of-the-105th-year-of-the-catholic-university-of-lublin,art_105172.html The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin will celebrate its 105th anniversary on 8 December this year. On this occasion, the university authorities have planned a number of events to duly celebrate this round jubilee. Although the Catholic University of Lublin (then known as the University of Lublin) was founded on 27 July 1918 by a decision of the Bishops' Conference, it is customary to celebrate its anniversary every year on 8 December, the anniversary of the opening of the first academic year in 1918. Idzi Radziszewski, the founder and first Rector of the University, could have imagined that 105 years later the Catholic University of Lublin would be so vibrant and constantly developing? On the occasion of its round 105th birthday, the university authorities have planned a series of accompanying events to properly celebrate this unique anniversary in the history of the Catholic University of Lublin. The celebrations will begin at 8.30 a.m. on the campus in Poczekajka, where the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, will ceremoniously cut a cake, which will be served to the students and staff of the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Natural and Technical Sciences. At 9.00 a.m., in the building of the KUL Institute of Biotechnology (room 008), a lecture entitled "The Mystery of Cancer Initiation: Lessons from the Bladder Cancer Model" will be given by world-renowned scientist Professor Bogdan Czerniak, MD, from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Another event to honour the university's 105th anniversary will be the ceremony of conferring the title of Doctor Honoris Causa of the Catholic University of Lublin to Prof. Carl A. Anderson, which will take place at 11.00 a.m. at the Collegium Aegidianum (auditorium CTW-113). At 2.30 p.m., the celebrations will begin on the main campus of the Catholic University of Lublin. The cake prepared for the occasion will be cut by the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, accompanied by the Vice-Rectors and the whole academic community. An additional attraction will be a concert prepared by the lecturers and students of musicology at KUL. At 7 p.m. Revd Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski will preside over Holy Mass in the Catholic University Church, during which, together with the students and staff of the university, he will give thanks for another such fruitful year of the university's activity and ask for the blessing and protection of Providence for the years to come. The last event planned on the occasion of the university's 105th birthday will be a concert by the Academic Choir of the Catholic University of Lublin, which will take place after the Holy Mass in the Academic Church at 8 p.m. An almost completely unknown piece of music will be performed then: "Magnificat" by Roger Calmel. https://www.kul.pl/the-cooperation-with-the-vatican-s-dicastery-for-communications,art_105164.html The Holy See's Dicastery for Communications has signed a letter of intent with the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin for the translation of Vatican documents into Polish, as well as for the production of multimedia content aimed at promoting the teaching of the Catholic Church, the Gospel, and the Christian value system. The cooperation will enable Catholic University of Lublin students to serve internships at Vatican Radio - Vatican News. The cooperation will include a joint project on St. John Paul II, a lecturer and professor at the Catholic University of Lublin for 24 years. The Holy See's media, including Vatican Radio and Vatican News, have unique materials on the pontificate of the Polish Pope. "We have noticed that there is a demand for presenting information from the perspective of the universal Church," Fr. Prof. Kalinowski stressed. In his opinion, the Church in Poland needs to receive as much content as possible from the Vatican media from different regions of the world because they give a new impulse to go out into the deep, to pay attention to those areas that are not noticed or appreciated from the point of view of our country. On the other hand, the potential presence in Poland, the Church, and the scientific community is also vital for the Vatican media. "Some initiatives clearly show new breath in various areas of pastoral activity, both of our university and of many other units in Poland," said the Catholic University of Lublin Rector. Source: Vatican News. https://www.kul.pl/hitchhiking-in-europe-or-how-to-start-your-erasmus-so-you-will-never-forget,art_105070.html Our student, Mykhailo Dziubi, spent a semester at KUL's partner university, the Catholic University of Zagreb, as part of the Erasmus+ programme. He wrote about his four-day hitchhiking experience, which he found to be an ideal way to travel green. Hitchhiking in Europe or how to start your Erasmus, so you will never forget The four days of hitchhiking taught me more lessons than several years in school. When the international office at KUL asked me if I would go to Erasmus by bus to use the green discount? I answered that I would travel by hitchhiking because, in my opinion, it is the most green and wild way to travel. And I did it! Four days, five countries, and 20 people who picked me up. That is how I started the Erasmus semester exchange between the Catholic University of Lublin and the Catholic University of Croatia. On the first day of the trip, my goal was to come to Katowice, where a friend of mine hosted me. We met at Taize, an event for Christian youth in Europe. The next morning, after a tasty breakfast, I started hitchhiking to Gliwice. A man who picked me up told a story about his trip to the village called Havasu Supai, US. The following person was an old lady who was going to a sanatorium, but she had gotten lost. After, I had the most challenging stop near the border with the Czech Republic. It was four hours of waiting because no one stopped. Finally, a nice Polish guy drove me to Ostrava, the nearest Czech city near Poland. He told a story about his traveling by hitchhiking across Europe for three months. For me, it was a motivational story, inspiring me to be braver! After I was lucky, the next stop was only 2 minutes, and a very kind blue-collar worker treated me with lunch and drove me next to Bratislava. In an hour, I came to the city center, where I met a person who was my host. She was a sister of my friend I met on the Erasmus youth exchange. Michaela even cooked me dinner. It's incredibly nice how people took care of me along the way! Day number three. Quick breakfast, and I am moving on. It was hard to start from Bratislava, so when people were waiting for a traffic light, I asked if they were going to Hungary. The first person picked me up at village Samorin and the next one to the village Velki Meder. Soon, I had lunch, and after three stops, I was in Hungary. At the first gas station in Hungary, I met a Korean entrepreneur. I asked him to drive me only 5 km, but ultimately, he pushed me approximately 100 kilometers. In Székesfehérvár city, I was asking people who were going to Balaton Lake, and luckily, in three stops, I was 50 km before Croatia, where I made a big mistake. A truck driver from Romania picked me up and said that he would drop me on the turn to Slovenia, and I said: "OK." But I didn't realize it would be a highway. I had only one option: to sleep in a tent. The night was so cold that I wore probably all the clothes I had. Last morning, I was on a highway a few kilometers from Croatia. The chance that someone would stop was so small that I was even not expecting. The harder part for any hitchhiking is to stand on a highway. Anyway, no one stopped. So, I decided to return to the nearest gas station 5-10 kilometers away, and when I made the first step, a truck stopped. That time, the driver was from Albania. He picked me up at Krizevci village, and the last person was a Croatian guy, Tomislav, who drove me to the final destination and invited me for a coffee. For Croatian people, drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes is like breathing. Finally! I came to Zagreb, the capital, the most populated city in Croatia, the international center of Balkan countries. It is a green city, including the "Lenuci Horseshoe," the Botanical Garden, and Maksimir Park. Through these four days of experience, I understand the value of people probably more than for my whole life. I learned that people say "No," and it's OK. When I hitchhiked for 5 hours, 500 cars did not stop. I started to work on my reaction because the answer was not in my control. But the reply was. Twenty stories, twenty photos, twenty "Yes!" A new story at the Catholic University of Croatia began! fot. Mykhailo Dziubi https://www.kul.pl/rector-on-a-visit-to-the-pope,art_105031.html Rev. Prof. Dr. Habil. Mirosław Kalinowski, Rector of The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, met with Pope Francis last Friday, who received the participants of a symposium on academic pastoral care. The Rector brought greetings from the KUL community to the Holy Father, as well as a letter from prisoners who are students of the KUL Study Centre at the detention center in Lublin. Fot. Vatican Media https://www.kul.pl/polish-jewish-re-remembering-a-new-book-by-prof-slawomir-jacek-zurek,art_104997.html Professor of Polish Literature and Language at KUL, member of the Polish Society for Jewish Studies, prof. Sławomir Jacek Żurek has recently published an English version of his Polish book "Odpamiętywanie polsko-żydowskie". The title of this monograph, "Polish Jewish Re-Remembering", refers to the post-1989, thirty-year-long process of reviving attention to Polish-Jewish relations in historical, cultural, and literary studies, including the impact of Jews on the development of Polish culture, their presence in Polish social life, and the relationships between Jews and non-Jews in Poland. The book consists of four parts: the first focuses on Polish, Jewish and Polish-Jewish Literature (dealing mainly with pre-1939 literary works); the second, on the post-war literary output of the Polish-Jewish writer Arnold Słucki (1920–1972); the third, on Polish-Israeli literary images in the works of writers who were active in Israel (1948–2018); and the fourth, on recent (after 2000) Polish Holocaust literature. For more details on the monograph, table of contents and various reviews, please consult the editor's website (click here). https://www.kul.pl/service-learning-webinars,art_104969.html As part of the UNISERVITATE project implemented by the Catholic University of Lublin, the Vice-Rector for Education, Dr Ewa Trzaskowska, Professor at the Catholic University of Lublin, invites you to participate in webinars dedicated to the service-learning method. The meetings will be held on Fridays at 13:00, starting on 17 November. Each session will focus on a specific topic and the detailed programme can be found on the attached poster (click here). Experts in the field will share their experiences of running service learning projects and activities. The webinar will also include time for participants' questions and discussion. Participation is free of charge. The webinars will be held in English. A link to the meeting will be sent to you after you have registered via the form: https://forms.gle/KY8mgbRYRvdFZobL9 Project website: https://www.kul.pl/o-projekcie,110538.html https://www.kul.pl/avepro-president-the-institute-of-biblical-studies-of-the-catholic-university-is-recognized-worldwide,art_104911.html –"The situation of ecclesiastical faculties and universities around the world is, on the whole, entirely satisfactory," stressed Armand Puig i Tárrech, President of the Holy See's Agency for the Evaluation and Promotion of Quality in Ecclesiastical Universities and Faculties AVEPRO, during a visit to the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. The visit of the head of AVEPRO focused on the functioning of the Institute of Biblical Studies at the Catholic University of Lublin and the assessment of the situation of Catholic universities in Poland and around the world. "These institutions are strongly committed to the principles of Catholic education and the principles of the Christian faith, and they perform a vital task, namely to introduce people to the strong foundation of the Christian message, the Gospel of Jesus," Fr Dr. Armand Puig i Tárrech emphasized. "I see the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) as a prestigious university with more than a hundred years of tradition. If it were not a significant university, there would not be nearly 9,000 students and 2,000 employees. Young people from Poland and abroad study at KUL, not by accident, but because they have made a conscious choice. They know what they came to a Catholic university for and why," added the President of the Holy See Agency. He also recalled that the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin received an international certificate of quality and excellence from AVEPRO, the Agency of the Holy See, for the faculties of theology, philosophy, and canon law. It is an attestation of the highest academic standards pursued in the course. AVEPRO is on the ministerial list of internationally recognized accreditation and certification organizations. – "Over the last few months, we have been working to raise the profile of the Institute of Biblical Studies so that it has all the powers of an Ecclesiastical Institute and can confer degrees in Biblical Studies in the sense of the Apostolic Constitution. We have a great heritage, a rich output, and recognition in Europe and the world. We have an excellent chance to function in ecclesiastical structures," emphasized Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin. The Institute of Biblical Sciences is the only academic unit in Poland with such extensive teaching and research activities. The Institute's fifteen members carry out scientific research in the spirit of the best traditions of Catholic biblical exegesis, both at home and abroad. The director of the INB is Fr. Prof. Mirosław S. Wróbel, who was the first Pole to obtain a doctorate in biblical sciences from the renowned École Biblique et Archéologique Française. The teaching activities of the Institute cover all faculties of the University where introductory lectures on the study of Scripture are given. Armand Puig i Tàrrech was the Dean of the Faculty of Theology in Catalonia and the Rector of Ateneu Universitari Sant Pacià in Barcelona. Recently, Pope Francis appointed him as the President of the Holy See Agency for the Evaluation and Promotion of Quality in Ecclesiastical Universities and Faculties (AVEPRO) in June of this year. AVEPRO is a Holy See-affiliated institution tasked with promoting and developing a culture of quality in academic institutions directly dependent on the Holy See and ensuring that they meet international quality criteria. The agency works with educational institutions to define procedures for the internal evaluation of the quality of teaching, research, and services. https://www.kul.pl/medal-of-the-ministry-of-national-defense-for-the-rector-of-kul,art_104870.html During the solemn celebration of the Independence Day on Litewski Square in Lublin, the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski, was awarded the Gold Medal of Merit for National Defense by the Ministry of National Defense. In the laudatory speech read by the Commander of the 1st Military Clinical Hospital in Lublin, Colonel Dr. Aleksander Michalski, the award is connected with the fact that "the Catholic University of Lublin has proved on many occasions and in various ways its role in building patriotic attitudes, starting from its beginnings in 1920, when in July and August its students supplied volunteer formations in the face of the Soviet invasion, and ending in modern times, when the unique concept of military education of students in the form of the Academic Legion became a pathway for them to territorial or professional military service". I would like to thank Rev. Rector, who understands the necessity of forming patriotic and defensive attitudes. The Rector proved his efficiency in deciding and organizing the medical studies and the Faculty of Medicine, fulfilling the decisions of the Senate before the Second World War", emphasized Colonel Michalski. The award was handed over to Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski by the Governor of the Lublin Voivodship Lech Sprawka and the Director of the Military Medical Service Department Dr. Aurelia Ostrowska Photo gallery https://www.kul.pl/prof-maciejewski-as-the-dean-of-the-faculty-of-medicine-at-kul,art_104842.html Prof. Ryszard Maciejewski, became the first Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. The dean was elected by the faculty assembly, by majority vote, in a secret ballot. - This is a historic moment for the university in its 105-year history. You are becoming an autonomous faculty, although the youngest in the structure of the university," emphasized the Rector of the KUL, Rev. Prof. Dr. Habil. Miroslaw Kalinowski. The Faculty of Medicine of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin was established on October 1, 2022. It consists of: Institute of Biological Sciences, Institute of Health Sciences, Institute of Medical Sciences and Experimental Research Center. The Faculty educates students in biotechnology, dietetics, nursing, midwifery and, from this academic year also in medicine. Prof. Maciejewski has been affiliated with the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) since 2022, and has headed the Faculty since its establishment as the Rector's Plenipotentiary for the Faculty of Medicine. Prof. Ryszard Maciejewski is a graduate of the Faculty of Medicine at the Medical Academy in Lublin, a specialist in general surgery, emergency medicine and public health. He was awarded the title of professor of medical sciences in 2001. He also completed post-graduate studies in public health management and administration (2001-2002) and studies for members of supervisory boards of state-owned companies (2004). Prof. Maciejewski has extensive professional experience. According to the statute of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, the dean of a faculty is elected by the faculty assembly by an absolute majority of votes in the presence of at least half of the eligible voters in a secret ballot. The main task of the dean is to supervise the research and teaching activities carried out in all the organizational units of the faculty. https://www.kul.pl/students-of-kul-at-the-detention-centre-received-a-letter-from-pope-francis,art_104903.html The letter from the Vatican was sent to the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, on the occasion of the inauguration of the academic year at the Center for Studies of the KUL at the detention center in Lublin in October this year. During a meeting in the prison, the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin read it out and handed it to more than 30 of his students who are serving prison sentences. The students promised to respond to the Pope's letter. For the inmates, it was an extremely moving moment. - During the two decades I spent in prison, I always wanted to feel needed, for someone to notice me. Today, a letter from the Pope himself is very moving, even shocking. Francis is writing to us, to marginalised prisoners," says Dariusz, a student at the KUL Study Centre at the detention center in Lublin. In the letter, the Pope wrote: We all make mistakes in life (...). Let us not forget that God forgives everything and always (...). When we feel lonely and abandoned, let us not forget that Our Blessed Mother is close to us, especially in times of need. The Holy Father also addressed a blessing to the prisoners and asked them to pray. There will be continuity in the correspondence. In the near future, the inmates will write a joint letter to be sent to the Vatican. –This is the first time in the history of my work with prisoners that I have personally handed over a letter from the Holy Father," said the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski. The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin has been running full-time studies of the first and second degree for inmates in the field of family sciences for over 10 years. On 24 October this year, more than 50 students began the new academic year at the KUL Study Centre in the Lublin Remand Prison. At the end of the last academic year, the Academy of Modern Media and Communication of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin produced a film that shows the idea of educating inmates, the transformation that takes place in prisoners and how life in prison takes on a different dimension when someone offers hope and comes with evangelisation. The film, translated into English, Italian and German, was sent to the Vatican News. Information about the detention center, along with the film, reached hundreds of thousands of people worldwide through the Vatican media. The report was also seen by the detainees themselves. https://www.kul.pl/addiction-psychotherapy-kul-with-accreditation,art_104835.html The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin - as one of three institutions in Poland and the only university - has received accreditation from the Minister of Health for 30 people to conduct specialization training in addiction psychotherapy. The main goal of the training is to acquire the latest knowledge in the field of addiction psychotherapy, clinical psychology, medical sciences, social sciences and neurosciences, as well as the ability to apply this knowledge in the treatment of people diagnosed with addiction to psychoactive substances, as well as psychological support for the families of addicts. According to Dr. Habil. Iwona Niewiadomska, prof. KUL who directs the work of the Department of Social Psychoprevention at the Institute of Psychology at the Catholic University of Lublin and is the coordinator of the project, the specialization in addiction psychotherapy will last four years and include 10 modules (e.g, Therapeutic Programs in the Treatment of Addiction or Children and Adolescents in the Face of Addiction - Diagnosis and Therapy), including 24 specialization courses and eight directed internships, as well as a unified specialization course entitled "Medical Law. According to the standards of the Minister of Health, the specialized training in the field of addiction psychotherapy is intended for persons with a master's degree or equivalent in nursing, midwifery, social work, psychology, pedagogy, special education, sociology, social rehabilitation, public health, family sciences or a medical degree. Application deadline: November 15 to December 15, 2023. https://www.kul.pl/afs-youth-at-the-faculty-of-medicine-workshop,art_104833.html On November 6, at the Faculty of Medicine, ASF young people from countries such as Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Argentina, Chile, Greece, Belgium and Italy took part in a biology and chemistry workshop. The 24 students learned about the fascinating world of bacteria, explored the secrets of alkacimetric titration and performed laboratory experiments in biology at the high school level.The workshop was prepared by scientists from the Institute of Biological Sciences and students of biotechnology. This is the next edition of the workshop and hopefully the beginning of an ongoing cooperation. AFS Intercultural Programs (or AFS, originally the American Field Service) is an international youth exchange organization. It is an international network of non-governmental organizations that, among other things, promotes the development of intercultural competence and other "soft skills" among young people through long-term exchange programs for high school students around the world. As part of the annual program, AFS youth live with Polish families for the entire school year and study in high schools https://www.kul.pl/kul-researchers-among-the-top-2-of-the-world-s-scientists,art_104782.html Three of our researchers - Prof. Agata Błachnio, Prof. Aneta Przepiórka and Dr. Iwona Zwolak - were recently listed in the top 2% of the world's most cited scientists. The ranking is compiled and published annually by researchers at Stanford University, USA. The rankings are calculated using standardized information on citations, h-index, co-authorship-adjusted hm-index, citations to papers with different authorship positions, and a composite indicator. Our sincere congratulations! Detailed rankings can be found on the website: https://elsevier.digitalcommonsdata.com/datasets/btchxktzyw/6 https://www.kul.pl/declaration-of-cooperation-of-the-theologians-of-the-three-seas-countries,art_104700.html The signing of the Declaration of Cooperation of the Theologians of the Three Seas Countries was the culmination of the International Theological Congress, which took place at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin between October 23 and 27 under the motto “Faith and Theology Closer to Us” - The Congress of Theologians of the Three Seas Countries is a manifestation of the community of experience, the search for elements of a common tradition and the reading of the signs of the times - it was emphasized in the agreement signed by theologians from Croatia, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary. - The declaration is a manifesto of our willingness to cooperate, because as Three Seas Countires theologians we want to undertake joint scientific research, develop joint publications, and organize conferences," said the dean of the Faculty of Theology at the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Przemysław Kantyka, who read out the declaration in English. Leading the last of the meetings, which lasted five days, titled "Theology of the Three Seas: ideas, areas and perspectives," Rev. Prof. Kantyka also reminded the audience that theology is a "vast area of exploration." - This is a huge scientific heritage, accumulated over the centuries in theology departments and beyond, which is also the wealth of societies and humanity," he pointed out, also remarking that it is thanks to theology that universities as such were established. - And without theology they will never function properly, he added. The signatories of the Declaration of Cooperation of Theologians of the Three Seas Countries are the theologians attending the congress, among them the deans of theological faculties from countries located between the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea and the Adriatic Sea. – The countries of the Three Seas area, subjected to the devastating ideological destruction of totalitarian systems in the 20th century, regained their independence and realized their historic and cultural uniqueness, as well as the need for economic and cultural cooperation, integration of the Central European space based on the development of communication and exchange of ideas and strengthening of human interconnections - the declaration recalled, while stipulating that such integration cannot be reduced to political negotiations and economic arrangements only. – It must become, above all, a community of spirit, sharing common values flowing for us above all from the Evangelion of Christ, and lead to the formation of a common identity. From this comes the task facing churches and theologians to build this integration by discovering common theological sites and seeking ways to live out the Christian faith in this particular place in the world. – The mission of the theologians of the Three Seas countries is twofold: to guide the efforts of Christians in making the Three Seas countries a space of justice, peace and responsibility for creation, and to shape an example of a just, peaceful and responsible society for other regions of the world. As Christians, together with all people of good will, we stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters suffering from war in various parts of the world, especially in Ukraine," says the declaration, which also recalls the merits of Saints Cyril and Methodius and their disciples, who spread Christianity and its values in the Three Seas Countries many centuries ago. Referring to the International Theological Congress, whose roots go back to the 1990s, when the first meetings of scholars were organized after the collapse of communist power in this part of the world, they also stressed that "the Congress of Theologians of the Three Seas Countries is a manifestation of the community of experience, the search for elements of a common tradition, and the reading of the signs of the times." - It is an initiative to discover the scientific, cultural and social potential that will provide the Churches and political and social leaders with the impetus to carry out their mission," the theologians noted, declaring their desire to sustain, as well as develop, the spiritual and intellectual and Christian heritage in the Three Seas countries. This cooperation, the statement said in a summary, is to be concretized in undertaking joint scientific theological research, joint publications, and organizing conferences. *** The theme of the International Theological Congress was "Faith and Theology Closer to Us". During the Congress, scholars from many countries discussed theology in dialogue with modernity, including the Church in the face of totalitarianism, politics and war. The experience of faith in God, the self-awareness of ecclesial communities and their role in society were among the main topics discussed by the scholars during the five days. The Congress was largely attended by young people, who had their "Youth Forum" as part of the event, which included the opportunity to meet with Catholic influencers, for example, to talk about the power of faith in God, as well as difficult issues of the Church. The Congress' proposals for young people also included a series of evening pastoral and cultural events with representatives of evangelization and formation communities, combined with listening to their testimonies and prayer together. The sessions and debates of the International Theological Congress were streamed in real time on the YouTube channel of the Catholic University of Lublin, where they are now available to all those interested in contemporary aspects of theology practiced in many universities. https://www.kul.pl/we-surround-our-professors-with-prayer-and-remembrance,art_104701.html It is a tradition of our University to surround those who created the oldest University in Lublin with prayer and remembrance. On October 30, 2023. The Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski, the Vice-Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin for Administration, Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Sitarz, and students laid flowers and lit candles at the graves of the deceased rectors of the Catholic University of Lublin, located in the cemetery at Lipowa Street - Idzi Benedykt Radziszewski, the longest-serving rector of the Catholic University of Lublin (1970-1983), Father Mieczyslaw Albert Krąpiec OP, and Bishop Piotr Hemperek, rector of the Catholic University of Lublin (1983-1988). Photos https://www.kul.pl/the-pope-sent-a-letter-to-prisoners-students-of-the-catholic-university-of-lublin,art_104606.html "We all make mistakes in life; God does not tire of forgiveness," Pope Francis stressed in a letter to students of the Catholic University of Lublin Center for Studies for Detainees at the detention center in Lublin. Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, received a letter from the Vatican on the occasion of the inauguration of the academic year at the Catholic University of Lublin Study Center for Inmates, located at the Detention Center in Lublin. The letter was sent to acknowledge and celebrate the start of the new academic year. The ceremony also commemorated the tenth anniversary of John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin's program to educate prisoners. "If one feels lonely and abandoned, let us not forget that Our Blessed Mother is close to us, especially when we feel the hardships of life," wrote Pope Francis, known for his interest in people deprived of freedom. The Holy Father, through the letter, extended a blessing to prisoners while asking them to pray. "Please don't forget to pray for me. Thank you!" Francis wrote. The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin has been running full-time first- and second-level studies for inmates in family science for more than ten years. Over 50 students began the new academic year at the Catholic University of Lublin Study Center at the Detention Center in Lublin on October 24. https://www.kul.pl/theologians-of-the-three-seas-countries-and-catholic-influencers-will-meet-at-the-catholic-university-of-lublin,art_104440.html The International Congress of Theologians will integrate representatives from 12 countries in the Baltic, Adriatic, and Black Sea regions as part of the Three Seas Initiative. During the event, we will not overlook the youth. Catholic influencers and experts will discuss evangelization in the media and address the issues of addiction, loneliness, anxiety, and ways to overcome these challenges," announces Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, the Rector of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin.” The International Congress of Theologians of the Three Seas Countries under the themeFaith and Theology Closer to Uswill be held at the University from October 23 to 27. The event is divided into two parts. The first part is the Congress of Theologians of the Three Seas Countries, which focuses on "Theology in Dialogue with the Present." The second part is the Youth Forum, which consists of thematic meetings such as "See and be convinced," "God at your fingertips," "Faith and courage," "Strength from the community," "Education is a challenge," "I have faith, and I will not hesitate to use it." The five-day event will bring together around 80 scientists, speakers, and media personnel from home and abroad. Two debates scheduled for the first day of the Congress are "Three Seas Churches - between resistance and conformism," moderated by Grzegorz Misztal, a TV journalist, and "Karol Wojtyla and Stefan Wyszynski - allegations, facts, activities of communist secret services," moderated by Ryszard Montusiewicz from TVP3 Lublin. "In a group of international experts, we will discuss current and pressing issues. e.g., the attitude of the Church and theology to totalitarianism and war, to politics, to new anthropological challenges, such as attempts to redefine the traditional notion of family," stresses Fr. Prof. Przemysław Kantyka, Dean of the Faculty of Theology of the Catholic University of Lublin. As Fr. Prof. Kalinowski, Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL), points out, the university is also a meeting place for young people. In addition to the educational process, academic pastoral care needs to use modern forms of evangelization and media outreach skillfully. "The Theological Congress provides a platform for academic discourse and a forum for students, their friends, and relatives. The Youth Forum is dedicated to them," says the Rector. The forum will consist of two stages. The first stage, "Faith for Me and You," will feature afternoon panel discussions with a musical performance. Catholic influencers Fr. Sebastian Picur, who is well-known for his TikTok channel, Tomasz Zieliński, and Sr. Dr. Judyta Pudełko, will speak on topics such as"What is the Bible for," "Difficult issues of the Church," "On religious freedom in the world," "Fr. Francis Blachnicki and his vision of human liberation", "To hear in time - about suicidal problems of youth," "Addictions and fear of rejection," "From theologian to influencer," or "How to evangelize on the Internet." We warmly invite all to participate !!! Congress website - click here Congress program - click here Project co-funded by the state budget, granted by the Polish Minister of Education and Science under the program "Excellent Science II - Support for scientific conferences" https://www.kul.pl/kul-to-grant-honorary-doctorate-to-rabbi-abraham-skorka,art_104392.html An outstanding intellectual and teacher of Judaism, a universal sage, and man of Christian-Jewish dialogue. This is the description of Rabbi Prof. Abraham Skorka in a resolution of the Senate of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, under which he received an honorary doctorate of this university. The ceremony took place on 15 October, during the inauguration of the 2023/2024 academic year. – We are living at a favourable time for Christian-Jewish dialogue. Until a few decades ago, it would probably have been difficult to imagine a situation in which a rabbi would receive an honorary doctorate at a Catholic university, with the participation of and to the delight of representatives of the Catholic Church. This would not have been possible without the Second Vatican Council, whose famous 1965 declaration Nostra aetate ushered in a new stage in the history of relations between Jews and Christians – stressed Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski. Recalling the great figures for the Christian-Jewish dialogue, including John Paul II, the patron and lecturer of the Catholic University of Lublin, the first pope to visit the Roman synagogue in 1986 to say there the famous words about Jews as beloved brothers in the faith, Rector Kalinowski compared Rabbi Prof. Skorka's contribution to this field with that of Rabbi Abraham J. Heschel, the patron of the Centre for Catholic-Jewish Relations established a year ago at the Catholic University of Lublin, which advances Christian-Jewish dialogue in science, education, and culture. – They share not only the common name of Abraham, the great patriarch of Israel. Just as Heschel looked to the Old Testament and the teaching of the prophets for inspiration for modern Judaism, Rabbi Skorka taught biblical literature as a professor. Just as Heschel was involved in social issues and "prayed with his feet" during marches for human rights, Rabbi Skorka movingly calls together with Pope Francis for prayers for peace for Ukraine, Europe, and the world – observed Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski. The motion to award Prof. Skorka with an honorary doctorate was tabled by Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy of the Catholic University of Lublin, Prof. Marek Lechniak of the Catholic University of Lublin, after a positive opinion of the Council of the University's Institute of Philosophy. When discussing the activities of Rabbi Abraham Skorka, a representative of this institution, Prof. Jacek Wojtysiak, pointed out that the wisdom he offers is rooted in tradition. – He considers each problem (usually of a practical or existential nature) in two stages. He begins with an objective description of the situation and then consults the Hebrew Bible and the later Jewish tradition for texts that illuminate the situation. This approach is a wonderful testimony for us Christians to reach for the Bible as a lamp on the paths of our lives, and gives us a profound lesson in reading the Bible and its commentaries here and now – pointed out Professor Wojtysiak. He later added: As a Catholic academic community, we should bless God by thanking him also for Rabbi Abraham Skorka, and we should thank the Rabbi himself for all he has done for us and for the sake of the Christian-Jewish dialogue. *** Prof. Abraham Skorka is a scholar, rabbi, theologian, and teacher of Judaism. Born in Argentina in 1950, he graduated in 1973 with a degree in chemistry. At the same time, he completed his rabbinical studies and became a rabbi. In 1979, he earned his doctorate at the University of Buenos Aires, writing a thesis in the field of biophysics. In addition, he studied at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York, the major centre of Conservative Judaism, which seeks to combine religious traditions with modernity, among other university studies. From 1973, he was rabbi of a congregation in Buenos Aires, mainly, between 1976 and 2018, of the Benei Tikva synagogue. He was a lecturer at the rabbinical seminary and at universities in Buenos Aires and, after his retirement in 2018, at American universities: in Philadelphia (Saint Joseph's University, Gratz College) and now in Washington (Georgetown University). https://www.kul.pl/pope-francis-congratulated-rabbi-skorka-on-receipt-of-honorary-doctorate-of-the-catholic-university-of-lublin,art_104455.html Pope Francis congratulated Rabbi Prof. Abraham Skorka on his honorary doctorate from the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. "We are truly two close friends" - emphasised the rabbi. Prof. Skorka received the title during Sunday's formal inauguration of the academic year at the Catholic University of Lublin. "When I wrote to him that I was going to Poland to receive an honorary doctorate from the Catholic University of Lublin, he replied very quickly. (...) We are really two close friends, brothers, and we address each other in e-mails as 'Dear Brother'. When I told him about this ceremony and the award from the Catholic University of Lublin, he congratulated me on it" - Rabbi Skorka told the academic media of the Catholic University of Lublin. He added that he had received a photo from Francis' secretary with the Pope's handwritten message. "It was a simple message without following protocol" - he emphasised. During his speech during the inauguration of the academic year at the Catholic University of Lublin, Rabbi Skorka pointed out that Poland was the country where his ancestors had lived for generations. "Their culture was my spiritual nourishment" - said the new honorary doctoris causa of the Catholic University of Lublin. Recalling his meetings with Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, the current Pope Francis, the rabbi stressed that "a true turning point in relations between Jews and Catholics requires much more than mere meetings, but observation based on moral greatness and spiritual courage". -Rabbi Prof. Abraham Skorka is an example of a man who is capable of interreligious dialogue through a search for common foundations - noted Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, at the opening of the ceremony. He emphasised that the ceremony of awarding an honorary doctorate to a rabbi whose commitment to Jewish-Christian dialogue is highly valued by Pope Francis is "a symbolic crowning of the relevant activities that the University has pursued for years and will continue to pursue". https://www.kul.pl/we-remember-our-professor,art_104457.html Students, staff and friends of the Catholic University of Lublin laid 45 white roses at the monument to John Paul II and Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski, thus symbolically commemorating the 45th anniversary of the election to the See of Peter of Karol Wojtyla, a lecturer at the Catholic University of Lublin. - Today, on the 45th anniversary of the election of Cardinal Karol Wojtyla to the papacy, we come here, at his monument, at his university, to express our attachment to his person and to his teaching, which he left to us," stressed the Catholic University of Lublin's Vice-Rector for Mission and Digitization, Prof. Adam Zadroga. Addressing the students, the largest group of whom were Hispanics, Romanists and Italians, and their professors, he emphasized that the University is concerned that the students know who the patron of the University is. - We want you to know John Paul II," said Prof. Zadroga. The meeting brought back memories. Among the professors of the Catholic University of Lublin there are some who remember the moment when Wojtyla was elected to the See of Peter. One of them is Prof. Dorota Sliwa of the Department of French Studies at the Catholic University of Lublin, who was then a student at the Jagiellonian University. - It was in the evening, my colleagues at the university told me that Cardinal Wojtyla had become Pope, and we spontaneously went to the Krakow Market Square, where many people were already gathered. The atmosphere was full of euphoria, we were overwhelmed by a great joy," Prof. Sliwa recalled. The KUL lecturer noted that Cardinal Karol Wojtyla is particularly close to her - it was he who gave her the sacrament of confirmation and made her feel his paternal care: "Today, with my students, I analyze translations of texts by Karol Wojtyla - St. John Paul II into various languages, mainly French. I am always moved when they discover and learn by heart selected passages from French translations of the texts of St. John Paul II, our patron," she adds. Karol Wojtyla worked at the Catholic University of Lublin for 24 years. As John Paul II, he always had warm memories of the university community. On June 17, 1983, during a ceremony at the Primate's Palace in Warsaw to receive an honorary doctorate from the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL), he told a delegation from the Catholic University of Lublin: "I very much wished - and still wish - to be at the Catholic University of Lublin, which for many years was my workshop of work. I owe a lot to the work of your University and I appreciate it very much". After his death on April 2, 2005, the Senate of the Catholic University of Lublin, wishing to honor its distinguished professor, decided to change the name of the University to the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. https://www.kul.pl/inauguration-of-the-academic-year-2023-2024,art_104381.html The Inauguration of the academic year 2023/2024 at the John Paul II Catholic University in Lublin will take place on the third Sunday of October, October 15, 2023. Program: Academic Church, 9 a.m. Holy Mass - presided over and homily by the Metropolitan of Wroclaw, His Eminence Archbishop Józef Kupny Knowledge Transfer Center, Auditorium CTW 408, 11:00 a.m. Polish National Hymn Address by the Rector of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski Gaude Mater Polonia Ceremony of conferring the title of Doctor honoris causa of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin on Rabbi Prof. Abraham Skórka Inaugural lecture - Rabbi prof. Abraham Skórka Word of the Grand Chancellor of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin - Metropolitan Archbishop Stanislaw Budzik Gaudeamus igitur Music performed by the Catholic University of Lublin Choir, conducted by Prof. Grzegorz Pecka. https://www.kul.pl/solidarity-with-the-holy-land-statement-of-the-john-paul-ii-catholic-university,art_104289.html It is with great sadness that we received the news of the outbreak of war in the Holy Land. On behalf of the entire academic community of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, we express our sympathy and solidarity with all those affected by the military action. We recall the words of Pope Francis who, during the Angelus prayer last Sunday, pointed out that terrorism and war do not lead to a solution, but only to death, to the suffering of so many innocent people. "War is a failure, every war is a failure. Let us pray for peace in Israel and Palestine," said the Holy Father. We join in this call and ask for the intercession of our great Patron Saint John Paul II, for whom the Holy Land and the peaceful coexistence of all its peoples were fundamental issues. Rev. Prof. Dr. Habil. Miroslaw Kalinowski, Rector of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin Rev. Prof. Dr. Habil. Miroslaw S. Wróbel, Rector's Representative for the Catholic-Jewish Relations and Scientific Research in the Holy Land Rev. Dr. Habil. Marcin Kowalski, Prof. KUL, Director of the The Abraham J. Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations at KUL https://www.kul.pl/rector-of-catholic-university-of-lublin-universities-must-educate-holistically,art_104192.html "A holistic approach to the methodology of education, but also the formation of students, adaptation of didactics to contemporary requirements and demands, and the introduction of new technologies are challenges in the beginning of the new academic year and subsequent years," says the Rector of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski. "This academic year, the university will celebrate its 105th anniversary. One of the challenges facing the University is to apply for the status of a research university and to continue holistic education. Three thousand new students are beginning their studies at the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL), with nearly 9 thousand in the entire university. In this group, 23 new inmate students are majoring in family science," reports the University's Rector. In addition to directional knowledge focused on specific scientific disciplines, the university wants to broaden young people's horizons. It offers a variety of additional forms focused on cultural experiences, psychological development, foreign languages, new technologies, media, artificial intelligence, and others. In tune with the Catholic profile of the university, there are also missionary subjects on such topics as the social teaching of the Church, the family, and the thinking of St. John Paul II. "We analyze contemporary challenges, including those posed by the labor market, and adapt our educational offer to them. We are launching the campaign Studies are KUL [cool]. Knowledge without limits," indicates the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin. One of the University's achievements is launching medical studies at the Faculty of Medicine. The university still faces the organization of many important events. "Activities, including teaching and research, mark the coming time. Already in October, the debate - Wojtyla and Blachnicki. Prophets of Freedom in Times of Enslavement. During the official inauguration of the academic year, which, according to tradition, takes place on the 3rd Sunday of the month, Rabbi Prof. Abraham Skórka will receive an honorary doctorate. "A delegation from the Yad Vashem Institute in Jerusalem, including its Chairman, will visit the university. In addition, a Congress of the Tri-Sea Theologians will be held. November will also see the start of the third edition of the Study for Poles Abroad, for which 1,000 people have already signed up," concludes Fr. Prof. Kalinowski. https://www.kul.pl/welcome-at-kul-our-international-students,art_104078.html Dear International Students, I am very happy to welcome you at John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. We have made every effort to make your arrival and stay at KUL a unique experience. For this academic year 2023-24 we have developed a special initiative for you to accommodate and make academic life easier and more cheerful. International Student Support Center is a space where you can find any sufficient assistance and support in your everyday life at KUL. Apart from the highest science level and the best lecturers, methodology, innovative laboratories, modern equipment we offer you many non-academic activities. You can join various students organisations, research clubs, sport teams, choirs, music and dance teams, theatre group, reporting agency and many others. We are planning lots of artistic, cultural and integration events during this academic year. Let’s meet together October 6th at International Day during the Orientation Week. Dr. habil. Beata Piskorska, prof. KUL Vice-Rector for students, doctoral students and development https://www.kul.pl/1st-anniversary-of-the-the-heschel-center-at-kul-debate-catholic-jewish-dialogue-inspirations-challenges-perspectives,art_104382.html Rabbi Prof. Abraham Skórka will be the special guest of a debate organized on the occasion of the first anniversary of the Abraham J. Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations of The Catholic University of Lublin. The debate, "Catholic-Jewish Dialogue. Inspirations, Challenges, Perspectives" will be held on October 16 at 11:00 a.m. in the Knowledge Transfer Center (CTW) of KUL (Room CTW- 114). The event will be streamed live on KUL's YouTube channel. Prominent experts and practitioners of dialogue - the Argentinian-born Rabbi Prof. Abraham Skórka and the promoter of dialogue and ecumenism Rev. Prof. Waldemar Szczerbinski - will discuss the inspirations, challenges and perspectives of Catholic-Jewish relations during a debate summarizing a year of activities of the Heschel Center at KUL. The guests will share their reflections on the phenomenon of Abraham J. Heschel and the timeliness of his teachings, as well as their thoughts on the place and condition of Christian-Jewish dialogue in the modern world. The debate will be moderated by Fr. Dr. Marcin Kowalski, Professor of the Catholic University of Lublin, Director of the Abraham J. Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations of the Catholic University of Lublin, biblical scholar and member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission. The meeting will be attended by Dr. Habil. Beata Piskorska, prof. of KUL, Vice-Rector for Students, Doctoral Students and Development and Fr. Prof. Miroslaw Wróbel, Plenipotentiary of the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin for Catholic-Jewish Relations and Scientific Research in the Holy Land. https://www.kul.pl/international-day,art_104198.html Dear Students! You are invited to participate in the International Day event that starts on Friday, October 6 at 10am as part of the Adaptation Week. It will take place on the Collegium JPII KUL ground floor lobby. We have prepared a lot of attractions for you, such as a performance of singing and dancing African band, lunch - tasting of local Polish cuisine of the Lublin region, integration workshops, as well as a trip on the historic trolleybus Ziutek You will visit also Cultural corner and student organisations, meet students from all around the world as well as Polish students. Come and meet interesting guests from various Lublin institutions who will introduce Lublin as The City of Inspiration! To join Ziutek trip please fill in application below (limited number of seats, first come, first served) https://forms.gle/YXc7UQUWC3AkiRPFA After Ziutek trip by bus - all of you can join Lublin Old City trip, let's meet at 14:30 at Old Town Castle Square (stairs in front of Lublin Castle) Everybody is welcome to join us and have fun with us! :) Let’s meet together on October 6 in Collegium JPII KUL! https://www.kul.pl/faculty-and-departmental-meetings-for-first-year-students,art_104099.html Meeting schedule for 1st year students of courses taught in English 2nd October 2023 9:00 a.m. - Mass in the KUL Academic Church Faculty of Natural and Technical Sciences Informatics (BA degree) 12:00, WMP-118 (ul. Konstantynów 1H) Faculty of Social Sciences Journalism and Social Communication (BA degree) International Relations (MA degree) 11:00 - 12:00, CTW-114 (Centrum Transferu Wiedzy, Al. Racławickie 14) Faculty of Philosophy Applied Anthropology (BA degree) – 11:45, C-603 (Kolegium Jana Pawła II, Al.Racławickie14) Faculty of Law, Canon Law and Administration European Studies (BA degree) 13:00. CTW-408 (Centrum Transferu Wiedzy, Al. Racławickie 14) Abbreviations for building designations: Gmach Główny (Main Building) - GG Kolegium Jana Pawła II (Collegium of John Paul II) - C Centrum Transferu Wiedzy (Knowledge Transfer Center Building) - CTW Collegium Norwidianum - CN Collegium Iuridicum - CI Budynek Biotechnologii - B Budynek dydaktyczny przy ul. Konstantynów 1H- WMP Main Campus: https://www.kul.pl/over-20-inmates-from-all-over-poland-will-start-their-studies-at-kul,art_104073.html – In the academic year 2023/24, 23 inmates from penitentiary units across Poland have enrolled in university programs offered by the University at the Detention Center in Lublin. Among them, 11 will begin undergraduate studies, 12 will pursue master's degrees, and in the remaining years, we have 29 students - announced Rector of KUL, Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski. The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, for more than 10 years has been providing education for the imprisoned. This initiative, known as the KUL Studies Center at the Lublin Detention Center since 2022, is aimed at individuals not only in the Lublin facility but also in other prisons throughout Poland. As emphasized by Rev. Prof. Kalinowski, this initiative is unique in Europe. Celebrations marking a decade of offering these studies will take place this autumn. Student-inmates starting their studies in the field of Family Sciences, specializing in the Assistance for Dependent Individuals (undergraduate studies), and Social Environment Animation (supplementary master's studies), have come to Lublin from correctional facilities in the Lublin, Warsaw, Opole, Koszalin, Poznań, and Olsztyn regions. Not everyone serving a prison sentence qualifies to begin their education at Center for Studies of KUL at the Detention Center. The groups cannot be as large as in regular educational programs, and candidates, in addition to meeting formal requirements such as passing the high school-leaving exam (matura), must not exhibit risky behavior. An important criterion is the attitude of the inmate. – Empathy, patience, understanding of the limitations of others – these are preferred traits when selecting candidates. While serving their sentences, student-inmates should be known for their tolerance, avoiding interpersonal conflicts and not displaying aggressive dominance towards fellow inmates - emphasizes Lt. Col. Anna Ausz, Director of the Lublin Detention Center. Student-inmates who qualify for the second stage of recruitment apply for admission to the studies according to the rules set by KUL. Only after being accepted into the program can an inmate be transported to the Lublin Detention Center. – The safety of academic teachers and students is our top priority. Over the past 10 years, we have developed a collaboration model that has resulted in intellectual development, improved employment prospects, rehabilitation, increased self-esteem, and the rebuilding of social ties for prisoners, - adds the Rector of KUL. For the first time, the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin undertook the implementation of an innovative project in the field of rehabilitation through education called "New Socialization" in the academic year 2013/2014. This initiative garnered significant interest from national and international academic institutions and the public. In the field of social work, a group of 36 individuals from across Poland incarcerated at the Lublin Detention Center began their studies during that period. https://www.kul.pl/kul-project-in-the-final-of-the-european-commission-competition,art_104142.html The project "Invisible Heritage – Niewidzialne Dziedzictwo," implemented by KUL, is one of the three Polish initiatives that have reached the final stage of the European Commission's REGIOSTARS competition. The competition features projects co-funded by the European Union, contributing to the improvement of economic, social, and territorial cohesion while demonstrating innovative approaches to regional development. The winners of the competition will be announced on November 16, 2023, with online voting concluding two days earlier. The project, "Invisible Heritage: Sharing and Implementing Best Practices for Blind People's Access to Cultural Resources and Their Participation in Cultural Life," was carried out by KUL in collaboration with the Ukrainian Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University in Ivano-Frankivsk as part of the Cross-border Cooperation Programme Poland-Belarus-Ukraine 2014-2020. Both Poland and Ukraine boast rich cultural heritage, but many museums, art galleries, and historic sites are inaccessible to individuals with visual impairments. Modern technology now provides the opportunity to make art more accessible to blind and visually impaired individuals. Museums participating in the project (including the National Museum in Lublin, Lublin Open Air Village Museum, Ivano-Frankivsk Landscape Museum, and Art Museum of Prykarpattia) were equipped with adaptations of selected exhibits, including tactile drawings, adaptations of selected paintings (with tangible lines and textures highlighting key elements), 3D-printed models, Braille alphabet, and audio descriptions. Blind and visually impaired people were able to participate in training sessions to learn how to use these adaptations created as part of the project. Guides in Polish and Ukrainian, illustrated with tactile graphics, showcasing the landmarks of Lublin and Ivano-Frankivsk, were also developed in Braille and large print. Tour guides and museum staff received training in communicating with individuals with visual impairments. One of the competition categories is "Social and Inclusive Europe," and among the five projects qualified for the final in this category, "Invisible Heritage - Niewidzialne Dziedzictwo" is the only Polish entry. On October 11th in Brussels, during the EU Regions Week, the final round of project presentations will take place. The framer and coordinator of "Invisible Heritage," Professor Bogusław Marek, will present the project. You can cast your vote for "Invisible Heritage - Niewidzialne Dziedzictwo" on the REGIOSTARS competition website, and here is the voting instructions. The project with the highest number of votes will receive the Audience Award during the REGIOSTARS award ceremony, which will be held in Ostrava, Czech Republic. REGIOSTARS is an annual competition organized by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy since 2008. Projects participating in it must be co-financed by one of the EU funds: the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Social Fund, the Just Transition Fund, or under any component of the Interreg programs. https://www.kul.pl/rector-of-kul-in-berlin-we-want-to-share-goodness-and-knowledge-worldwide,art_104074.html -Our educational offer has received great interest in Germany, which is why today we want to bring our best, based on excellent research conducted by our scholars, in the form of teaching, - assured Rector of KUL Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Berlin. During the inaugural meeting of the KUL Polonia Center in Germany, representatives of the university presented the program for the 3rd edition of courses offered as part of the KUL Study for Polonia and Poles Abroad. -I am delighted that Berlin is becoming an important place for education, discussion, meetings, and the development of the local Polish community, and that together with KUL, we will be able to implement many new educational initiatives, said Dariusz Pawłoś, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Berlin, welcoming the gathered guests. – Polonia and Poles in Germany are our best ambassadors abroad, representing a rich diversity,- he added, while also pointing out that among our compatriots, there are also those who need support, education, and God. - I would like to thank the Rector of KUL for taking this bold decision to make KUL also present in Berlin with its educational offer. I am pleased with every initiative of our Polish community working in this area,- added Dariusz Pawłoś, mentioning numerous initiatives of Polish organizations in Germany, including the activities of the Polish Catholic Mission in Germany. In his speech, Rector of KUL Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski assured that the educational offer presented for the Polish community is just a fragment of KUL's broad possibilities. Rev. Prof. Kalinowski reminded that KUL has the Institute for the Study of Polish Community and Its Ministry, and that the School of Polish Language and Culture will soon celebrate its 50th anniversary. – Through these actions, we want to thank the Polish community all over the world for the support it has provided to our university for so many years. Today, we want to give back the goodness we have experienced, which is why, step by step, in various parts of the world, we undertake activities for the benefit of the Polish community - said the Rector of KUL. ​In a letter addressed to the participants of the event, the head of the Polish Catholic Mission in Germany, Rev. Dr. Michał Wilkosz, expressed the hope that the increased presence of KUL will contribute to the integration of the Polish community in Germany and help preserve the national identity of our compatriots in a pluralistic and multicultural German society. The program of courses in the 3rd edition of the KUL Study for Polonia and Poles Abroad was presented by Dr. Habil. Janusz Bień, Prof. KUL, Director of the KUL Polonia Center. Classes, in the form of lectures and workshops, will begin in November of this year. Registration and detailed information are available on the website polonia.kul.pl. On Sunday, September 24th, at 12:00 PM, a Mass for Polonia will be celebrated in St. John's Basilica (Lilienthalstraße 5), and the homily will be delivered by Rector of KUL, Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski. After the Mass, a concert by a representation of the Choir of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin Choir and Artists of Musicology KUL will take place. Germany is the third country, after France and England, where the KUL Polonia Center has established cooperation with embassies and Catholic missions. Offices of the KUL Study for Polonia and Poles Abroad are also present in Paris and London. For more information about the founding meeting in Berlin, see also: https://www.polskieradio.pl/400/7764/Artykul/3248357,polenzentrum-der-katholischen-universit%C3%A4t-lublin-in-berlin-eingeweiht?fbclid=IwAR3HnVbKPSYpi0BjUv5bdSZmBkD4vq2S77tCZ67fKlpjKOcp--3BHR8f-zA Fot. Dariusz Klaczko https://www.kul.pl/patent-for-kul,art_104047.html We are pleased to announce that the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland, having examined the application numbered P.439141 filed on 04.10.2021, granted, by decision of 12.09.2023, a patent to the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin for the invention entitled. "Method of obtaining a biopreparation supporting growth and development of winter wheat containing endophytic strains". The patent is a result of the LIDER IX project carried out at the Department of Biology and Biotechnology of Microorganisms of the Catholic University of Lublin, in cooperation with the Plant Breeding Strzelce Group IHAR (Hodowla Roślin Strzelce Sp. z o.o. Grupa IHAR) and The Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation (IUNG) in Puławy. The co-authors of the patent are Agnieszka Kuźniar, PhD, Kinga Włodarczyk, PhD, Weronika Goraj, PhD, and Agnieszka Wolińska, PhD, Prof.KUL, from the Department of Biology and Biotechnology of Microorganisms at the Faculty of Medicine of KUL. Obtaining the patent opens the way for the scientists to obtain further, this time commercial, research projects and to attempt to implement the endophytic biopreparation. Congratulations! https://www.kul.pl/media-expert-of-the-catholic-university-of-lublin-traditional-media-are-still-the-most-opinion-making-media-in-poland,art_103995.html Although the traditional media culture has gradually changed into an electronic culture of audiovisual and Internet media, the thesis of the digital revolution, which predicted the replacement of traditional media: printed press, radio, television with new ones - digital and Internet media - is not quite true, emphasizes Prof. Justyna Szulich-Kałuża, director of the Institute of Journalism and Management at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. On the third Sunday of September, we celebrate Mass Media Day in Poland. The world of modern media seems to be constantly changing and it is difficult to keep up with it. One thing is certain, electronic media have become essential tools not only for acquiring information, entertainment and fun, but also for education and work, resulting in a literal immersion in the media. Today, the concept of media should be more widely understood than in the past. Media are not just technical means to capture information and enable communication, but complex socio-cultural systems that include practices that accompany communication technologies. The power of traditional and new media An expert at the Catholic University of Lublin believes that although the culture of traditional media has gradually transformed into an electronic culture of audiovisual and Internet media, the thesis of the digital revolution, which envisioned the replacement of traditional media: print press, radio, television with new ones - digital and Internet media - is on its way off. - We have long observed that traditional and new media are entering into an increasingly complicated relationship. The traditional media are unlikely to be replaced by the new ones, but under their influence they will continue to improve and evolve in terms of attractiveness and effectiveness of messages - stressed Prof. Szulich-Kałuża What is the strength of new media? According to the media expert, they are attractive through multimedia, the use of text, sound, eye-catching graphics and animation in the transmission of information. Besides, never before have there been opportunities to create global communities so easily, bringing together people with common interests, aspirations, worldview orientations or forms of activity. New media are instantaneous, and the people who are responsible for running them act very quickly. Sometimes the quality of the message and its value is quite different from that in a journalistic text produced for a weekly or monthly magazine. - Media content is diverse, and it is easy to categorize it in bipolar fashion - as valuable and useful or, on the contrary, unworthy and harmful. In the richness of messages, one can choose wisely, and in making choices it is important to form attitudes of vigilance and sensitivity in the audience. It is necessary to say a decisive no - to content that violates the sense of personal and public safety, and stimulates aggressive behaviour in dealing with others - noted the director of the Institute of Journalism and Management of the Catholic University of Lublin. Information bubble Prof. Justyna Szulich-Kałuża sees the need for media education. The idea is to develop the habit of forming selective attention and dealing with an excess of information. Often they are "wrapped" with useless and unnecessary data, thus losing their informational value and, as a consequence, cease to perform a cognitive function - enriching knowledge about the world. And this is an alarming phenomenon. - The brains of young users have no time for reflection and thoughtful decision-making. They function in a state of constant stimulation, in anticipation of a new contact or exciting information. In addition, social media encourages the formation of "information bubbles'' of users, explains the expert . Despite the strong influence and easy access to social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X), YouTube or TikTok, traditional media, i.e. press, radio television, are still the most opinionated in Poland. - Following the reports of the Media Monitoring Institute in recent years, we come to the conclusion that traditional media are the most opinion-forming in Poland - it is their information that is more frequently quoted by online portals and social media. In my opinion, this is determined by a number of factors, I would like to point out two: valuable and relevant content and greater social credibility and trust in professional journalists - notes the media expert, adding that journalism has ceased to be an exclusive profession and has entered the era of mass. Journalist - a mass profession? Increasingly, the term journalist is applied to anyone who systematically makes available to the public a record of events at a certain time. Still important, however, are the competencies combined with the classical definition of the journalistic profession, which include responsibility to the truth, loyalty to citizens, independence to those about whom material is prepared, supervision of authority, ability to publicly criticize and compromise, ability to convey important content in an interesting way, discipline in formulating concise and attractive messages, ability to place the news in a broad light and appropriate proportions, adherence to universal ethical principles, acting in accordance with one's conscience. World Media Day is an initiative taken by the Roman Catholic Church and proposed by the Second Vatican Council. The slogan of the message, on the other hand, is announced according to tradition on September 29 of the previous year, the feast of the Holy Archangels Michael, Raphael and Gabriel. In Poland, by decision of the Bishops' Conference, the Day of the Means of Social Communication is always celebrated on the third Sunday of September. This year it is September 17, and its slogan is the words from Pope Francis' message, "To speak with the heart." https://www.kul.pl/record-breaking-lublin-science-festival,art_103959.html The 19th edition of the Lublin Science Festival, which will begin next week, guarantees to break the record. - The program of this year's Festival is very rich - emphasizes the Catholic University of Lublin's Vice-Rector for Science, Sister Prof. Beata Zarzycka, Professor of the Catholic University of Lublin, who adds that the number of submitted projects has already reached a record number of more than 1,700 events. The Festival program consists of proposals prepared by five public universities of Lublin (the Catholic University of Lublin, Lublin University of Technology, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Medical University, University of Life Sciences), as well as the City of Lublin and many institutions and associations. A press conference announcing the Festival was held at the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) on September 13, 2023. This year's edition of the Festival will run from September 18 to 24, 2023, under the theme "Science for the Future," and its main organizer is the Catholic University of Lublin. - The Festival is an excellent opportunity not only to show science to the general public, but also to inspire new ideas - says Sr. Vice-Rector Zarzycka, who stresses that for the participants of the event it will be an opportunity to see how science responds to the challenges of the modern world. Although the festival projects will begin on Monday, on Sunday, September 17, there will be an evening full of space events. - In cooperation with Direction Earth/Space, we invite you to the Catholic University of Lublin for a meeting with Dr. Slawosz Uznański, who, most probably, will be the second Pole in space, says LFN coordinator Dr. Anna Dutkowska. It will be an opportunity to learn how one can become an astronaut of the European Space Agency and what training before a space flight looks like, as well as to look at earth from the perspective of space thanks to video-mapping on the facade of the Center for Meeting of Cultures. It is worth noting the events scheduled for Friday, September 22 - a workshop for high school students "Creative Creator of the Future", as well as a meeting with pioneers of positive cyberpsychology, who will disenchant artificial intelligence and show its positive aspects. Each of the universities co-creating the Festival has prepared a number of projects aimed at different age groups - from kindergarteners to schoolchildren and seniors. The Catholic University of Lublin invites, among others, to workshops where the participants, wondering if artificial intelligence is really a threat to us, may find an answer. It will also be possible to take part in an anatomy lesson at a virtual anatomy table, learn what human scent is made up of and why it is an important trace of a crime, while seniors will be able to learn about the methods of operation of organized crime groups, which have chosen this social group as their victim. Employees of Lublin University of Technology will take Festival participants into the micro-and nano-world, and help tame mathematics in the Mathematical Escape Room. They will also present vehicles created by lecturers and students - the hydrogen-powered Hydros, the Mars rover Orion or ecological flying objects. You may also visit a coffee corner built from recycled materials. At the UMCS, you will be able to, among other things, take part in exercises on generating images using the artificial intelligence MidJourney, find out if you can get electricity from plants, and if you can pay by phone without a bank account? On the other hand, at the Czermno excavation site, find out what an archaeologist's work is all about, learn about excavation methods, methods of exploration, new technologies and the most interesting discoveries. Among the projects of the Medical University are the ABCs of healthy eating or first aid for everyone. You will also be able to learn facts and myths about vaccinations, find out if natural compounds can beat cancer, and can teeth cause headaches? In addition to projects related to medicine and health care, students will be able to take part in workshops on why is it worth learning and why is it worth being entrepreneurial? The University of Life Sciences has prepared projects related to nutrition. Preschoolers will be able to find out if there are healthy sweets, and slightly older children will be able to find out how to feed domestic pets - what is allowed and what is not allowed to eat for our pets. During the workshops it will be possible to learn how to freeze nature in the frame, i.e. how to take an interesting photo with your phone, as well as play the role of aeroplane passengers who are trying to survive in the desert after a plane crash. Because of the academic nature of the region, the City of Lublin has also participated in the organization of the Festival. One of the proposals prepared is a tour of Lublin on a vintage bus "Gutek". Since this year Lublin is the European Capital of Youth, a number of projects are aimed at this age group. These include workshops on robot programming or the practical use of 3D printers. The culmination of the Festival will be the Lublin Science Picnic, which will take place on Saturday, September 23 at the Lublin Fairgrounds. In addition to the stands of universities and institutions, demonstrations of molecular gastronomy, a concert using soundbeam technology and competitions for children with prizes are planned. There will also be an opportunity to examine one's senses in a capsule of senses, as well as visit the stand of the Science I Like Foundation. Details of the program and a list of projects can be found at festiwal.lublin.pl. You can still register for some of the projects, and some are available without registration. https://www.kul.pl/pope-to-readers-of-the-catholic-university-of-lublin-s-book-on-the-ulmas-values-must-not-be-betrayed,art_103925.html "May the sacrifice made by the family of Józef and Wiktoria Ulma and their children, who did not hesitate to give their lives to help eight people of Jewish origin, be for us and future generations a symbol of faithfulness to values that must never be betrayed even under threat of death," Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra from the Vatican wrote in the name of the Pope in a letter to the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Fr. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski. The university is the publisher of the book They Killed Even the Children—The Ulmas, the Martyred Family who Helped the Jews. "The authors, the publishers, the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin - the initiators and those working on the publication of this book - and all the Readers - the Holy Father commends to God in prayer and blesses them from his heart," says the letter from Archbishop Peña Parra, Substitute of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See. "The Holy Father hopes that recalling the events of World War II, which led to the extermination of millions of people, including scores of innocent children, and the Holocaust experienced by the Jews, will stimulate the hearts of all to reflect on the current situation," the Vatican letter highlighted. The authors of the publication are Manuela Tulli, an Italian journalist for the ANSA news agency, and Fr. Pawel Rytel-Andrianik, head of the Polish section of Vatican Radio and Vatican News and deputy director of the Heschel Center at the university. The publication tells about the martyrdom of the soon-to-be beatified family but also presents the stories, daily life, and occupations of the Jews in hiding who perished with the Ulmas: Shaul Goldman and his four sons, Lea Didner and her daughter Reszla, and Gołda Grünfeld. The book uses photographs taken by Jozef Ulma. It is the first publication about the Ulma family released in three different languages. The book opens with an interview with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, who will perform the beatification on Sunday on behalf of the Pope. Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki, the President of the Polish Bishops' Conference, authored the introduction. So far, the book has been published in English, titled Martyred and Blessed Together – The Extraordinary Story of the Ulma Family, by the American publishing house Our Sunday Visitor, and in Italian, titled Uccisero Anche i Bambini. Gli Ulma, la famiglia martire che aiuto gli ebrei, whose publisher is the Ares publishing house. A Polish edition is in preparation and will be available free online. The beatification of the nine-member family of Jozef and Wiktoria Ulma, murdered in March 1944 for helping Jews, will take place in Markowa, Podkarpacie Region, on Sunday, September 10. Along with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, the Mass will be celebrated by nearly 1,000 priests and 80 cardinals and bishops from Poland and abroad. More than 32,000 faithful have registered to participate in the ceremony. Also present will be, among others, the Chief Rabbi of Poland. The family to be beatified on Sunday consisted of Józef and Wiktoria Ulma and their children Stanisława, Barbara, Władysław, Franciszek, Antoni, Maria, and an unnamed child. https://www.kul.pl/meet-slawosz-uznanski-european-space-agency-project-astronaut,art_103975.html Direction Earth/Space and the Lublin Science Festival (LFN) will join forces on Sunday (17 September) at 6 pm in the Knowledge Transfer Centre/Centrum Transferu Wiedzy of the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL). The special guest of the evening will be Dr Slawosz Uznański, who will talk about his path to becoming a European Space Agency (ESA) project astronaut and his first weeks of training in preparation for his flight to the International Space Station. Uznański will be the second Pole in history - after Mirosław Hermaszewski - to fly into space. – Space has been close to my heart since I was a child. I was born on 12 April, which is the International Day of Human Space Flight and the anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's flight into space. So every year on my birthday my mother wished me a happy Cosmonaut Day. I have always felt that I would like to associate my career with space," said Sławosz Uznański in an interview with ESA. After the meeting, the organisers invite you to an audiovisual feast - a multimedia projection (video mapping) on the façade of theCenter for the Meeting of Cultures in Lublin (projections every half hour between 20:00 and 22:00). This is an opportunity to join Dr Uznanski on an extraordinary journey into space, where you will be able to see with your own eyes the perspective from which astronauts view our planet. We will see the world as never before - the centrepiece of this spectacular show will be the Earth as seen from space. To register for the event, please visit the website LFN. https://www.kul.pl/the-catholic-university-of-lublin-hosts-the-lublin-high-school-graduates-salon-2023,art_103828.html This week (September 5-6), high school graduates from our region will meet at the Lublin "Perspektywy" High School Graduates Salon 2023, where they will be able to learn about the details of next year's high school graduation exam and familiarize themselves with the offer of higher education in the 2024/2025 academic year. Once again, the event is hosted by the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. The nationwide campaign High School Graduates Salon has been organized every September by the Educational Foundation "Perspektywy" for 17 years. This year's Lublin Salon will inaugurate a series of meetings in a total of 14 cities: Szczecin, Bialystok, Wroclaw, Warsaw, Cracow, Gdansk, Lodz, Olsztyn, Kielce, Poznan, Katowice, Bydgoszcz and Rzeszow. Among the participants not only next year's high school graduates, but also younger students of lower grades, as well as teachers, school counsellors and educational and vocational advisors. - High school graduation is a very important moment in the life of a young person, which is part of following the path of education, especially through higher education. Therefore, the element that will bring the area of the academic world closer will be the Lublin High School Graduates Salon, stresses the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski. Participation in the Salon will allow high school graduates to get acquainted with the educational offerings of academic institutions from all over Poland, as well as to consult specialists on high school graduation declarations. They will have the opportunity to get information about next year's high school graduation and find out what they need to do to get into their dream universities. An unquestionable highlight of the event will be a presentation prepared by the Regional Examination Commission in Cracow on the rules of the matriculation exam in 2024. In addition, meetings with experts are also planned, who will discuss the matriculation exam in Polish, mathematics and additional subjects. Admission to the Baccalaureate Salon is free and no registration is required, but registration for participation in program meetings is mandatory (Registration for the Lublin Baccalaureate Salon 2023). All registered participants of the High School Graduates Salon will receive a "Guide to the High School Graduates 2024", which can be picked up at the "Perspectives" stand. This year's Lublin High School Graduation Salon will also be an excellent opportunity to get to know its host, the Catholic University of Lublin, which has a wide range of majors not only in the humanities, social sciences, law, philosophy or theology, but also in science, life sciences, health sciences and medical sciences. - The Catholic University of Lublin is a university with a beautiful academic tradition and a unique atmosphere, which the participants of the High School Graduation Salon will be able to see for themselves soon, says Monika Stojowska, deputy spokesperson for the Catholic University of Lublin. https://www.kul.pl/the-saints-have-their-time-the-beatification-of-the-ulma-family,art_103916.html Wiktoria and Józef Ulma are not only the first Polish couple to be beatified, but also the first couple in the history of the Church to be beatified along with their seven children. - Worth noticing the unprecedented decision to beatify the new-born child. The situation is reminiscent of the biblical description of the martyrdom of the holy youngsters, that is, the infants in Bethlehem whom Herod ordered to be killed - stresses Fr. Prof. Marek Chmielewski of the Department of Systematic and Practical Spirituality at the Catholic University of Lublin. The beatification of the nine-member family of Jozef and Wiktoria Ulma, murdered in March 1944 for helping Jews, will take place in Markowa in the Podkarpacie region on Sunday, September 10. Along with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, the Mass will be concelebrated by nearly 1,000 priests, 80 cardinals and bishops from Poland and abroad. More than 32,000 faithful have registered their willingness to participate in the ceremony. Announced his participation, among others, the Chief Rabbi of Poland. Representatives of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin will assist in the ceremony. Jozef and Wiktoria Ulma and their children Stanislawa, Barbara, Wladyslaw, Franciszek, Antoni, Maria and the new-born will be proclaimed blessed. This beatification, described as "in many ways unprecedented” - draws attention of the entire world. Along the lines of martyrdom For the first time in a single act, the whole family will be elevated to the glory of the altars, not as its individual members. Recently there have been simultaneous beatifications of spouses such as Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quatrocchi (Oct. 21, 2001), or Louis and Zelia Martin, parents of St. Teresa of the Child Jesus. The latter were beatified by Pope Benedict XVI (Oct. 18, 2008) and canonised by Pope Francis (Oct. 19, 2015). The beatification processes of the Martin couple proceeded separately. In the case of the Ulmas, we are dealing with the beatification not only of the spouses, but of the whole family, regarding which there was one process following the line of martyrdom. - ‘We have 269 blessed and 72 saints of Poles or connected with Poland, belonging to the Roman Catholic Church, the Greek Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, among whom are lay people living in marriage. However, these are individuals’ - says Fr. Prof. Chmielewski. The death under heart At the time of the execution, Victoria Ulma was highly pregnant. The executioners murdered everyone, regardless of age, including children, and among them there was the one the woman carried under her heart. It was accepted to speak of it as “unborn”, although de facto at the time Victoria was shot, the birth action was already underway. In such a state, the born child died in the mother's birth canal. - The situation is reminiscent of the biblical description of the martyrdom of the Holy Mourners, or infants in Bethlehem, whom Herod ordered to kill in hope that among them there might be the Newborn Messiah, considered by him to be a dangerous competitor. Although the Ulma baby was not baptised, its moral sanctity is obvious, explains Rev. Prof. Marek Chmielewski. The theologian explains that since the older siblings were baptised and raised in deep Catholic spirit, surely the next child would also participate in the living faith of his parents. This has to do with the so-called "baptism of blood," through which those not yet formally baptised, but already on the path of faith and suffering death because of it, access the glory of heaven. Outstanding spouses According to witnesses' accounts and collected source documents, the Ulma family was not an average one. Jozef was a farmer, the owner of a several-hectare farm, raised silkworms and ran an apiary. He was socially active and creative. His passion was photography - he documented the life not only of his family, but also of the villagers. It also regarded to Victoria, who attended a course at the People's University in a neighbouring village and even played roles in an amateur theater. However, not only involvement in civic activities united the couple. Both were deep believers. Today they are referred to as the "Samaritans of Markowa." They gave shelter to eight Jews in their own modest and small home as they were rooted in Christian values and living according to them, which in the case of the Ulmas was seen in a conscious attitude of fidelity to the basic Christian commandment of love of God and neighbour, by virtue of which for more than a year and a half, selflessly and in full awareness of the consequences threatened by the Germans. - The Ulmas matured into such a heroic attitude of Christian mercy through their deep spiritual life including their children. This is evidenced both by the witnesses to their lives and by the objects they left behind, especially in the Scriptures they read every day. Embedded within their family Bible a word was underlined: “Samaritan”. It seems that this biblical scene was particularly moving to the Ulmas - notes Rev. Prof. Chmielewski. Model of a family What dimension can this beatification have for the Church today? Certainly, it contributes to the promotion of the beauty and importance of marriage and big family life, which in the situation of current demographic collapse in Poland and Europe takes on particular significance. The Ulmas are an excellent example of what the life of Polish families should be like. The elevation to the glory of the altars of a child born under conditions of crime shows the value of life - from the moment of conception to natural death. From a social point of view, the beatification can also lead to building and strengthening reconciliation and fraternity between Christians and Jews as "elder brothers in the faith," as well as the discovery and, above all, the consolidation before the world of the historical truth about the criminal activities of Nazi Germany against the Polish and Jewish people. The murder of the Ulmas was not carried out by some unspecified Nazis, but by specific functionaries, well known by name. As already mentioned, about 30,000 people will come to Markowa - a village of about 4,000 inhabitants - for the beatification on September 10 this year. Taking into account the television, radio and Internet broadcasts, as well as the presence of the highest state authorities with the President of Poland, the Chief Rabbi of Poland and a high delegation from Israel, the beatification of the Ulma family will indeed be an exceptional event. The Vatican's Dicastery for the Causes of Saints on September 5 issued an announcement concerning the upcoming beatification of the Ulma family: As for the information recently widely spread in media regarding the martyrdom of the Ulma family, whose beatification rite will be celebrated on September 10, 2023, in Markowa, Poland, the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints specifies the following: At the time of the murder, Mrs. Wiktoria Ulma was heavily pregnant with her seventh child. This child was born at the time of the mother's martyrdom. Thus, it was added to the ranks of child martyrs. For in the martyrdom of the parents it received a "blood baptism". https://www.kul.pl/recruitment-is-underway-for-the-3rd-edition-of-the-kul-study-for-polonia-and-poles-abroad-18-courses-on-offer,art_103874.html The recruitment offer for the 3rd edition of the KUL Study for Polonia and Poles Abroad, run by the KUL Polonia Center, includes 18 courses. Among the novelties are artificial intelligence, speech therapy, mediation and negotiation, effective management, Polish language culture, history of literature, reportage and interview studies, and Christianity and Judaism - common roots. The classes, in the form of lectures and workshops, will begin in the autumn. The meetings will have an online format, but reunions in Paris and London, among others, are also planned. The Polonia Center of the Catholic University of Lublin has also prepared a special offer for the US and Canada, taking into account time differences. Registration and detailed information at www.polonia.kul.pl. - Activities for the benefit of Polonia and Poles abroad are part of a long tradition of cooperation between our university and our Compatriots around the world - said the rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski. - We want, as an academic community, to meet the expectations of the Polish communities and share our knowledge and experience with those who, regardless of their place of residence, want to acquire knowledge at the highest level and improve their competence - added the rector of the Catholic University of Lublin. The director of the Polonia Center of the Catholic University of Lublin, Prof. Janusz Bień, stresses that the new course offer prepared is a response to the great interest with which the first two editions of the Study were met among the Polish community. - As the Polonia Center of the Catholic University of Lublin, we often hear that we should continue and expand educational activities aimed at developing the skills and professional competence of Poles living abroad. Therefore, we have prepared a rich offer of courses for the next, third edition of the Study, which will be implemented in the coming academic year 2023/24. We cordially invite you to familiarize yourself with the offer and to enrol - concludes Prof. Bień. - Classes and workshops conducted as part of the Study are more than just educational meetings - points out Dr. Wojciech Wciseł, coordinator of the KUL Study for Polonia and Poles Abroad. - These meetings, conducted live, with the active participation of the instructors and participants, are the beginning for making acquaintances and building relationships among Polonia from all over the world. They often have the character of integrating the Polish community, and often result in joint activities. Studying is more than just learning, for many it is a way to strengthen ties with Poland and Poles regardless of where they live - emphasizes Dr. Wciseł. The KUL Study Center for Polonia and Poles Abroad was inaugurated last November. The two editions have attracted more than 550 participants from 16 countries, including France, Germany, the UK, the US and Canada. All classes are free of charge for participants, and are taught by professors, lecturers and experts from the Catholic University of Lublin. Graduates receive diplomas from the Catholic University of Lublin and certificates of completion of the Study in Polish, English and the language of their country of residence. For those who are interested, it will be possible to continue their studies. Detailed descriptions of the proposed courses are available in the link III Edition. The registration form for those interested in specific courses is available here. https://www.kul.pl/the-ulmas-samaritans-from-markowa,art_103862.html The story of the Ulma family, martyrs who helped Jews during World War II, is an example of the heroic bravery of an ordinary family - people who "defended life at the cost of life." On September 10, an unprecedented beatification for the universal Church will take place in Markowa - the beatification of an entire family of martyrs - a married couple and seven children, including one still in the womb of their pregnant mother. The Ulmas were an ordinary, undistinguished family. They lived in southeastern Poland. Until 1944 the life of Jozef and Wiktoria went on as most Polish families do - they worked on the land, raised six children and waited for the birth of the seventh. Before it could be born, however, the Nazis murdered their entire family, as well as the Jews to whom the Ulmas had given shelter. Jozef and Wiktoria Born on March 2, 1900, Jozef Ulma was passionate about agriculture - he innovated in both fruit and vegetable farming, as well as in silkworm breeding and beekeeping. He enjoyed photography and built his first camera himself. His wife Wiktoria née Niemczak was born on December 10, 1912. She attended folk school for several years, and then took folk university courses. She enjoyed drawing, and before her marriage performed in an amateur parish theatre. The couple married on July 7, 1935. Jozef worked on the farm, in the dairy and was involved in social activities, while Wiktoria took care of the house and the large family. The Ulmas' first daughter, Stasia, was born on July 18, 1936. Every year, more children were born: Basia (October 6, 1937), Władzio (December 5, 1938), Franio (April 3, 1940), Antoś (June 6, 1941) and finally Marysia (September 16, 1942) - when she was murdered, she was only a year and a half old. A decision dictated by Christian love In German-occupied Polish territory, hiding Jews was forbidden, and the penalty for doing so was death. The Ulmas were certainly aware of this, nevertheless, risking their own lives and those of their children, they decided to give shelter to their persecuted neighbours. It was a choice dictated by love. In the Bible found in their home, the title of the parable of the Good Samaritan was underlined in red, with "yes" written in the margin. This one word shows their willingness to sacrifice their lives for others. The Ulmas hid eight Jews in their home for a year and a half - Saul Goldman and his four sons, Baruch, Mechel, Joachim and Moses, as well as two sisters, Golda Grünfeld and Lea Dydner with their daughter Reszla. The tragic night On the night of March 23-24, 1944, a group of soldiers, led by Eilert Dieken, forced their way into the Ulmas' home. Three of the hiding Jews were killed in the attic, where they slept. The others were shot in the back of the head a moment later. Jozef and Wiktoria were killed in front of their house. Dieken gave the order to kill all the children as well. The toddlers were killed by several rifle shots. In just a few minutes, 17 people were deprived of their lives, including the baby that Wiktoria was carrying under her heart and who was going into labour at the time of the execution. No one could escape with their lives. Not even the children. Beatification without precedent Beatifications and canonizations of families have already happened in the history of the Church. - In the case of the Ulma family, we are talking about martyrs. In ancient times there were such or similar cases and they are listed in the "Martyrology." However, in our time this is a completely new fact," stressed Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for Canonization. In contrast, the recognition of the martyrdom of an unborn child is without precedent: - The beatification of the Ulms' seventh child, who was yet to be born, is certainly the most original and important element. This is a child not yet named, whose gender we also know nothing about. [...] For the Church, however, it is a person and is sacred. It is a soul who sees the face of God and who represents in the heavenly Church the countless children who have died before birth from natural causes or from abortion - stressed Father François-Marie Lethel, consultant to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. *The article is based on a book about the fate of the Ulma family by Italian journalist Manuela Tulli and the director of the Polish section of Vatican News, Fr. Pawel Rytel-Andrianik. The publication in Polish, Italian and English will be released thanks to the Abraham J. Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations of the Catholic University of Lublin for the beatification ceremony of the Ulma family - September 10, 2023. The Polish version will be available free of charge at – www.heschel.kul.pl. https://www.kul.pl/dr-bernadeta-lelonek-kuleta-on-the-pitfalls-of-the-cyber-world,art_103818.html The online world is becoming increasingly difficult to identify with so-called new technologies because of its enormous ubiquity. Something that was relatively new a dozen years ago is now a natural reality for most people. In addition to the numerous benefits of the Internet, certain elements of it can be potentially harmful to people. As an addiction therapist, I am particularly interested in the "addictive" potential of the digital world. First of all, it is worth considering that the concept of so-called Internet Addiction Disorder, developed in the 1990s by Kimberly Young, is now being neglected. As early as 2013, specialists developing the DSM-V classification of disorders recognized that the term "Internet" is so broad and enclose so many different activities that it would be difficult to specify what problems is experiencing a person who is "addicted to the Internet." As a result, the work of researchers began to move in that direction to define more specific disorders related to Internet activities. Currently, both the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have distinguished two disorders that are addictive in nature and related to Internet use - gambling disorder and gaming disorder. At the same time, these are, so far, the only officially recognized so-called functional addictions. What is activity addiction? The criteria for diagnosing such a disorder are very similar to the official criteria for addiction to psychoactive substances. First of all, the addicted person is preoccupied with the activity in question, i.e. he is constantly absorbed in thinking about it, planning it or recalling it. In addition, he or she has limited ability to control his or her involvement in the activity - i.e. it is difficult for him or her to interrupt the activity or not to start it if he or she should not be doing it at the time, for example, because of other obligations. The third characteristic of addictions is that the activity brings multidimensional harm - this can be problems in personal relationships, at work, financial or health problems - and yet the person is unable to abandon or limit it. Controversy - among players and specialists The possibility of addiction to so-called online and offline video games is controversial both among gamers themselves (many simply don't believe it) and among specialists, which seems particularly interesting. The heated discussions were undertaken especially after the proposal of the latest edition of the ICD-11 International Classification of Diseases (effective from 2022) was made public, which already officially includes a disease entity - gaming disorder, defining it as: a pattern of gaming behaviour, online or offline, characterised by: 1) impaired control over gaming, 2) increasing preoccupation with gaming resulting in neglect of other activities, and 3) continued and intensified gaming despite the negative consequences experienced. A wide range of scientists wrote an open letter expressing opposition to such a proposal by the WHO, which received a response from another group of addiction researchers refuting the former's claims. What was the biggest concern? First of all, the fact that people are observed playing a lot and intensively, and not experiencing serious physical and mental health consequences because of it. Such an argument against the possibility of addiction is also made by gamers themselves. Recent research, however, shows that the specificity of these new so-called "activity addictions" are expressed in this. Unlike substance addiction, where the more the substance taken the more serious the damage, in the case of activity addictions there is no simple linear relationship between the intensity of the activity and the severity of the addiction. This does not mean, however, that it is impossible to become addicted to an activity, but this is determined by much more complex factors than the time spent alone. One such factor in games, among others, is the making of so-called micropayments, i.e. small payments to make the game more attractive (speed it up, increase the chance of winning, etc.). The severity of micropayments has been shown to correlate with the risk of addiction. The issue I would like to elaborate on is the phenomenon of the similarity of online games by their creators to gambling. It should be noted that gambling games, due to a number of risks they carry (financial and psychological), are subject to state control, assuming, among other things, that only adults can play them. Broadly defined Internet games do not have such control, which means that theoretically even small children can play them, which is often the case. "Incorporating" gambling features into such games is both unethical and dangerous for the unaware player. Above all, both gambling and gaming rely on the same behavioural mechanisms to reward the player and thus increase the motivation to stay with the game. Sound and visual effects in games cause stimulation, force concentration and engage the same organs - the eye and the hand. A 2021 survey of Polish gamers who play both gambling and non-gambling games revealed a number of similarities between the two types of games, as perceived by the players themselves. Loot Boxes In both types of games, the desire to compete with others and to win plays an important role. Both provide an opportunity to escape from the real world, and playing is accompanied by strong emotions (excitement, frustration and others). The randomness typical of gambling (that is, a situation in which the result does not depend on skill or knowledge, but on chance) also appears in some elements of online games, such as in the form of so-called loot boxes. These are boxes that appear in the game and contain virtual items of different values. Depending on the game, lootboxes can be purchased with virtual or real money or received as a reward for progress in the game. When a loot box is drawn, one receives its contents, which is previously unknown, and which can be of great value to the player from the point of view of the course of his further play. Players in the aforementioned studies, when asked directly whether they perceive elements in non-gambling games that encourage gambling, mentioned: the existence of loot boxes, the possibility of betting on the results of video games (i.e. so-called e-sports betting), the introduction of a gambling plot (elements that, due to their graphics or mechanics, very much resemble classic gambling games, such as slot machines or roulette), and the possibility of making payments for progress in the game (so-called Pay to Win). Returning to loot boxes, in addition to the random mechanism of receiving a prize, there are other features that make them similar to gambling. For example, loot boxes are often opened "in front of an audience," which can simply be players specifically watching the activity on YouTube or players waiting for their gameplay - such a possibility existed in Call of Duty: WWII, for example. This provides an additional rewarding factor for the player (much like the admiration of other players for a gambler winning in a casino). Winning something particularly valuable from a loot box is highlighted with visual and audio stimuli, much like winning a slot machine at random. Loot Boxes besides make use of cognitive errors typical of gambling - the gambler's paradox (the player, after a series of failures, counts on a "deserved'' win) or sunk costs (drawing more loot boxes due to the desire to make up for previous losses - i.e. drawing items of little value earlier). All of the aforementioned similarities of loot boxes to gambling have caused the governments of more countries to take a closer look at this element of gaming, while Belgium and the Netherlands have banned the placement of loot boxes in video games. Failure to comply with this ban carries heavy financial penalties. The Polish Ministry of Finance, however, has not banned loot boxes in games available without age restrictions. Loss of control vs. digital hygiene Thus, we return to the doubts mentioned at the beginning as to whether, and if so, which activities in the cyber world can be harmful to us. These apply, as we can see, not only to researchers, but also to politicians and all people using the Internet in general. Given that constantly being online is slowly becoming the standard, it's not surprising that we have a hard time believing that it could also be potentially disadvantageous or harmful. Despite the fact that, so far, two entertainment activities available online have been deemed potentially addictive, one should not forget about the whole range of other activities we engage in on a daily basis, the potential harmfulness of which is demonstrated by studies conducted in Poland and around the world. In 2019, CBOS conducted a study that put behaviours such as Facebook use, Instagram use, Twitter use and smartphone use under the microscope. For each of them, the possibility of symptoms typical of addiction was confirmed, such as: loss of control over the time spent on the activity, neglecting life responsibilities because of it, loss of other interests, the appearance of unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when unplanned lack of access to the activity, using the activity to improve one's mood, hiding from loved ones the time spent doing the activity. Should we then be afraid of the Internet? Certainly not the best solution, given that it is practically impossible for us to give it up completely, yet we cannot live in constant fear. However, let's remember that behind the Internet there is a staff of specialists whose task is to keep us "online" for as long as possible (I recommend, by the way, the film "Social Dilemma" from 2020, which perfectly illustrates the mechanisms behind this). Specialists in the prevention of digital media abuse recommend, first of all, conscious use of digital media and a balance between the real and virtual worlds. What does this mean? Let's take care of so-called digital hygiene, i.e. time offline and cultivate offline activities. Let's be mindful, i.e. avoid staring involuntarily at the screen and losing track of time, and put down the phone or step away from the computer when we have finished an activity that requires using the Internet. If we notice that time on the Internet is "slipping through our fingers" let's take more concrete actions - such as setting an alarm clock, or counting the time spent in front of the device - which turns out to be a very effective tool in managing our own time online. What we know, understand and control is less dangerous, so it is worth being aware, attentive, and using the benefits of technology sensibly, but not forgetting the risks involved. https://www.kul.pl/summer-with-the-catholic-university-of-lublin-2023-young-poles-from-all-over-the-world-came-to-kazimierz-dolny,art_103770.html The Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) once again brought together Polish youth from all over the world. The House of Creative Work of KUL in Kazimierz Dolny became a meeting place and workshop for a week for a group of 25 young Poles from the USA, England, Germany, France and Italy. - It's worth remembering to be rooted in Polish culture, to relate to compatriots and to reciprocity - these three concepts are important for national identity - the rector of the KUL Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski, reminded the young people. The Summer Camp with KUL 2023 was organized by the KUL’s Center for Polonia and Poles abroad and the Foundation for the Development of KUL. The KUL's summer initiative once again gave young people from Polish communities a chance to immerse themselves in Polish culture, language and history, while at the same time giving an opportunity to establish international relations and build lasting friendships among Polish peers. The list of camp activities is extremely diverse. This year, the organizers have placed a special emphasis on shaping and sustaining the sense of national identity of young people primarily through the teaching of the Polish language and in Polish. That's why the camp's program flourish in, among other things, language, history and film workshops, which enrich participants' knowledge of Polish culture, history and language. In addition, the program includes excursions, games and language games, in which the young people actively participate. The young people in Kazimierz Dolny were visited by the rector of KUL, Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski, who recalled the words of Wladyslaw Reymont - an outstanding Polish writer, author of the novel "The Peasants," for which he received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1924. – "He who serves the Fatherland, serves himself and builds his own future." Paraphrasing these words, I would like to emphasize at today's meeting that whoever serves Polish culture, whoever uses the Polish language, serves himself and indeed builds his own as well as that of those closest to his heart, future - he added. The rector of KUL also drew attention to three concepts fundamental to national identity: rootedness in Polish culture, relationship to compatriots and reciprocity. - Reciprocity, because not only this camp enriches you through meetings, workshops and excursions, but you also enrich us with your personality and traditions from the countries you come from - noted Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski, also reminding the young people of the history of the establishment of KUL, when Poland was reborn after 123 years of partitions. - I really enjoyed the class, where I learned more about the roots of my family in Poland - said Nikodem from England.- The coolest thing is that all of us here have something in common with Poland and during the classes we can learn so many new interesting things about Poland. Amina, on the other hand, also from England, most appreciates the opportunity to speak Polish. - I don't have many opportunities to speak Polish, and here we speak it all the time and it's great. Being here I can see how beautiful Poland is! I want to come back here to visit other places in our country as well - he stresses. One of the workshop leaders is Joszko Broda, a Polish musician, multi-instrumentalist, music producer and composer. During the workshop, together with the children he searches for their roots and the places of origin of their Polish ancestors. - I took part in such workshops as a child alongside my dad for more than 40 years, and the result is always the same: everyone, regardless of age, discovers their background, their identity, and get to know who they are. This is crucial - stresses Joszko. - Here, during workshops with Polish children, the amazing thing is that during a few minutes of conversation, after asking a few specific questions, these children - together with their parents - can discover who they are and where they come from. Such classes, workshops should be conducted not only with Polonia, but also with all of us living in our country. The awareness of this remains forever - assures Joszko. - Interest in the Polish community was enormous. Looking at the number of applications, I can say that there were applicants for several such camps - says Dr. Wojciech Wciseł, organizer of the camp from the Polish Center of the Catholic University of Lublin. - The needs reported by parents of Polish children are very great in terms of learning Polish language, history and culture. At least to some extent, as the Polonia KUL Center for Polonia and Poles abroad, we will try to meet these expectations by undertaking new activities for various groups and Polish communities - assures Dr. Wciseł. - The camp is organized together with the Foundation for the Development of KUL, thanks to funding received from the Saint Maximilian Maria Kolbe Institute for the Development of the Polish Language in the framework of the competition: "Supporting Polish children, youth and Poles living outside Poland 2023". Our project, which received funding, entitled "KUL’ adventure with the Polish language" is perfectly in line with the activities and mission of the Institute for the Development of the Polish Language - said Janusz Bień, director of the KUL Polish Center. https://www.kul.pl/about-the-center-for-studies-of-the-catholic-university-of-lublin-at-the-detention-center-in-lublin-in-the-vatican-media,art_103792.html Vatican media chiefs Dr. Andrea Tornielli and Dr. Massimiliano Menichetti, who visited the university on June 1, 2023, took an interest in the unique project that is the Catholic University's Center for Studies for convicts at the detention center in Lublin. Today, Vatican News services published a video about the education of detainees. The response to Menichetti and Tornielliega's proposal was to work on a short film report that shows the idea of conducting studies for prisoners, the transformation taking place in them, and the reality of life in prison, which takes on a different dimension when someone offers hope and comes with true evangelization. At the Academy of Modern Media and Communication of the Catholic University of Lublin, with the involvement of the video and press team, two videos were produced. The first is the aforementioned reportage containing statements by inmates - students of the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) - and a commentary by the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski, the initiator of the establishment of the Center for Studies of the Catholic University for convicts at the detention center in Lublin. The second film is symbolic "Without words" spoken, but is accompanied by a commentary in the form of text. The entire project is complemented by press dispatches, which, like the films, have been translated into Italian, English and German. The materials prepared today appeared in the Vatican media, for which the truth told through the testimony and accounts of people and through their life experience is fundamentally important. Vatican News, among others, thanks to satellite and new technologies, reaches even very remote areas of Africa or Asia. It is not only a multimedia endeavour, but also a multilingual one; the editors run news services in many different languages. The Vatican's current information and communications system broadcasts and publishes in as many as 51 languages. Vatican News has hundreds of thousands of followers and millions of followers on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, among others. The Academy of Modern Media and Communication of the Catholic University of Lublin expresses its gratitude for the willingness to cooperate, openness and professionalism of the staff of the Detention Center in Lublin, especially the director of the unit, Lt. Col. Anna Ausz, and the spokeswoman, Capt. Beata Fronczek. The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin has been providing educational classes for people deprived of liberty for more than 10 years. The initiative - known since 2022 as the Center for Studies of the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) at the detention center in Lublin - is aimed at people not only in the Lublin detention center, but also in other prisons throughout Poland. It is a unique venture on a European scale. Vatican News material: Rektor KUL: 80 proc. absolwentów studiów w więzieniu nie wraca do przestępczości Poland: Low rates of recidivism among prisoners who obtain university degree https://www.kul.pl/youth-meeting-of-the-archdiocese-of-lublin-2023-echo-of-the-heart,art_103782.html For the 11th time, Garbów has become the youth capital of the Archdiocese of Lublin for five days - from 16 to 20 settembre 2023. And it's all thanks to SMAL - Meeting of the Young of the Archdiocese of Lublin. This year's event slogan is "Echo of the heart". SMAL takes place every year in the parish of the Transfiguration in Garbów - a picturesque, rural commune located approx. 20 km from Lublin. It is enough to cross the main gate of the church to find yourself in a completely different reality. You can see smiling faces everywhere, somewhere the sounds of a guitar reverberate, the bustle that usually accompanies young people does not bother here at all, on the contrary, it makes you feel like one of those kids, regardless of your age. The main stage is located at the back of the church, in the shadow of the building, thanks to which the heat prevailing from the very morning is not so oppressive. The official opening of SMAL takes place on the second day of the event at 9.00 am, after morning prayer and breakfast. Many participants gathered on the lawn in front of the stage, but not all of them - it would be physically impossible, because this year's edition of SMAL is attended by 847 people. – I am glad that today, in a special way, the Catholic University of Lublin is present at this edition of the wonderful work of SMAL. I would like the slogan "Youth is normality" to be included in your meeting, because someone once beautifully said that holiness is normality, holiness is a relationship, a meeting, an exchange. And I think that the days you spend together are the time when you grow in friendship with each other and in friendship with God - stressed the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski. Lech Sprawka, the Voivode of Lublin, also addressed a few words to young people: - I envy you a bit. I envy you a few things. That you are so young and that you have vacation time, but also that you have found an interesting way to spend part of this vacation by participating in SMAL, where you can search your way of life. The modern world offers you a lot of attractive forms of shaping your personality, which is why I am very happy that you have chosen SMAL from among them. - Dear young people, I wish you that these meetings, that the contacts and friendships you will make here, will stand the test of time and remain for life - said the Deputy Marshal of the Lubelskie Voivodeship, Michał Mulawa, to the participants of the SMAL. Kazimierz Firlej, the mayor of the Garbów commune, also thanked the young people for their participation in this year's SMAL: - We are happy that we can host young people like you in our commune. Young people who came to this year's SMAL will participate in conferences, meetings in groups, adoration, Eucharist, the theme of which will refer to the main slogan "Echo of the heart", all in the spirit of joyful fun. SMAL is an ideal opportunity for young people to meet and spend time together with friends who share their Christian values. The organizers have also prepared a number of fun and games as well as concerts of Christian music stars to make your stay in Garbów more interesting. This year, the special guests of the event are Małe TGD and the rapper and beatboxer TAU. – I am here for the first time, but I already know that next year I will definitely come back to SMAL. It's great here, we all have a great time, we talk a lot - said Julka, one of the participants of this year's SMAL. https://www.kul.pl/knowledge-at-your-fingertips-lublin-science-festival-2023,art_103763.html The 19th Lublin Science Festival is less than a month away (September 18-24, 2023). Once again, five Lublin universities, together with the City of Lublin and the institutions co-creating LSF, have prepared a number of scientific attractions. The motto of this year's festival is "Science for the Future." This year, a record number of projects - 1,664 - was submitted in the history of LSF, and it may increase even more. The Lublin Science Festival is a cyclical event, of which the origins date back to 2004, when the then-rectors of five Lublin universities, i.e. the Catholic University of Lublin, Lublin University of Technology, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, the Medical University and the University of Life Sciences, and the director of the Institute of Agrophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences signed a declaration to establish, as time has shown, the largest popular science event in the Lublin region. And so for 19 years now, the organizers, with the support of many co-organizers (more than 30 institutions of science and culture), have been making the results of scientific research available to a wide audience in an accessible way – both to those who try to follow research innovations on a regular basis and to those who do not pay much attention to them on a daily basis. The main goal of the festival is to disseminate scientific issues regardless of the age or level of education of the participants, to show them what science looks like "from behind the scenes." The proposed projects are open not only to children, schoolchildren or students, but also to adults and the elderly. Science for the future - The level of academic knowledge, experience and achievements in the various scientific fields prompted us to ask how modern science will shape future generations. This year's festival's slogan offers great opportunities to speak out on issues also related to hot socio-cultural topics, such as the relationship between the development of technology and social development, concern for the environment in a global sense, new medical possibilities, ethical problems, the importance of man and his place in the surrounding reality, and many others," explains LSF's chief coordinator, Dr. Anna Dutkowska of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, which is this year's main organizer of the event. From September 18 to 22, science enthusiasts will be able to take part in presentations and events organized at Lublin universities and LSF co-organizing institutions. On Saturday, September 23, the Lublin Science Picnic, which enjoys great interest every year, will be held at the Lublin Fairgrounds. This year's festival will be ritually concluded at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin on Sunday, September 24. All information about LSF is posted on an ongoing basis at www.festiwal.lublin.pl. You can also sign up for individual projects there. Educating – to entertain, entertaing – to teach Among other things, it will be an opportunity to explore the topic of the rapid development of artificial intelligence with its benefits and risks. There will also be events referring to the ongoing Year of Nicolaus Copernicus or the Lublin being the European Youth Capital. All this to learn about the most current trends and innovations that are shaping the future of our civilization, - says Sister Dr. Beata Zarzycka, Prof. of the Catholic University of Lublin, Vice-Rector for Science and Human Resources, chairwoman of the LSF Organizing Committee. Each of the universities co-creating the festival has prepared a number of projects on a variety of topics. This year, scientists from the Catholic University of Lublin will help participants learn whether inventions are the work of thoughtful knowledge, chance or perhaps even error. Those interested in the secrets of cosmetology will be able to learn how to make cosmetic. A workshop on the basics of astronavigation will also be a special attraction, during which participants will gain knowledge on how to reach their destination without the help of electronics such as GPS. - It will also be possible to solve a detective mystery and become a successor to Sherlock Holmes, or in another project to learn about the rights and responsibilities of those who make up a neighborhood community, reports Dr. Katarzyna Debinska-Domagała, university coordinator from the Catholic University of Lublin. https://www.kul.pl/out-of-the-ordinary-ordinary-house,art_103750.html Budka Suflera once had a hit song "There is such a lonely house." I don't know why it came to my mind when I stood in front of the entrance to the John Paul II Foundation House in Lublin. This house is not lonely at all. Located almost in the very center of Lublin, it is even bustling with life on a daily basis, as more than 100 scholars live there. In summer, however, it is quieter here - some of the interns have left for their families, some are enjoying their vacations, the elderly are working. Even after crossing the threshold you can feel the wonderful atmosphere of the place. The author of the scholarship program of the John Paul II Foundation was the Rev. Dr. Marian Radwan, professor of the Catholic University of Lublin, sociologist and historian, who studied the history of modern Russia and Christianity in that country, as well as in other Eastern European countries under Sovietization. In the 1970s and 1980s, he travelled repeatedly throughout the republics of the Soviet Union to learn about the situation of the Church and to see what conditions people there were living under. When, by papal decree in 1981, the John Paul II Foundation was established in Rome, and within it the Polish Institute of Christian Culture, Rev. Prof. Radwan became its director. Even then he knew that he had been entrusted with a unique mission. The work of true evangelization - During one of his trips in 1990, Fr. Radwan found himself in Novosibirsk. There he met a priest who asked him to organise 10 scholarships that would allow young people there to study at the Catholic University of Lublin. After some time, Fr. Radwan travelled to Rome, where he presented the Novosibirsk priest's request to the Pope through Fr. Stanislaw Dziwisz. He did not expect that instead of 10 scholarships, John Paul II would offer 50, says Fr. John Strzałka, director of the John Paul II Foundation House. With each year the number of scholarship beneficiaries increased, the program grew. So the decision was made to build a house where the foundation's interns could live. Work began in 1992, and the construction was supervised by the later director, Rev. Ryszard Krupa. The financial assistance of the Connelly Foundation of Philadelphia and the involvement of the Polish American community proved indispensable at the time. The ceremonial opening and dedication of the John Paul II Foundation House took place on October 13, 1994. Since its creation, it has been managed by the Priests of the Sacred Heart . - Scholarship recipients may be persons from former Eastern Bloc countries without Polish citizenship. Financial support is provided for five years, i.e. the entire period of study. We have a special agreement with the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, and all of our interns study at the Catholic University of Lublin. Those who have a Polish citizen's card receive their education free of charge. Those who don't have it can study thanks to the support of the University, and here I thank the Society of Friends of the Catholic University of Lublin (Towarzystwo Przyjaciół KUL), which helps young people financially in this regard, explains Fr. Jan Strzałka. Currently, 110 pupils are participating in the program. In more than 30 years of operation, about 1,000 graduates have benefited from the support, most of whom have returned to work in their home countries after graduation. A home in the heart of Lublin Formation at the JPII Foundation House is multidirectional. The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin is responsible for its intellectual aspect, while Fr. Jan Strzałka, director of the house, and Fr. Robert Ptak, his deputy, is responsible for other affairs. - In many important matters concerning the scholarship recipients, the decision is made by their parents. Fr. Robert and I are not able to replace them, but we always try to create a family atmosphere and give them a sense of security. We want them to know that they can turn to us in any situation. That's probably why our students don't say they live in a dormitory, but when mentioning this place, they always use the word "home", they say they come home from classes or from the city - says Fr. Strzałka. Beginner saint Father John has served as director of the JPII Foundation House for 10 years. He always speaks of his students with a smile. - I once discovered that on the door to my room appeared a small card "Here lives a saint". It had been hung by one of our girls when I said at one of my sermons that a similar card had been attached to Karol Wojtyla's door by colleagues as a joke. However, she forgot to add "beginner" to the saint, so I added it myself. And now this card often helps me. When some silly thoughts come to my mind, I immediately say to myself, "Stop, because you are on the road to sainthood," says Fr. Strzałka, laughing at the same time. https://www.kul.pl/rector-of-the-catholic-university-of-lublin-wyd-in-south-korea-to-strengthen-the-church-in-asia,art_103728.html - The 2027 World Youth Day in South Korea will be a strengthening of the Catholic Church's message on the Asian continent and will contribute to peace-building, stressed the rector of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Fr. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski. Pope Francis announced Sunday at the conclusion of the 37th WYD in Lisbon that the next world youth meeting will be held in 2027 in Seoul, South Korea. The Catholic University's rector recalled that World Youth Day has been held in Asia only once before, in 1995 in Manila, Philippines, with the participation of Pope John Paul II. Five million people attended. - The concluding WYD in Lisbon was attended by students of the Catholic University of Lublin. I am already inviting young people to accept Pope Francis' invitation and start preparing for the meeting in Seoul. On this occasion, we will also establish cooperation with Korean academic centers," said Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski. He added that statistics show that currently in South Korea there are approx. 6 million Catholics, and their number is gradually increasing. - Speaking of South Korea, it is worth recalling that Pope John Paul II canonized 103 Korean martyrs in 1984, among whom were Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Paul Chŏng Ha-sang and their companions. An estimated 10,000 people were martyred in the 19th century in Korea during the persecution of Catholics, the rector of the Catholic University of Lublin stressed. https://www.kul.pl/can-we-fly-without-moral-wings-interview-with-prof-adam-biela,art_103707.html The importance of moral values, oligarchization of economy and social life, politics, microsystem changes, and straight way to happiness, but also the question 'can we fly without moral wings?' About all these matters in the interview with Prof Adam Biela. https://www.kul.pl/university-enrollment-continues-at-the-john-poul-ii-catholic-university-of-lublin,art_103668.html The second stage of university recruitment is underway at the Catholic University of Lublin. Recruitment will last until the number of places is exhausted, and the offer includes bachelor's, engineering and master's degree programs, also conducted in English. A variety of majors await candidates, including humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. Recruitment is also underway for the Doctoral School and for postgraduate studies. The second stage of recruitment is carried out in free mode. This means that those who meet the conditions and correctly fill out the application form, are likely to receive a decision on admission within a few days. The offer of available majors is verified on an ongoing basis, their list is available at: rekrut.kul.lublin.pl/, and detailed descriptions of individual majors and information on the rules of recruitment are available at the website for candidates (kandydat.kul.pl). Among the currently available majors are: Applied Anthropology, Biotechnology, Law in Business, Sinology, Sociology or Artificial Intelligence. Recruitment for the various majors will continue until the number of places is exhausted, no later than September 22. More than 7,500 candidates applied in the first intake - almost 2,500 more applicants to study at the Catholic University of Lublin than last year. The most popular majors were: medicine, psychology, Italian studies online, criminology, nursing, management, English philology, law. Nearly 1.5 thousand candidates applied to study the newly created medicine at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. https://www.kul.pl/prof-sawicki-is-distinguished-by-his-fidelity-to-scientific-truth,art_103669.html Prof. Stefan Sawicki is one of the most distinguished scholars of post-war Poland, and what distinguishes him above all is his loyalty to scientific truth, says literary historian Prof. Piotr Chlebowski of the Institute of Literary Studies of the Catholic University of Lublin. Prof. Sawicki associated his entire academic life, including his research dedicated to the works of Cyprian Norwid, as well as his social life with our university," added Prof. Chlebowski. At the Rectorate of the Catholic University of Lublin on July 18, Prof. Stefan Sawicki - a theoretician and historian of literature, as well as an expert in the works of Cyprian Norwid - received the Papal Order of St. Gregory the Great, as well as the Medal of the Minister of Education and Science "Sapientia et Veritas for Merit to Polish Science." During the decoration ceremony, the now 96-year-old Prof. Stefan Sawicki said that the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) was a great adventure and even a love in his life. Prof. Stefan Sawicki is one of the most prominent scholars in Poland after World War II, as well as people associated with the life of the Church, but all of his scientific, as well as social, activities are connected with the Catholic University of Lublin. Professor Sawicki had already been at the Catholic University of Lublin since the second half of the 1940s, with a small break for two years to complete his studies at Jagiellonian University. And from 1951 until his retirement in 1999, the professor devoted himself entirely to our university. Today he also participates, already less frequently, in the scientific and social life of the university, which is a specific university in the history of Poland. What, in your opinion, most characterizes Prof. Stefan Sawicki? What first and foremost distinguishes Professor Sawicki, is his fidelity to scientific truth and research tools, but also to the subject to which he devotes himself. Few humanist scholars in Poland after World War II can boast such fidelity and constancy in this regard. I'm thinking here especially of the years of communism, which distorted science - today this is also returning in the form of heavily subjectivized research, while Professor Sawicki was constantly faithful to objective truth. Few scholars, especially in the 1950s and a little later, could boast such fidelity. Another issue is the areas of research that the professor undertook, which were almost considered prohibited. Here I am leaving out poetics, which was finally appreciated, but above all research on axiology in the study of literature, also research on the relationship between the sacred and literature - actually, here in Poland, he was a pioneer in this regard. And the culmination is his research on the works of Norwid, combining axiology and interest on the verge of literature and religion. What is it about Norwid's work that so attracts researchers to this day, because you, too, professor, have devoted many years to the studies conducted at the Center for Research on the Works of Cyprian Norwid of the Catholic University of Lublin? It is, on the one hand, the strong rooting in Christianity, Catholicism, and therefore a certain type of conservatism, and on the other hand, the quality and modernity of those approaches that Norwid proposes - they are always present, non-stop contemporary. This is literature that, although it seems to speak to us in an ancient language, does not age. In addition, it is quite complex, so it requires a lot of intellectual effort, but it also gives a lot of joy to the researcher and a lot of such satisfaction from interacting with this literature, but also with the visual arts. Because let's not forget that Norwid is not only a writer and poet, but also a visual artist. In a sense, he is an art master, which I also think to a large extent Professor Sawicki was attracted to in his work https://www.kul.pl/summer-academy-of-robert-schuman-founder-of-europe,art_103592.html The Institute of Schuman's Thought organized the international one-week young people meeting near the Łańskie Lake. Six days of living in tents by the lake, immersing ourselves in the forest surroundings. Hiking, kayaking, and a unique connection with nature. The project of Robert Schuman included Oxford debates and workshops on finance, economy, politics, and public speaking. The event brought together active youth from Poland, Ukraine, and Moldova. We visited lectures with the president's advisors, ministers, and diplomats. The main goal of the project was to spread the values of Christian democracy based on human dignity, solidarity, and justice. These values of peace and democracy were significant in Robert Schuman's political ideology and approach to governance. As the French Foreign Minister, Schuman made a significant contribution that spread the foundation for European integration. Summarizing the project, Minister Justyna Orłowska said: "The most important thing in leading projects or running startups is feedback." written by our student - Mr Mykhailo Dziubii https://www.kul.pl/vice-rector-of-kul-at-catholic-leadership-program-training-in-the-usa,art_103585.html Last week, the Nanovic Institute at the University of Notre Dame (USA) hosted a training course called the "Catholic Leadership Program". Participants were leaders and scholars from Catholic universities in Central and Eastern Europe - including Armenia, Croatia, Georgia, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Ukraine. Our University was represented by the Vice-Rector for Mission and Digitization - Dr habil. Adam Zadroga. According to him, it was an excellent opportunity for cross-border knowledge exchange and international cooperation. The professional (workshop) sessions focused on effective leadership, supervision, management and human resources strategies. Topics discussed at the training included: • Building Teams • Dignity Centered Leadership • Catholic Universities as Protagonists of the Universal Church in a Global World of Challenges • Vision and Strategy in University Leadership • A Great Place to Work: Creating University Teams with Purpose One of the sessions included a simulation of diplomacy led by Clemens Sedmak, Professor of Social Ethics and Director of the Nanovic Institute. This exercise was a valuable opportunity for participants to hone their skills in negotiation, compromise and effective decision-making with people with whom they may disagree. In addition, thanks to the Notre Dame Alumni Association, participants had the opportunity to visit the beautiful campus of the University of Notre Dame. https://www.kul.pl/recruitment-results-for-first-cycle-and-long-cycle-master-s-studies,art_103580.html More than 7,500 applicants to study at KUL. Almost 25 people for 1 place in medicine. We know the results of the competitive recruitment for first-cycle and long-cycle master's studies. This year, over 7.5 thousand people applied. candidates - it's almost 2.5 thousand. more than last year. The most popular fields of study are: medicine, psychology, remote Italian studies, criminology, nursing, management, English philology, law. - Such a large interest in the offer of studies is a very good signal for us - says the rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski. Almost 1.5 thousand candidates reported their willingness to study at the newly created medical faculty at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. 60 people will be admitted to medical studies, so almost 25 people apply for one index, which makes this field the most popular during this year's recruitment. Graduates who complete these 6-year studies will obtain the professional title of a doctor. They will acquire the appropriate knowledge and practical skills in the field of prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, necessary to perform the medical profession with support and taking into account the highest good of patients. When it comes to the number of candidates for one place in a given field of study, the leaders also included: psychology (spec. of supporting the quality of life) - 7.56 candidates/place, Italian studies in the hybrid mode - 5.65, criminology - 5.36, nursing – 5.10, management – ​​3.88, English philology – 3.41, law – 2.96, psychology (business specialty) – 2.84, sinology – 2.67, journalism – 2.48, economics – 2 .47, international relations - 2.53, computer science - 2.33, biotechnology - 2.17, midwifery - 2.1. Two candidates applied for the following courses: administration, national security, coaching and career counseling, Polish philology, Spanish studies, Italian studies - full-time studies, special education, artificial intelligence. This year's offer of the university, which includes over 100 fields of study and specializations, has introduced new products: coaching and career counseling - as first-cycle studies, as well as Hispanistyka, International Relations and integral ecology - as second-cycle studies. KUL has also prepared an offer of studies in English. At the first cycle, these are: Applied Anthropology, European Studies, Informatics, Journalism and Social Communication, Theology (long-cycle programme), and at the second cycle: Philosophy and International Relations. - More than 150 foreigners expressed their willingness to study in the competition procedure. The largest group are candidates from Ukraine and Belarus. We also have students from other European countries, Africa and even the Americas. Recruitment for second-cycle studies is underway until July 20. Recruitment for courses with vacancies will be announced on July 24. The offer will be available at https://rekrut.kul.lublin.pl/rktoferta.html. We also encourage you to follow our profiles in social media, where all the news related to the recruitment process is published on an ongoing basis. https://www.kul.pl/deputy-director-of-the-heschel-center-of-the-catholic-university-of-lublin-as-head-of-the-polish-section-of-vatican-radio-and-va,art_103612.html Rev. Dr. Pawel Rytel-Andrianik has become head of the Polish Section of Vatican Radio and the Vatican News portal. He is deputy director of the A. J. Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations at the Catholic University of Lublin. Previously, he was director of the Office for Foreign Communications of the Secretariat of the Polish Bishops' Conference. From 2015 to 2020, Fr. Rytel-Andrianik served as spokesman for the Polish Bishops' Conference. At Vatican Radio, he replaced Jesuit Fr. Krzysztof Oldakowski, who was appointed parish priest in Lodz, Poland. Vatican Radio and Vatican News reported on Wednesday. "Service at Vatican Radio and Vatican News portal is a new challenge and another responsibility on my pastoral and media path. I thank the Holy See for its trust. The Vatican media reach millions of viewers around the world, and in recent years, following the decisions of Pope Francis, have taken new directions in communication adjusted to modern media needs and tendency. My task will be to continue this path and build new opportunities using new technologies," - Rev. Rytel-Andrianik said. Vatican Radio has been operating since 1931, and its Polish section since 1938. Vatican News is the official news portal of the Holy See. It is part of the Dicastery for Communications, which also oversees Vatican Radio. Vatican media is present on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, among others. The Holy See's new information system was created on June 27, 2015 with Pope Francis' Motu Proprio, which established the Secretariat for Communications, a new dicastery of the Roman Curia. Vatican News has four main subject areas that cover the activities of the Pope, the Holy See, local churches, and world news. The prefect of the dicastery is Paolo Ruffini, the program director of Vatican media is Andrea Tornielli, and the head of Vatican Radio and Vatican News is Massimiliano Menichetti. Fr. Pawel Rytel-Andrianik is a priest of the Diocese of Drohiczyn. After his ordination to the priesthood in 2001, he was a vicar in the parish of Ostrożany for two years. He was then sent to study abroad, where he obtained the following degrees: a bachelor's degree in theology at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome (2003); a bachelor's degree (2008) and then a doctorate (2012) in biblical studies and archaeology at the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum in Jerusalem; a master's (2011) and then a doctorate (2015) at Oxford University. In addition, he studied in Jerusalem at the Hebrew University, Hebrew Union College and the École biblique et archéologique française. In 2012, he became professor of Scripture at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome. From 2013 to 2015, he was deputy editor-in-chief of the Catholic weekly Sunday for Western Europe and the Middle East. He was awarded the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Medal. https://www.kul.pl/prof-stefan-sawicki-honored-with-the-order-of-st-gregory-the-great,art_103610.html Prof. Stefan Sawicki - an outstanding theoretician and historian of literature, as well as an outstanding expert on the work of Cyprian Norwid - received the Papal Order of Saint Gregory the Great on July 18, as well as the Medal of the Minister of Education and Science "Sapientia et Veritas for Merit to Polish Science."The Catholic University of Lublin has been my great adventure in life, and allow me to be trivial: my love," said the moved 96-year-old laureate during the ceremony, which took place at the Rector's Office of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. Professor Stefan Sawicki is an icon in terms of his knowledge of Polish literature, especially the area related to the works of Cyprian Norwid," recalled the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski, who opened the ceremony by welcoming guests, including the Metropolitan of Lublin and Grand Chancellor of the Catholic University of Lublin Archbishop Stanislaw Budzik, as well as the Minister of Education and Science Przemyslaw Czarnek. The Rector of the Catholic University of KUL stressed that an analysis of Prof. Stefan Sawicki's biography and activities reflects the parable of the talents described in the Gospels. Indeed, the biography of the prominent literary scholar indicates, as Rev. Prof. Kalinowski assessed, that Prof. Sawicki properly used and multiplied the wonderful gift he received from God. He has distinguished himself as an outstanding expert in literature, in works such as "Chopin's Piano" and "Bem's Mournful Rhapsody," for example. Among other things, Prof. Sawicki is the founder and former head of the Department (now the Center) for Research on the Works of Cyprian Norwid and former editor-in-chief of the journal "Studia Norwidiana." In the laudation dedicated to the laureate, literary historian Prof. Piotr Chlebowski of the Institute of Literary Studies at the Catholic University of Lublin noted that Pope Francis' decoration of Prof. Stefan Sawicki - "one of the most distinguished scholars of post-war Poland" - is fully just recognition of his distinguished services. His merits for the Catholic University of Lublin, his involvement in the development of the Catholic Church in Poland, especially during the dark period of the People's Republic of Poland and in the years after our country regained its independence, also for the benefit of Polish society - said Prof. Chlebowski, who has also been researching the work of Cyprian Norwid for many years. It is difficult today to meet a philologist among Polish literary scholars and humanists with such sensitivity to the subject of cognitive endeavors, free from various pressures, including those related to a genuine commitment to Christianity, freedom and religious identity. Among the post-war Polish scholars, he is the one who, has revealed an exceptional and enduring research attitude, based on the service of truth", emphasized Prof. Chlebowski, presenting the laureate's biography and most important achievements. The researcher also recalled that during the reign of Marxist doctrine in science, Professor Stefan Sawicki was one of the few scholars in Poland who not only opposed imposed ideology in literary studies and in the field of art research, but also proposed their own independent directions of cognitive approaches. - Professor Sawicki became a promotor for a large number of students and pupils, of whom many are now professors, academics at universities in Poland and abroad. The certificate of the title of Knight of the Order of Saint Gregory the Great was presented to the laureate by Archbishop Stanislaw Budzik. Afterwards, Prof. Stefan Sawicki received the Gold Medal "Meritorious for Polish Science Sapientia et Veritas" from the Minister of Science and Higher Education Przemyslaw Czarnek. The decoration was awarded to the researcher "for special contributions to higher education and science, including outstanding achievements in scientific, teaching and organizational activities." - There are some awards that are indeed a great reward for the laureate, and such is an award the Order of St. Gregory the Great, but there are also some laureates who are a reward for the award, which is exactly this very case," the minister said. Prof. Stefan Sawicki also spoke, stressing the great importance that the Catholic University in People's Republic of Poland played in his life - he emphasised that during those years at KUL, scientific research and teaching could be conducted freely. He noted that working at the Catholic university made scientists aware that "national and religious consciousness depends in big measure on the quality and energy of scientific thought." - One thing I am sure of: the Catholic University of Lublin was my great life adventure. It became, during my adulthood, something immensely valuable, something extremely important, involving all my energy. I will even say: the Catholic University was my love," the 96-year-old researcher concluded. *** Prof. Stefan Sawicki - an outstanding theoretician and historian of literature, including primarily a Norwidologist (among other things, founder of the Center for Research on the Works of C. Norwid at the Catholic University of Lublin), as well as initiator of pioneering research in Poland and numerous undertakings in this field - was born on February 8, 1927 in Brzesc. He studied Polish philology from 1946 to 1951 at the Catholic University of Lublin and Jagiellonian University. Prof. Chlebowski noted in his laudation, that Prof. Stefan Sawicki was an employee of the Catholic University of Lublin from 1951 until his retirement in 1999. - In fact, he still actively participates in the life of the university. He is one of the pillars of our university, one of those who built - and in this case in the literal sense - both its ideological and material foundations," the researcher added. In his laudation, Prof. Chlebowski mentioned, among others, some of his functions: in the years 1971-1983 pro-rector of the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL), secretary general, and then president of the Scientific Society of the Catholic University of Lublin (1989-1998). In addition, Prof. Sawicki served on such organizations as the Editorial Committee of the Catholic Encyclopedia (1973-1983), the Committee for the Study of Polish Literature of the Polish Academy of Sciences (1990-1993), the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences (since 1993) the Association of Polish Writers, the Social Council to the Primate of Poland (1981-1983), and the Scientific Council of the Polish Episcopate (1980-1990). He took a very active part in academic life, running, for example, the first completely independent academic theater in Poland in the 1950s. He intensively supported the activities of the world-renowned KUL Academic Choir and was one of the initiators of the KUL Visual Stage, headed by Prof. Leszek Mądzik, who considers himself his student," Prof. Chlebowski added in his laudation. https://www.kul.pl/fr-matthew-is-not-the-only-one-who-plays-chess,art_103621.html Let him raise his hand who, after watching the Queen's Gambit, wanted to start playing chess. Here's the thing. What is it about this game that one series was enough for people not only in Poland, but all over the world to become fascinated with it? Where did this sudden interest come from? Marcel Duchamp, a high-class chess player, once said that "while not all artists are chess players, all chess players are artists." The artistry with which the players move the pawns around the board, the concentration on their faces, the specific tension that accompanies each game - the game of chess is an art that not everyone can relate to. There is also an element of secret knowledge in this game, something intangible. One move can determine the outcome of the entire game. The smell of varnished figures Fr. Mateusz Zmigrodzki, well known to Poles in the serial, is not the only clergyman who plays chess. Also among the lecturers of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin one can find amateurs of this game. One of them is Rev. Dr. Slawomir Pawlowski SAC, head of the Ecumenism Section at the Institute of Theological Sciences of the Catholic University of Lublin. - There was a club in Chelm. I remember getting there as a nine-year-old. There was some kind of championship, and I happened to be passing by in the market. I walked in - and was immediately enchanted by the atmosphere. To this day I remember the smell of varnished figures from that time. Now they don't smell like that anymore", says the clergyman about his chess beginnings. Rev. Pawlowski returned to playing chess relatively recently, 10 years ago. After entering the seminary, for reasons unknown to himself, he stopped playing. It was a stroke of luck that chess itself came back to him. - One day, here at the University - I remember it like today, it was May - I was walking through the courtyard. Next to the statue of John Paul II, a chess simultane was held. A chess master was playing. I decided to face him. I lost, but I did not give up. And something touched me then to return to it. And after a 28-year break I returned," recalls Fr. Pawlowski. Returns are sometimes difficult. Rev. Pawlowski had to dedicate a lot of time and sometimes nerves to practising, thanks to which he now plays better than in his youth. He thoroughly solved chess tasks and read books on chess. He analysed the games of champions and honed his skills during each game. - It's wonderful that in the chess age there is no obstacle at all, that some confident drifter can get a beating from a little girl," says Fr. Pawlowski, laughing at the same time. Championships on the Vistula River Rev. Pawlowski once again had the opportunity to test his abilities during the XXII International Polish Clergy Classic Chess Championship, which was played July 10-15 this year at the Higher Seminary in Sandomierz. It is worth mentioning that Fr. Pawlowski won the title of champion of the 20th edition of this championship in 2021. https://www.kul.pl/prof-edyta-kociubinska-joins-the-council-of-the-association-internationale-des-etudes-francaises,art_103588.html Prof. Edyta Kociubińska of the Department of French Studies at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin has been appointed to the Council of the Association Internationale des Études Françaises, a prestigious association founded in 1949 to promote French language, literature and culture throughout the world. Professor Kociubinska is a specialist in 19th-century French literature, editor-in-chief of Quêtes littéraires and founder of the Club des Dix-Neuviémistes, an association of native Romance scholars specialising in 19th-century French literature. On a daily basis, she gives lectures on French literature of the 19th century and teaches courses on French culture and civilisation. Professor Kociubińska is the only Polish representative on this worldwide body, and we congratulate her warmly on this significant achievement. https://www.kul.pl/prof-edyta-kociubinska-powolana-do-rady-association-internationale-des-etudes-francaises,art_103507.html https://www.kul.pl/inauguration-of-the-50th-edition-of-the-summer-school-of-polish-language-and-culture-at-kul,art_103505.html " The most important thing for me with the courses is to create a very friendly atmosphere where people from all over the world feel at ease. The idea is to make sure that they spend their time in the best possible way and get the most out of it," says Cezary Ruta, Director of the School of Polish Language and Culture. The inauguration of the jubilee edition took place on 3 July at the Knowledge Transfer Centre under the chairmanship of the Vice-Rector for Education, Dr habil. Ewa Trzaskowska, who expressed the hope that after completing the course, participants would not only make significant progress in speaking Polish, but would also gain a deeper understanding of Polish culture and its traditions. - We offer courses of varying intensity from 2 to 8 weeks. Teaching is bilingual - Polish and English - informed the Vice-Rector Ewa Trzaskowska. She added that such a formula of education will create greater interest among participants and ensure their comfort. More than 80 foreigners from 30 countries, including the United States, South Korea, Czechia, France and Hungary, have applied to take part in this year's Polish Language and Culture Summer School. This is an exceptional edition - the course is being held for the 50th time. - 'From the very beginning, we have focused primarily on quality,' emphasised Director Cezary Ruta, 'and from the perspective of several decades, I can say that it has paid off for us, as we have not spent our time on minor events, but have offered courses of the highest quality all the time. Thanks to this, we attracted students, doctoral students, and employees of American universities, who repeatedly said that if you want to have a pleasant time, you go to Krakow, and if you want to really learn Polish, you come to Lublin at the Catholic University of Lublin. Over the years, the centre has established cooperation with many foreign institutions, including the University of Wisconsin, the University of New Hampshire, and Chicago Public Schools. - It gives us great satisfaction and pleasure to have representatives of prestigious American universities come to us to study Polish and learn about Polish culture over the summer holidays. Very often, these were people who had studied history or political relations in our region and who would in future influence US policy towards our country. Therefore, it was all the more important that the image of Poland with which they were leaving was as positive as possible", explained Cezary Ruta. Participants in this year's course are, among others, scholarship holders from the National Agency for Academic Exchange, including students of Slavic studies and scholars dealing with Polish history and culture. - The first edition of the course will last until the end of July, while the second edition will begin on 24 July, said Emil Wojtaluk, coordinator of the Summer School of Polish Language and Culture. *** The Summer School of Polish Language and Culture is organised every year by the School of Polish Language and Culture, one of the units of the Catholic University of Lublin, which has been running since 1974. The School was established on the basis of an agreement signed with the Polonia Society by the then Rector, Father Mieczyslaw Albert Krąpiec, and the Vice-Rector, Professor Stefan Sawicki. The perseverance of the university authorities resulted in the establishment of this kind of school at the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL), despite the objections of the state authorities. It was one of the first centres in Poland where people of Polish origin could improve their language skills. As time went on, foreigners also began to take advantage of its programmes. https://www.kul.pl/programme-developed-by-kul-pedagogy-supports-missionaries-and-educators-worldwide,art_103510.html Children, as the most precious treasure of Jesus the Lord, are to be cherished with care and love - so reads the first Rule of the Congregation of the Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of which Blessed Edmund Bojanowski was the founder. In a year's time it will be the 210th anniversary of the Blessed's death, but we are still benefiting from the fruits of his work. The programme of pre-school education according to the pedagogical concept of Blessed Edmund Bojanowski was published two years ago under the editorship of Sister Dr Habil. Loyola Opiela, a professor at the Catholic University of Lublin. In a short time it has gained popularity not only in Poland, but also throughout the world. Why is this so? Missionaries and teachers report on the success of the programme. Brazilian favelas Father Jan Stasz comes from Zabrze in Silesia. More than forty years ago he decided to join the Verbites Congregation. After a few years, when he was ordained a priest, he decided to go to Brazil. He began his teaching career at the Colégio Arnaldo, where he taught religion to young people and was later promoted to rector. He is currently the parish priest of St Gabriel's Parish. - "Thirty years ago I began my mission in Taquaril, a favela in the mountains above the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. In the beginning there was no electricity or water," the priest recalls. He adds that the neighbourhood was characterised by a large number of sects and a high crime rate. Thanks to the joint efforts of Father John and the Sisters, the situation has improved. In March 2002, a new nursery school dedicated to St John Paul II was inaugurated and the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski, visited the school. Over 600 children, many from difficult backgrounds, are under the care of Father John, the Sisters and educators. Halsingborg Childcare Halsingborg is a beautiful coastal town in southern Sweden. The town has one Catholic church, St Clemens, where the Sisters Servants live, work and run the nursery. The children attending the nursery come from various religions and countries, including Thailand, Denmark, Nigeria and Lebanon. - A major advantage of the programme is the integrity of the education. The children are prepared for life in a practical and independent way," says Sister Sancja Dutczak of the Congregation of the Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. She is the director and educator of the group. She adds that an education based on the values of Blessed Edmund Bojanowski, such as kindness, respect for human dignity, together with social, aesthetic and physical education, gives the children a sense of security and teaches them sensitivity to the world, to others and to nature. Children attend the kindergarten from the age of one. The older children help the younger ones and the younger ones learn independence, openness to others and important skills such as tidying up, setting the table, sorting rubbish and keeping things tidy. Zabaykalsky Krai Dasha Konovalova is a Little Servant Sister of the Immaculate Conception. She works with young people in Chita, Siberia. She chose a life of service to God and to children because she is convinced that education must begin with children, because it is through them that the rebirth of man takes place. 50 children of different ages are gathered at the centre in the city of Chita, which Sister Dasha runs with other Sisters. In addition to the lessons, holidays with God are organised, where the children can rest, play and not forget to pray. "The advantage of the pre-school educational programme according to the pedagogical concept of Blessed Edmund Bojanowski is the playful format for the children. The children acquire knowledge, a deep faith and life values in a natural way," concludes the Sister. About the programme The aim of the Pre-school Education Programme according to the pedagogical concept of Blessed Edmund Bojanowski is the integral upbringing and full development of the child, in relation to the Christian system of values. In addition to the educational content, there is a multimedia supplement containing games, plays and stories based on Blessed Edmund Bojanowski's notes, developed by the Academy of Modern Media and Communication of the Catholic University of Lublin. Within two years, the programme was translated into eight languages, including German, Spanish, English, Russian, French and Ukrainian. It serves to support the work of priests and sisters in Siberia, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador. The total number of downloads from the Repozytorium KUL amounts to several thousand of copies. https://www.kul.pl/participants-in-the-national-agency-for-academic-exchange-program-at-the-catholic-university-of-lublin,art_103504.html The Institute of Biological Sciences is once again hosting workshops for foreign students as part of the NAWA SPINAKER project. More than 20 students from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey, Albania, Lebanon, Ukraine, Spain are participating in the project. This year's workshop at the Catholic University of Lublin is conducted in a hybrid mode. The first part was held online from June 26 to 29. The second part began on July 3 and will continue until July 14. The classes are conducted stationary in Lublin. Participants have the opportunity to improve their laboratory skills in, among other things, the analysis of soil samples, in vitro analysis of animal cells, as well as the micro and macro flora of the protected areas of Lublin. Classes are held in English and are taught by scientists from the Faculty of Medicine of the Catholic University of Lublin. - Students from other countries are astonished by how much practice in the laboratory the biotechnology students at the Catholic University of Lublin have. And how this translates into professional skills," says Dr. Radoslaw Mencfel of the Department of Animal Physiology and Toxicology. The finale of the edition will be the final classes with the participation of potential employers from Lublin companies, who will evaluate the effectiveness of this year's workshops. - Students working in groups at the end must present the results of their research to representatives of business - institutions and companies. They will be the ones to give an opinion on whether the goals of these workshops have been achieved, since they participated in the preparation of the program, Dr. Mencfel reports. https://www.kul.pl/more-news-in-kul-admission,art_103489.html The first stage of registration of candidates for studies at KUL in the academic year 2023/24 will last until July 12. The largest number of applications concerns the medical programme, which is a novelty this year. The university's offer of more than 100 fields of study and specializations has been extended by new proposals: coaching and career counseling as first-cycle studies, Hispanic studies, international relations and integral ecology as second-cycle studies. - Our university also offers education in a hybrid mode - in the case of first-cycle studies, this applies to Italian studies, and in the case of long-cycle master's studies in law and canon law. The list of hybrid majors in second-cycle studies is wider, they are: classical philology, Dutch philology, philosophy, history of art, cognitive science, applied rhetoric and sinology - says Monika Stojowska, deputy press officer of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. The medical programme will be implemented at the Faculty of Medicine. In this case, there is a limit of places, which is 60. Graduates who complete these 6-year studies will obtain the professional title of doctor. They will acquire the appropriate knowledge and practical skills in the field of prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, necessary to perform the medical profession with support and taking into account the highest good of patients. In turn, coaching and career counseling are first-cycle studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences. The direction is ideal for people who want to work as a coach, trainer, trainer, career designer or career advisor, as well as an employee of the HR department. Students will gain knowledge in the field of sociology, psychology and elements of labor law, management and economics. A novelty is the second-cycle studies in Hispanic studies. Candidates will be able to choose from two specializations: business and translation and teaching. Thanks to the acquisition of competences in the field of specialist Spanish (including medical language), the graduate will be able to take up employment in corporations of various profiles, also in pharmaceutical concerns and institutions related to medicine. The specialization prepares you to acquire the competences necessary to obtain specialist language certificates signed by the Madrid Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Certificates in Spanish for Business and Spanish for Medical). The second specialization will enable you to work as a Spanish language teacher in primary and secondary schools. The International Relations programme, i.e. second-cycle studies conducted in English at the Faculty of Social Sciences, will be a great choice for those who want to pursue professions related to the use of interdisciplinary and extended knowledge in the field of social sciences, including international relations, especially in national institutions – governmental and non-governmental. The offer includes integral ecology, second-cycle studies, which, in terms of career prospects, prepare for work in national and voivodship environmental protection and water management institutions, environmental protection inspection bodies, in advisory and consulting companies providing services in the field of environmental protection, national and landscape parks or ecological farms. https://www.kul.pl/inauguration-of-the-center-for-medieval-studies-cms,art_103430.html The Center for Medieval Studies, one of whose main objectives is the implementation of extensive editorial and inventory research on the history of medieval Poland, began its activity at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. The inauguration of the new scientific institution took place on June 27 in the Hall of the Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Research. The Center for Medieval Studies as a new scientific and research center – according to the rector of KUL, Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, who opened the ceremony - is an emanation of the desires and aspirations of people not only associated with the Catholic University of Lublin, but also a consequence of extensive cooperation between Lublin historians and researchers from Poland and abroad. While drawing attention to the value of these studies and their development in the period of PRL-u, the rector of KUL emphasized that "our Center has, in its record, over 100 years of tradition of humanitistic studies at the Catholic University of Lublin." Giving the example of the Center for the History of Culture in the Middle Ages, an institution whose beginnings date back to 1965, Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski further said: "In these difficult times, the initiators and employees of scientific centers turned out to be a real gift from heaven, which, acting generally above the faculty structures, sometimes developed unique fruits of scientific culture." The rector of KUL added: "Today's inauguration of the Center for Medieval Studies will be part of the rich achievement of previous generations, certainly continuing their research and popularizing it using digital means of social communication." On the occasion of the inauguration of the Center for Medieval Studies, a congratulatory letter sent by the Minister of Education and Science, Przemysław Czarnek, was read out to the researchers of the Middle Ages and the guests of the inauguration by Dr. Tomasz Wicha from the Scientific Policy Committee at the Ministry of Education and Science. Moreover, during the ceremony, Prof. Zdzisław Noga (KEN Pedagogical University in Krakow), who is the chairman of the Scientific Council of the CMS conveyed wishes for fruitful researches. The inaugural lectures were delivered by Prof. Dr. habil. Tomasz Jurek (Institute of History of the Polish Academy of Sciences) and Prof. Dr. habil. Marek Walczak (JU) while occasional speeches (online) were also given by Prof. František Šmahel from the Czech Republic and Prof. Gábor Klaniczay from Hungary. The Center for Medieval Studies, headed by Dr. habil. Pawel Kras, prof. KUL, has the task of undertaking and carrying out extensive editorial and inventory research on the history of medieval Poland, using modern digital research methods (digital humanities) in Polish medieval studies, and internationalizing Polish research on the Middle Ages. “This is a special moment for all of us. We are studying history, distant history, but we also have the opportunity to create history and I personally feel that this is the moment when we are making history.” This was said by Prof. Paweł Kras, who presented the history of the creation of the Center, its structure and tasks, as well as numerous and outstanding researchers supporting the new center. He added: “We have great teams, great leaders, we have excellent young staff, young and very promising employees, who wanted to tie their fate to this Centre, and this is just the beginning.” The activities that the Center will undertake - as noted during the inauguration - are "critical elaboration and modern access to unpublished source materials of fundamental importance for Polish history and culture, including extensive, counting in hundreds, and sometimes thousands of items, collections of documents and manuscripts". Other activities of the CMS, whose mission can be found on the WEBSITE of CMS, include the development and sharing of a collection of Polish medieval seals, as well as the creation of a bibliography of Polish medieval studies. “As a result of these works, both Polish and foreign researchers and students will receive modern research tools for research into the history of medieval Poland.” This comment came from the Center for Medieval Studies which noted that a nationwide team of several dozen researchers specializing in source studies and editing of historical sources was established to carry out these tasks. It was added that “they represent various university centers and institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences. The Center also cooperates with domestic and foreign partners, thanks to which it has a chance to become a platform for exchanging experiences and training younger scientists, thus investing in the future of Polish medieval studies.” https://www.kul.pl/the-areopagus-of-universities-on-the-economic-consequences-of-war,art_103434.html The economic effects of war, including the one resulting from Russia's current aggression against Ukraine, will be the subject of experts debate that will take place on June 30 at the University of Warsaw. The meeting – under the framework of the Areopagus of Universities series initiated by KUL - will be attended by Prof. Bogdan Góralczyk (UW), Dr. Natalia Kusa (UAM), Prof. Piotr Łasak (UJ) and Dr. Piotr Rubaj (KUL). The debate, which will start at 16.00, will take place in the Senate Hall of the University of Warsaw in the Kazimierzów Palace at ul. Krakowskie Przedmieście 26/28 in Warsaw. The event will be broadcast via the university channel on YouTube. The Areopagus of Universities is an initiative of four universities - the Catholic University of Lublin, the University of Warsaw, the Jagiellonian University and the University of Adam Mickiewicz in Poznań. The main idea of the series is to conduct a public debate in the university space about the challenges of the present day. Currently, the second edition of the series is ongoing, the theme of which is the war in Ukraine. The first edition was dedicated to the coronavirus pandemic. The fourth meeting in the second edition of the cycle will take place at the University of Warsaw. Debates on the subject of the war in Ukraine took place on: June 24, 2022 (KUL, axiological aspects of the war), December 15, 2022 (JU, legal aspects of the war), March 9, 2023 (AMU, debate on refugees). *** Biographies of Experts: Prof. Bogdan Góralczyk (UW) – political scientist, sinologist, diplomat, publicist. In 2003-2008, the Polish ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand, the Republic of the Philippines and the Union of Myanmar (formerly Burma). In the years 1991-1998 he was at a diplomatic post in Hungary. He specializes in contemporary international relations, especially in the field of globalization and global challenges, China, East and Southeast Asia on the international arena, the international position of the EU and European integration, and Hungarian issues. Dr. Natalia Kusa (UAM) - works at the Department of Political Systems at the Faculty of Political Sciences and Journalism of the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. Member of the Polish Society of Political Sciences. Her research interests focus on the political system of the Russian Federation, the ways of operation of the Russian opposition and new, unusual forms of protest. Dr. habil. Piotr Łasak, prof. (UJ) – works at the Institute of Economics, Finance and Management of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. His research, publishing and teaching activities focus on issues related to finance. In particular, he deals with issues in the field of banking, corporate finance and international finance. Dr. Piotr Rubaj (KUL) – an employee of the Department of International Economics of the Institute of Economics and Finance of the Faculty of Social Sciences. Specialist in international economics, author of publications on, for example, international trade and investment funds. https://www.kul.pl/hallo-science-program,art_103418.html Three simple reasons we encourage you to follow the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin “Hallo Science” program. Meeting great scholars Learning newsworthy matters Enlarging your horizons Good scholars, You don't "find" them, You choose them. They deserve to be heard of. With the program “Hallo Science” we present our experts and their achievements. We explore, look and select the subject you might be interested in today. With “Hallo Science„ we open the doors of our University to the local and global community. We are proud to present our prominent scholars and experts. We travel with you around over 100 years old JP II Catholic University. Don’t miss this journey. The Interview with Rev. Prof. Krzysztof Kaucha about his new book regarding Ratzinger’s way of defending the Christian faith. Prof. Kaucha explains the importance of Ratzinger’s teaching and his courage to demonstrate the errors of contemporary thinking. https://www.kul.pl/become-a-lfn-2023-volunteer,art_103417.html We invite students to apply as volunteers at the 19th Lublin Science Festival, which will take place on September 18-24, 2023 under the slogan "Science for the future". This year's edition is organized by the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. The volunteer's tasks will include supporting events as part of the Lublin Science Festival, especially during the Science Picnic on September 23, 2023. The role of the volunteer during the Lublin Science Festival will consist in supporting various events, especially during the Science Picnic, which will take place on September 23, 2023. The detailed schedule of participation will be tailored individually to the needs and capabilities of each volunteer. Each participant will be asked to sign a volunteer agreement. In addition, volunteers will receive appropriate training and identification materials with the LFN logo, and at the end of the festival they will receive a diploma confirming their commitment and acquired soft skills. If you are interested, do not hesitate to apply and experience the September learning adventure! More information can be obtained by sending a message to ambassador@kul.pl. We also encourage you to complete the survey available at the link: https://forms.gle/7zMt6Dbmdw52iz279. https://www.kul.pl/additional-call-for-applications-for-erasmus-internships,art_103411.html The Catholic University of Lublin invites you to participate in the additional call for applications for a scholarship trip from June 15 to July 14, 2023. The date for the end of the internship has been set for September 30, 2023, and the minimum duration is 2 months. Importantly, you are the one who will look for a company or institution in which you would like to gain experience. All detailed information and application forms are available on the official website: https://tiny.pl/cmk3b. It is there that you will find all the necessary information regarding the recruitment rules and selection criteria. Apply now for a scholarship for your dream internship that will combine learning and cultural experiences related to your field of study. To feel inspired and see what opportunities await you, we send you greetings straight from Spain from Katarzyna Podgórska and Natalia Malicka - second year students who are currently on Erasmus in Almería. It is a unique opportunity to broaden your horizons, gain new skills and make friends with people with similar passions and interests. Apply for Erasmus+ program and open new doors to personal and academic development. https://www.kul.pl/student-graduation-at-kul,art_103407.html The time of student graduation ceremonies begins at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. Now all that remains for the graduates is to defend their thesis. Klaudia, an undergraduate sociology student, says: "I feel a mixture of stress and joy because I'm ending a certain phase in my life." Graduation also took place in the study fields of forensic science and social work for the Masters degree. Graduation from the Faculty of Humanities of KUL Graduation from the Institute of Sociological Sciences of KUL After a long period of learning which includes online study, and after many years devoted to gaining knowledge and gathering experience related to the university, students of the Faculty of Humanities said goodbye to the university. During the ceremony, the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Dr. habil. Dariusz Skórczewski, prof. KUL, spoke to the graduates with words inspired by the song "Kwiat jabłoni". He said: "And it takes your breath away that there is someone next to you and that there could have been nothing, but there is everything... If during these few years spent at the university you had such a thought, it means that your meeting with the university was not fruitless." On July 14, another graduation ceremony will take place, during which students of the Faculty of Law, Canon Law and Administration will celebrate. https://www.kul.pl/inauguration-of-the-consortium-of-catholic-law-schools,art_103408.html The international Consortium of Catholic Law Schools which was initiated by the University of Notre Dame in the USA was held at KUL. The event was attended by representatives of research centers from Hungary, Slovenia, Ukraine, Spain and the United States. photo report These are, among others, Notre Dam Law School, Francisco de Vitoria University, Pázmány Pèter Catholic University. As emphasized by the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Canon Law and Administration of KUL, prof. Andrzej Herbet, the setting up of the consortium is to tighten cooperation that covers teaching and research conducted by Catholic universities. During the session, lawyers-scientists shared their observations on the functioning of the law faculty at Catholic universities, reflected on the institutional goals and strengths of law schools located in Catholic academic centers. https://www.kul.pl/kul-among-eleven-universities-in-poland-with-nawa-accreditation,art_103391.html As a result of the accreditation procedure of the National Agency for Academic Exchange, the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin was among the 11 Polish universities that received the authorization to conduct Preparatory Courses and NAWA Summer Courses in the years 2023-26. The training offer is meant for foreigners and scholarship holders of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange. Some competitions offered by the Agency require the preparation of many complex, time-consuming applications. Summer and preparatory courses, for example, to this group belongs. Many research centers in Poland are applying for funds for their organization. The Vice-President of the NAWA Council, Dr. habil. Janusz Bień, prof. KUL, explains: "This year, at the meetings of the council, for the first time, the consent to the so-called accreditation activities was processed. NAWA took the initiative to grant accreditation for the implementation of courses under the Preparatory Courses and NAWA Summer Courses programs to those universities that have already won competitions and fulfill their tasks in an exemplary manner. This means that accredited universities will not have to submit competition applications for accredited types of courses for the next three years." He adds: "In this way, we will promote centers that are characterized by high quality of education, good organization of courses, and are appreciated by participants." In the case of KUL, the authorization applies to the organization of the Preparatory Course with a humanistic and social profile, pure and natural sciences, medical and health sciences, as well as the popular NAWA Summer Course. The application for accreditation was prepared at the School of Polish Language and Culture in cooperation with the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology of KUL. "Starting in October, we will prepare foreigners to study at Polish universities." This statement is coming from the Institute of Biological Sciences of KUL, which will conduct, among other things, specialist lectures in the field of biological and medical sciences, introducing the language of a given field. General language classes and an integration program are prepared by the School of Polish Language and Culture. According to the submitted project, the Preparatory Course, which will start in October this year, will be attended by 48 people divided into 4 groups (2 humanities, technical and medical). This year's Summer Course of Polish language will be attended by 48 foreigners. The first classes will start on July 3. NAWA accreditations were also obtained by: Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, University of Łódź, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, University of Wrocław, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, University of Silesia in Katowice, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Siedlce University of Life Sciences and Humanities, Cracow University of Technology. Tadeusz Kościuszko, University of Rzeszów. https://www.kul.pl/kul-celebrated-patronal-feast-day,art_103356.html Archbishop Józef Guzdek, Archbishop of Białystok, reminded the audience during the Patronal Feast of KUL that the special mission of a Catholic university is to discover the truth about God, who is merciful love. The Rector of KUL, Rev. prof. Mirosław Kalinowski emphasized that faithfulness to the Gospel lies at the source of the prestige and elitism of KUL. The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin celebrates the Patronal Feast on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. "Today's ceremony directs our gaze towards the cross and the pierced heart of Jesus." Archbishop Budzik, the Metropolitan of Lublin and the Great Chancellor of KUL gave this reminder, noting that the Church has its beginning in the pierced heart of the Savior, and universities were born from the heart of the Church. "No wonder then that the founder of KUL, Rev. Idzi Radziszewski, entrusted the emerging university to the Heart of Jesus," he further emphasized. The celebration of the patronal feast began with the Holy Mass celebrated in the Academic Church by Archbishop Józef Guzdek, who began the homily with a reminder that God is love. It was He who first loved us with an unconditional love and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Whereas the search for truth is the task of every university, the special mission of a Catholic university is to discover the truth about God who is merciful love. Service to the truth, its discovery and transmission, is the task of professors and lecturers, and the search for the truth is the task of every student and PhD student. "Modern man, experiencing a crisis of faith and lack of religious knowledge, needs your scientific inquisitiveness, courage in asking questions and honesty in searching for answers." Having said while addressing the academic community of KUL, the Archbishop added: "Particularly valuable are your efforts aimed at opening man to the mystery of God." During the solemn celebration, the Rector, Rev. prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski, underlined that fact that "fidelity to the Gospel lies at the source of the prestige and elitism of KUL." The elite position of the university is confirmed by the results of parameterization - all parameterized disciplines received at least the B+ category. Recently, other three disciplines (biblical studies, family studies and medical biology) have been granted the right to award doctoral and postdoctoral degrees, and more titles published at KUL have been added to the databases of indexed journals. Rev. Kalinowski also emphasized that the medical field of studies, which will be launched in October, is enjoying popularity among candidates - 480 candidates have already applied for the 60 available seats. He also mentioned about the involvement of the KUL Heschel Center in the Polish-Jewish dialogue and about the KUL offer for the Polish diaspora under the framework of the Study for the Polish community and Poles Abroad, as well as the all-day adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Academic Church, attended by an increasing number of workers and students, from inside and outside KUL. The patronal feast was an opportunity to honor many employees of the university. The Rector of KUL, Rev. prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski emphasized: "Your successes are a significant contribution to the development and growth of our University." The honorees included Prof. Mirosława Ołdakowska-Kufel, who received the badge of Merit for the Lubelskie Voivodship, awarded for research projects on literature, culture, art, and language of the Polish-Ukrainian borderland. In their turn, Rev. prof. Stanisław Janeczek and dr Anna Starościc were honored with the Angela of Countess Potulicka for outstanding scientific achievements in line with the ideas of Christian humanism. The distinction was awarded for the three-volume publication "Social Philosophy". During the ceremony, two people received a certificate of a habilitated doctor, and 64 young scientists came forward for doctoral promotions. Another group of lecturers who received outstanding marks as part of the periodic evaluation of academic teachers was honored. A group of this year's graduates, among whom were the first graduates of nursing, also received their certificates for the successful completion of their studies. https://www.kul.pl/nawa-accreditation-for-polish-language-courses,art_103351.html As a result of the procedure for accreditation of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange, the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin was once again among the eleven Polish universities that received the NAWA accreditation, guaranteeing with its experience coupled with its organizational and substantive potential to conduct high-quality courses. Obtaining the Agency's Accreditation is a condition for the implementation of individual types of NAWA courses: the NAWA Preparatory Course (profile: humanities and social sciences, pure and natural sciences, as well as medicine and health sciences) as well as the NAWA Summer Course. The accreditation entitles you to participate in the Agency's programs for the implementation of courses in the years 2023-2026. The application for accreditation was prepared at the School of Polish Language and Culture in cooperation with the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology of KUL. https://www.kul.pl/rector-of-kul-we-are-ready-to-educate-doctors-we-want-to-increase-the-number-of-intakes,art_103350.html The university is prepared for education in medicine, and many are interested in the field of study. As of today, we have opportunities for 60 students, but we are already thinking of increasing this number to even 180 in the future. The KUL Rector, Rev. prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, gave this declaration on June 16, 2023 when he signed a memorandum of understanding with three other hospitals. The group of cooperating institutions was joined by: St. Padre Pio Regional hospital in Przemyśl, the hospital of the Ministry of Interior and Administration in Lublin and the hospital in Lubartów. The launch of education in the field of medicine is the realization of the plans of the founder of the university, Rev. Idzi Radziszewski and the culmination of several years of efforts to enrich the university's offer with studies in the field of medicine and health sciences. In recent months, the university has also established cooperation with leading medical centers in the world, including with the Medical College of Wisconsin in the USA, the Gemelli Polyclinic and the "La Sapienza" University in Rome, the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik in Lebanon and the School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, the University of Navarre in Pamplona, Spain, as well as with the Medical University of Lublin and hospitals in the Lublin region. Today, more institutions joined the group of cooperating institutions. The Rector of KUL emphasizes that the university is fully ready to start education in medicine, while constantly expanding its possibilities, e.g. apprenticeships and internships for future students. Rev. prof. Kalinowski says - I believe that the experience in the areas in which each of these institutions specializes can significantly enrich our offer. He adds that the university is already thinking about increasing the limit of opportunities in medicine. At the moment, we already have 470 candidates for 60 seats, but we expect this number to increase. As Dr. Konrad Sawicki, the director of SPZOZ of the Ministry of Interior and Administration in Lublin, declares, we are open to cooperation with any institution that educates not only future doctors, but also nurses or paramedics. In turn, Dr. Barbara Stawarz, the head of the St. Padre Pio Regional Hospital in Przemyśl, emphasizes that KUL students will be able to gain knowledge in 23 departments, including one of those few departments in the country - the department of vascular surgery. The director of the SPZOZ in Lubartów, Mirosław Makarewicz, notes that participation in the education of doctors, who are so lacking today, is a distinction and ennoblement for the district hospital, and the hospital he manages has, apart from the gynecology and orthopedics department, also a modern diagnostic imaging facility. The medical field will complement the didactic offer of the Faculty of Medicine, where nursing, midwifery, dietetics and biotechnology are already taught in Polish and English languages. It is also a response to social needs resulting from the increasing percentage of elderly people in Polish and European society, the spreading diseases of civilization, the deteriorating health of children and youth due to unhealthy lifestyles, and the risk of another pandemic. All these factors necessitate the education of more doctors, and also, the conducting of research in the field of medicine, biomedicine and biotechnology, which sciences should not only respond to existing threats, but also anticipate future ones, and thus, increasing the level of social security. Education will be conducted at the Konstantynów Campus, where the necessary research and teaching infrastructure is located. The teaching staff will consist not only of KUL lecturers, but also doctors from the Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Interior and Administration in Warsaw and hospitals from Lublin and Puławy. In October 2023, 60 future doctors will start their education at KUL. The program of the first year of studies will include, among others: classes in anatomy, cytophysiology, chemistry and biochemistry, biophysics, physiology, information technology, basics of telemedicine. In order to become a student of medicine at KUL, you must pass a secondary school-leaving examination in biology and one of these subjects of choice: mathematics, chemistry or physics. https://www.kul.pl/registration-for-projects-of-the-lublin-science-festival-begins-soon,art_103308.html Lublin as the European Youth Capital, the Year of Nicolaus Copernicus or artificial intelligence are just some of the topics the projects will refer to during the Lublin Science Festival 2023. More than 1,300 projects are waiting for those interested in learning about the latest scientific achievements and one will be able to register for these projects from Thursday, June 15. I am convinced that an extraordinary journey into the world of science and art awaits the participants of the Festival, to which I cordially invite you today. This invitation came from S. Dr. Habil. Beata Zarzycka, prof. KUL, vice-rector for science and human resources of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, which is the main organizer of this year's Festival. For the 19th time, the Lublin Science Festival is organized by five Lublin universities - KUL, Lublin University of Technology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Medical University and University of Life Sciences. This year's edition will hold under the slogan "Science for the future" and will begin on Monday, September 18, 2023 with the performance "The Magician from Lublin" by the student Theater of ITP. The festival events will last until September 24, and their culmination will traditionally be the Lublin Science Picnic, which will take place on September 23 at Targi Lublin. To encourage participation, S. Vice-Rector Zarzycka said that the festival is a unique opportunity to learn about the latest scientific and technological achievements and to meet outstanding scientists and experts from the Lublin scientific community representing various fields, as well as representatives of institutions co-creating the Festival with us. Although there are still 3 months left to the Festival, over 1,300 projects have already been registered in the system, addressed to various age groups - from preschoolers, through students, to seniors. This year, due to the fact that Lublin has been awarded the title of the European Youth Capital, the organizers attach particular importance to events dedicated to this age group. It will be possible to register for the projects from Thursday, June 15, on the website, festival.lublin.pl. According to the main coordinator of the Festival, Dr. Anna Dutkowska from KUL, registration will start by 15.15. The program of the Festival will include special events; for example, as part of the special day "Artificial intelligence - chance or threat?" there will be a meeting on positive cyberpsychology with invited guests from the Center for Positive Psychology and Health in Ireland. These guests are researchers introducing AI-based applications for the sake of human well-being, i.e. good physical and mental condition. In turn, the Year of Nicolaus Copernicus refers to the event entitled "Looking into space", which will not only allow you to get to know the phenomenon of the researcher who changed people's perception of the world around them, but is also an invitation for the young participants of the festival to learn more about space and technological development enabling its exploration. Each of the universities co-creating the Festival prepared a number of projects. At KUL, you will be able to find out whether inventions are the work of thought-out knowledge, chance or maybe a mistake. You will also learn how to make cosmetics or take part in workshops on the basics of celestial navigation, during which you can find out how to reach your destination without the help of electronics such as GPS. According to Dr. Katarzyna Dębińska-Domagała, university coordinator from KUL, it will also be possible to solve a criminal mystery and become the successor of Sherlock Holmes, and learn about the rights and obligations of people who make up the neighborhood community. Lublin University of Technology, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, invites all, among other things, to the exhibitions of vision systems and building automation, which allows you to control your smart home remotely. Today it is difficult to find a field of science that does not use technical devices; this is why in the University of Technology, it will be possible to participate in projects concerning their application in various non-obvious research projects, such as stem cell research. As Dr. Małgorzata Ciosmak said, we will also present a prototype hydrogen-powered vehicle that allows you to cover 400 km on a cubic meter of hydrogen. We also want to organize a march of the creased and unironed, thus encouraging the use of clothes that do not require ironing, she added. UMCS invites all, among other things, to meetings with robots, during which you will be able to find out how a robot sees, hears and even ... feels. The projects will also allow you to get to know Genibots, i.e. educational robots that will help you create your own piece of music. During the exhibition of chemical experiments, students will show how to call a Genie out of a bottle, create dragon's blood and a chemical chameleon. Students will also have a unique opportunity to get to know the Korsarz class yacht and the world of sailing, and everyone will listen to the concert of Afro-Cuban music Fiesta Cubana. UMCS projects are presented by the university coordinator, Dr. Monika Baczewska-Ciupak. The coordinator of the Medical University, Dr. Monika Jakubiak-Hulicz, says that the university has prepared a number of projects related to prevention and health education. You will be able to find out what sleep is and why it is so important for us, since we sleep as much as 1/3 of our lives. One can also learn the techniques of simple breathing exercises and learn how to breathe effectively. Participants of the Festival will have the opportunity to talk seriously about obesity, and learn how to become a bone marrow donor or learn the basics of sign language. The youngest in "Teddy Bear Hospital..." will be able to play the role of both a patient and a doctor. In its turn, at the University of Life Sciences, we will find out what our four-legged friends should not eat, as well as whether insects are worth eating and what a chocolate-coated cricket tastes like. This information was given by the university coordinator, Dr. Eng. Justyna Libera. Classes in forest survival and designing Japanese dry gardens await those who are interested. One will also be able to play the role of a detective and learn about the role of biological traces in the investigation. The Lublin Science Festival is an event that attracts more and more participants every year. This was emphasized by Robert Żyśko, Deputy Director of the Strategy and Entrepreneurship Department of the Lublin City Hall. Appreciating the academic dimension of Lublin, the city is involved in the organization of the Festival. This year, Lublin, as the European Youth Capital, wants to offer young people competent workshops, as well as academic trips, thanks to which it will be possible to see places that are usually inaccessible to visitors. Framework program of the Lublin Science Festival: • September 18, 2023 (Monday) – Solemn inauguration of the Lublin Science Festival; Opera Hall, Center for the Meeting of Cultures, Lublin. • September 18 (Monday) - September 22 (Monday) 2023 - Presentations and events at Lublin universities and institutions co-creating the Lublin Science Festival; • September 23, 2023 (Saturday) - Lublin Science Picnic, Targi Lublin. • September 24, 2023 (Sunday) - Closing Ceremony of the Lublin Science Festival, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin in Lublin. Special events: • September 22, 2023 (Friday) - "Artificial intelligence - chance or threat?" https://www.kul.pl/lecture-on-the-history-and-culture-of-ireland-from-the-series-understanding-ireland,art_103300.html The Department of Celtic Philology and the Embassy of Ireland cordially invite you to a series of open lectures on the history and culture of Ireland 'Understanding Ireland'. The twenty-fifth lecture in the series, entitled "It's not an American story. It's an Irish one." How the Irish Found Their Home in Hollywood” will be delivered by Dr. Piotr Szczypa (UMCS) on June 15, 2023 at 15.00 in room CTW-114. https://www.kul.pl/the-kul-study-office-for-polish-community-and-poles-abroad-started-its-activity-in-london,art_103273.html The Office for the Polish community and Poles abroad from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, part of the KUL Polonia Academy, was officially opened on June 11 at the Polish Embassy in London. The main tasks of the new unit - the KUL Study Office for the Polish community and Poles abroad - include: organization of stationary classes, training and postgraduate studies, conferences, symposiums, thematic debates, Polish language classes and courses improving qualifications, addressed, among others, to teachers of Polish schools. In the capital of Great Britain, the head office will be located at the parish of Our Lady of Częstochowa and St. Kazimierz on Devonia Road. After Paris, this is the second KUL Study Office for the Polish community and Poles abroad which is launched by the KUL Polonia Academy responsible for coordinating the Study. According to the rector of KUL, Rev. prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski, "the proposal with which we approached the Polish community was received not only with great approval, but met, above all, with great interest. Over 550 people from 16 countries, including a very large group of our compatriots from Great Britain, take part in two editions of the courses. It is therefore obvious that such an office is extremely needed in London." The Polish ambassador to Great Britain, Piotr Wilczek, among others, took part in the ceremony at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in London, which was preceded by the Holy Mass at the parish of Our Lady of Czestochowa and St. Kazimierz on Devonia Road. He reminded the audience about the huge role of the Catholic University of Lublin in the period of PRL-u, when the Catholic university was - despite communist repressions - the only university where you could freely pursue scientific studies and acquire knowledge. The diplomat further emphasized: "For over 100 years of its existence, the Catholic University of Lublin has been focusing on quality, not quantity." He also cited current data on the educational offer of KUL, which prove that the university enjoys a reputation and which, in turn - according to him - will translate into the success of the London Study Office of KUL for the Polish community and Poles abroad. Others who also attended the ceremony include the representatives of KUL, among whom are the director of the KUL Polonia Academy, prof. Janusz Bień and the coordinator of the KUL Study, Dr. Wojciech Wcisł. During the recent recruitment to the third edition of the KUL Study for Polish community and Poles abroad, both educators emphasized the importance of Polish diaspora courses. In the words of prof. Janusz Bien, "we often hear, as KUL Polonia Academy, that we should continue and expand educational activities aimed at developing professional skills and competences of Poles living abroad. That is why we have prepared a rich offer of courses as part of the next, third edition of the Study, which will be actualized in the upcoming academic year 2023/24." Dr. Wojciech Wcisł, in his turn, pointed out that "classes and workshops carried out as part of the Study are more than just educational meetings." He added that "these meetings, conducted live, with the active participation of the hosts and participants, are the beginning of making friends and building relationships among the Polish community from around the world. They are often characterized by their capacity to integrate the Polish community abroad. The KUL Study is more than just scientific learning; it is, for many, a way to strengthen ties with Poland and Poles, regardless of where they live. The opening of the KUL Study Office in London for the Polish community and Poles abroad is associated with the signing of an agreement with the Polish Catholic Mission, the preamble of which draws attention, among others, to long-term cooperation, common history, as well as the Catholic mission of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin and the Polish Catholic Mission. The agreement provides for cooperation "in the organization of conferences, symposiums and other educational and social events in London or other cities in Great Britain and Wales." The KUL Study for the Polish community and Poles abroad was inaugurated in November last year. The classes are free for participants and are conducted by professors, lecturers and KUL experts. Graduates receive KUL diplomas and certificates at the completion of studies in Polish, English and in the language of the country of residence. For those who wish, continuation of studies is possible. Currently, recruitment is underway for the 3rd edition of the courses, which are scheduled to start in October/November 2023, in the weekend system (Saturday-Sunday) once a month (6 meetings). A detailed description of the proposed courses and the registration form are available at polonia.kul.pl. https://www.kul.pl/tutoring-laboratory-experts-on-a-visit-to-the-usa,art_103279.html On 19-28 May 2023, the Tutoring Laboratory’s Experts operating within the KUL Centre for Academic Didactics: Prof. Urszula Paprocka-Piotrowska, Prof. Ewa Domagała-Zyśk, Dr Klaudia Martynowska, Dr Aleksandra Krauze-Kołodziej, Dr hab. Artur Bartnik and Dr Andrzej Gładysz together with Paulina Liszka - the Centre's representative and Education Department employee, made study visits to the Center for Teaching and Learning at Stanford University and the Center for Teaching and Learning at the University of California, Berkeley. During the numerous meetings, the academic and administrative staff of KUL had the opportunity to learn about modern teaching methods, including tutoring methods, used at both universities. They also learned about the latest technologies and how to implement them, and had the opportunity to talk to students who work with the CTL at Stanford University as tutors for their colleagues. The ways to implement tutoring methods they learned will certainly allow for efficient and effective implementation of tutoring at our university and have influenced the development of the KUL Centre for Academic Didactics. Special thanks for the kind reception and fruitful discussions go to Dr Cassandra Horii - Vice-R|ector for Education and Director of the CTL, Dr Gloriana Trujillo - Director of the CTL at Stanford University and Dr Jenae Cohn - Director of the CTL at the University of California, Berkeley. Study visits are part of the project 'Didactic excellence of universities' under the Operational Programme Knowledge Education Development co-financed by the European Social Fund (grant application number POWR.03.04.00-00-P023/21). https://www.kul.pl/kul-with-new-authorizations-to-award-academic-degrees,art_103235.html KUL gained authorizations to confer academic degrees of doctor and habilitated doctor in three other disciplines, namely medical biology, biblical science, and family science. Such decisions were issued by the Council of Scientific Excellence at the end of May this year. These individual disciplines belong to the following fields of studies: medical sciences, theological sciences and family sciences. So far, the university has enjoyed such authorizations in 14 disciplines: legal sciences, sociological sciences, pedagogy, canon law, psychology, philosophy, history, linguistics, literary studies, art sciences, theology, biology, and political and administration sciences. Currently, over 500 doctoral students are studying at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. Recruitment to the Doctoral School takes place through electronic registration of candidates and will start on July 3 this year. Obtaining a license in the field of medical biology is important for the development of medical science at the university. From October 2023, KUL will start educating students in the field of medicine. Admission to study medicine is open to 60 students. They will be introduced to the Faculty of Medicine, which includes the Institute of Health Sciences, the Institute of Medical Sciences, the Institute of Biological Sciences and the Center for Experimental Research. The classification of scientific disciplines practiced at Polish universities was expanded by two new categories - biblical studies and family studies - last autumn. In principle, their separation, among other things, is to help in the development of research, better integration of the scientific community and international cooperation with recognized centers around the world. https://www.kul.pl/vatican-media-chiefs-let-s-build-bridges-and-start-a-dialogue,art_103193.html We need media that build bridges rather than divisions, and start dialogues rather than create barriers," said Vatican media chiefs: Andrea Tornielli Ph.D. and Massimiliano Menichetti Ph.D. On June 1st, they were guests of the Catholic University of Lublin at a meeting that focused on "Modern Media and Technologies in Church Communication". The Italian experts, who are in charge of the Vatican News, pointed out that the truth told through the testimony and accounts of people and their life experience is fundamentally important in the media. Andrea Tornielli is a Catholic journalist and writer, and program director of the Dicastery for Communication of the Holy See. Massimiliano Menichetti is also a journalist and academic lecturer, head of Vatican Radio and Vatican News. Both came to Lublin at the invitation and on the initiative of the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski. "Vatican Radio and Vatican News are the most important media in the Catholic Church. In the over 100-year history of the Catholic University of Lublin, it is the largest ranking representation of the Vatican when it comes to the media," emphasized Fr. Paweł Rytel-Andrianik Ph.D., who welcomed guests from Rome and introduced their profiles. The meeting was attended by many students, mostly those who are studying journalism. Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, who inaugurated the event, pointed out that the guests from the Vatican are excellent specialists in the field of media. "It certainly strengthens our experiences and gives us enthusiasm," said Rev. Prof. Kalinowski. He recalled that the Catholic University of Lublin, after the turn of 1989, thanks to the initiative of Father Prof. Leon Dyczewski, could successfully develop journalism studies, leaving behind a set of guidelines, similar to the Ten Commandments, for future generations to follow. The guidelines encourage maintaining a critical perspective and distance towards media messages. The Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin also mentioned John Paul II, who – as he noted – was the first Pope in history so widely open to the world of communication and relations with journalists. He also added that recently the Catholic University of Lublin has become the most active in social media among all Polish universities, which is of great importance nowadays. According to the Internet and Social Media Research Institute's analysis, the Catholic University of Lublin has been confirmed to generate significant interest among Internet users due to its high number of posts on Facebook. During his presentation on Vatican media reform, Andrea Tornielli highlighted the importance of synergy and multimedia as the main principles guiding the reform since 2015. He also pointed out that for the Vatican media, it is crucial to tell the story of life and present testimonies. "We try to apply it every day in Vatican media," said Tornielli, who believes that the most convincing form of truth is conveyed through personal testimony, rather than abstract concepts. Even if we do not personally agree with someone's beliefs, their life experiences and relationships deserve our respect and consideration. "We need media that help not to divide but to build bridges. Not to erect a barrier of division, but to enter into dialogue. We need media that use all modern technologies to communicate the good, foster exchanges, listen to others, and bear witness to the beauty of the Christian faith, never turning truth or identity into a cudgel or a wall. In our daily work, even when we have to talk about dramatic realities such as war, we always try to do so, leaving some room for seeds of hope. Because this is what is needed," added the Editorial Director of the Dicastery for Communication of the Holy See. In turn, Dr. Massimiliano Menichetti, who talked about the backstage work in the Vatican media, emphasized that their most important mission is to reach people all over the world with the Gospel, and also with the message of Pope Francis, the Holy See, and the entire Catholic Church. Thanks to satellite and advanced technology, Vatican Radio and Vatican News can reach even the most remote regions of Africa and Asia. The project is not only multimedia but also multilingual, with editorial offices providing news services in various languages. The Vatican's current information and communication system broadcasts and publishes in as many as 51 languages, with more to come. "The main language is, of course, Italian, followed by English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, Polish, Chinese, and Arabic," the head of Vatican Radio said, adding that recently the editorial office has intensified its coverage of information in Ukrainian and Russian. "We also broadcast in Esperanto and, of course, in Latin," he added. An important aspect of the activity of the Vatican Radio and Vatican News is also telling about events in the world through the prism of Catholic social teaching. – It means that if, for example, a bomb explodes in Ukraine, we certainly inform about the destruction but, at the same time, we show who helps, who works for the sake of another man, for peace, for brotherhood, and at every level: in a word, help, policy, diplomacy, and possible solutions – summed up Dr. Massimiliano Menichetti. Vatican Radio and Vatican News have hundreds of thousands of followers on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, with millions of people reached. On June 27, 2015, Pope Francis created a new information system for the Holy See through a Motu Proprio. This established the Secretariat for Communication as the new dicastery of the Roman Curia. Vatican News covers four main thematic areas, which concern the activities of the Pope, the Holy See, local Churches, and information from the world. Vatican News is not only to inform but also to propose an interpretative key in the light of the Gospel. The main challenge is to respond "ever better to the demands of the Church mission" in today's culture, with the aim of "communicating the Gospel of mercy to all people" in different cultures. Dr. Paolo Ruffini is the Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication. Dr. Massimiliano Menichetti is the Editorial Director of Vatican Media and the head of Vatican Radio - Vatican News. https://www.kul.pl/inauguration-of-the-research-center-on-diplomacy,art_103184.html The lecture "How much of God is in contemporary diplomacy" delivered by Emil Brix, director of the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna, launched the activity of KUL Research Center on diplomacy. The tasks of the unit, in addition to conducting scientific researches and organizing meetings with experts, will include the opening of courses and postgraduate studies in diplomacy. The event was also attended by Piotr Wilczek, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - I was pleased to listen to the lecture of the outstanding Austrian diplomat. I am grateful for the opportunity to exchange views on the significance of diplomacy, the ambassador tweeted. "The Center integrates different fields of studies such as social sciences, humanities and philosophy. Such initiatives are not common in European academic circles, especially in cooperation with the best diplomatic academy in Vienna." This emphasis was laid by the rector of KUL, Rev. prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, who added that the initiator of the project is the KUL vice-rector for students, doctoral students and development, Dr. habil. Beata Piskorska, prof. KUL. The originator of the Center pointed out that the place is to be, not just a scientific research unit, but also an expert unit, focusing its research primarily on contemporary diplomacy. The vice-rector of KUL announced that the activities of the Center include meetings with experts, with current and former representatives of the foreign service in Poland and abroad. According to Dr. habil. Beata Piskorska, prof. KUL, "we hope for cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and units that deal in practice with the training and preparation for work in foreign services." Included also among the tasks of the Center are the publication of monographs, scientific journals and other resource materials, as well as the organization of conferences, modern popularization activities and the creation of an educational offer. https://www.kul.pl/heads-of-vatican-media-visit-kul,art_103150.html Vatican Radio and Vatican News - the most important medium for the Catholic Church around the world which has hundreds of thousands of followers and millions of connections on Facebook, Twitter and You Tube etc. The questions about how these media houses function in the digital world of the 21st century and in what way they propagate the Gospel will be answered at KUL by their bosses, Dr. Andrea Tornielli - journalist and Catholic writer, program director of the Holy See's Communication Dicastery and Dr. Massimiliano Menichetti - journalist, academic lecturer, head of Radio Vatican and Vatican News. At the initiative of the Rector KUL, Fr. prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski, the meeting is scheduled to take place on June 1 at. 11.00 under the topic "Modern media and technologies in the communication of the Church." The conversation with the guests, which will take place in the building ‘Centrum Transferu Wiedzy’ (room 113), will be translated into Polish. "Dr. Andrea Tornielli and Massimiliano Menichetti have extensive experience in international cooperation with the media. Vatican Radio/VaticanNews is a strategic partner of our university and a very important media in the world. This is why the Rector’ s invitation to participate in the meeting extends not only to the students and employees of KUL, but also to spokesmen, journalists and heads of media teams." This was confirmed by Monika Stojowska who is the deputy spokesperson of KUL and responsible for the social media of the university. She also gave the information that Dr. Andrea Tornielli is the program director of the Vatican media, that is: Osservatore Romano, Vatican Radio - Vatican News and Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Vatican News is the new information system of the Holy See. This system was created on June 27, 2015 together with the Motu Proprio of Pope Francis which established the Secretariat for Communications as a new dicastery of the Roman Curia. Vatican News - as the editorial office writes about itself - has four main thematic areas that concern the activities of the Pope, the Holy See, local Churches, as well as information from the world. Vatican News is not only to inform, but also to propose an interpretative key in the light of the Gospel. The main challenge is to respond "increasingly to the demands of the Church's mission" in today's culture, with the purpose of "communicating the Gospel of mercy to all people" in different cultures. The Prefect of the Dicastery is Dr. Paolo Ruffini, the Vatican Media Program Director is Dr. Andrea Tornielli, and the head of Vatican Radio - Vatican News is Dr. Massimiliano Menichetti. https://www.kul.pl/kulturalia-2023-we-support-the-good-samaritan-hospice-in-lublin,art_103141.html On the last weekend of May, the Days of Student Culture took place in the courtyard of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. Several thousand people gathered to listen to the concerts of Happysad, Sylwia Grzeszczak, Ania Karwan and Natalia Szroeder. The organizers emphasized that this event is not only entertainment as part of the income from the concerts will be donated to the Good Samaritan Hospice in Lublin. The audience gathered in front of the stage was greeted by the KUL authorities: vice-rector for administration, Fr. prof. Mirosław Sitarz; Vice-Rector for Education, Dr. habil. Ewa Trzaskowska, prof. KUL and vice-rector for mission and digitization, Dr. habil. Adam Zadroga, prof. KUL. The official opening of the event was carried out by the vice-rector for students, doctoral students and development, Dr. habil. Beata Piskorska, prof. KUL, and followed by the representatives of the board of the KUL Development Foundation, Fr. Dr. habil. Jaroslaw Jęczenia, prof. KUL and Tomasz Tokarski. "Let's enjoy the little things, because the formula for happiness is written in them" - Fr. Dr. habil. Jarosław Jęczeń quoted the lyrics of one of the songs by Sylwia Grzeszczak, who was one of the artists of this year's KUL-turalia. Paweł Zdybel, chairman of the USS KUL, drew attention to the Mother's Day falling on May 26. "Three days ago, the idea flashed in my mind that I would like to sing for my mother in the university courtyard. In the same way, I would also like each of you to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ for your mother." Having said this, the president of the Student Council further encouraged everyone, "We take out our phones, record and send the song to our mothers.” The KUL Doctoral Student Council also joined the organization of the event and the president, Joanna Majewska-Zarychta, emphasized that one of the goals of the event is to integrate the entire academic community. On the first day of the event, Sylwia Grzeszczak, as a star, shone on the stage at the inauguration of KUL-turalia. In the second part of the evening, the crowds enjoyed the sounds of the HappySad band, which presented its greatest hits, including the extremely touching song "Bez znieczulenia". On the second day of KULturalia, Ania Karwan was the first to appear on the stage. The culmination of the evening was the performance of Natalia Szroeder, who provided a unique ending to Kulturalia 2023 by performing her touching ballads. Days of Student Culture - KULturalia (previously known as Kullages) is a cyclical, most important project of the KUL Student Council, organized since the early 1970s and promoting high student culture. The aim of the event is to animate academic life and integrate the student community. https://www.kul.pl/sztukmistrz-returns-to-the-stage-of-the-itp-theater,art_103138.html The drama "Sztukmistrz" - a musical story prepared on the basis of the masterpiece of contemporary literature "Sztukmistrz from Lublin" by Isaac Bashevis Singer - was once again shown on the stage of the ITP Theatre. The protagonist of the work is Jasza Mazur - a great master of illusions who, following his extraordinary love, gets entangled in a web of lusts, promises and lies. The next performances were scheduled for May 26, 27 and 28 in the KUL Theater Hall (CTW-02 room in the basement of the building Centrum Transferu Wiedzy, opposite the KUL Academic Church). The hero, Jasza Mazur - as we read in the description of the performance, whose scriptwriter and director is the creator of the ITP Theatre, Salesian Fr. Dr. Mariusz Lach - is a great master of illusion, a man not only endowed with extraordinary abilities, but also extremely popular, who, after recent tours, sets off from Lublin to Warsaw again, where - as it turns out - the woman of his dreams is waiting for him. "Jasza Mazur not only has a wife, but is also surrounded by many lovers - friends. Despite this, he decides to give up marriage and acquaintances with women, and also give up his faith to find fulfillment in love. At the same time, unable to give up pleasure, he gets entangled in a web of desires, promises and lies, where only radical steps can be taken. They will bring our "sztukmistrz" before the eyes of the world, which will assess whether it is possible to forgive the wounds that cannot heal after all” – this was added in the description of the performance. In this "Sztukmistrz" students whose passion is theater will be acting. They include: Aleksandra Bogacz, Dominik Borek, Paulina Borowa-Misiarz, Damian Dąbek, Rafał Dąbek, Kamila Goś, Przemysław Halas, Ewa Jagiełło, Wiktoria Janeczko, Julia Łata, Patrycja Malinowska, Karolina Matyka, Tomasz Matysek, Kaja Peć, Anna Pieńkos, Adam Rączka, Olga Sidor, Marcin Strug, Krzysztof Wach, Miłosz Zajączkowski and Zofia Zielińska. Michał Iwanek is responsible for the music in the performance whereas Kinga Moczydłowska takes care of the voice preparation of the team; choreography - Justyna Kazek; scenography – Emilia Rusin; costumes - Monika Barycka, and for the poster - Marta Zbańska. The show "Sztukmistrz," which had its debut on November 11, 2021, came into existence thanks to the support of the City of Lublin. More information about the performance can be found on the website of the ITP Theatre. https://www.kul.pl/eminent-linguist-prof-peter-trudgill-with-the-title-of-doctor-honoris-causa-of-kul,art_103112.html Professor Peter Trudgill from Great Britain - one of the world's most outstanding sociolinguists and dialectologists - received an honorary doctorate from the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin on 24 May. As remarked in her laudation by Prof. Magdalena Charzyńska-Wójcik from the KUL Institute of Linguistics, “the passion and dedication of prof. Trudgill to the issue of language equality goes far beyond academic work, and his unprecedented commitment to promoting language awareness is a continuing source of inspiration.” Welcoming the special guests of the event, the Rector KUL, Fr. prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, emphasized in his message that “it wouldn’t be possible, among the honorary doctors of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, to miss out prof. Peter Trudgill, who is a well-deserved and world-renowned linguist, lecturer, co-creator of scientific life, a member of numerous scientific societies.” The Rector of KUL also noted that the scientific achievements of prof. Peter Trudgill are impressive and his research work inspiring, having the value of a model and a document. In his assessment, Fr. prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski, further said: “His work on language makes us aware of how unusual and complex each act of communication is, including the seemingly simple one, and how many phenomena from the past and present are revealed in it.” “Whether we like it or not, the observation made more than two thousand years ago in the courtyard of the high priest Caiaphas has timeless value: "Your word betrays you" (Mt 26:73). It reveals much of the unique spiritual and intellectual mystery of man's identity, the history of his life, as well as the intentions and ideas that shape and direct his fate.” The Rector KUL pointed this out, adding that prof. Trudgill "continually emphasizes that language is alive, and therefore fragile and requires care and nurturing, as well as the most accurate study." The resolution of KUL Senate on the award of honorary doctorate to prof. Peter Trudgill was read by the vice-rector for education, Dr. habil. Ewa Trzaskowska, prof. KUL. In the resolution, the Senate of the Catholic University of Lublin announced that prof. Trudgill is a world-renowned scholar who "directed the study of dialects on a new track by combining it with sociolinguistics" and described him as a great authority, "tirelessly promoting an attitude of sensitivity to linguistic differences" and "demanding for the dignity and right of the human person to be faithful to the language learned from the family home.” Laudation in honor of prof. Peter Trudgill was delivered by his friend, Dr. habil. Magdalena Charzyńska-Wójcik, prof. KUL, who works in the Department of History of English Language and Translation Studies at KUL. She said: "Peter Trudgill is one of the most distinguished sociolinguists and dialectologists in the world. His achievements are admired by anyone who has come into contact with these areas, and his knowledge has given him such a strong and unquestioned position in sociolinguistics and dialectology that the name Trudgill has become synonymous with the field.” Furthermore, she said: “His scientific achievements could be shared by, not one, but ten recruited researchers. The passion and dedication of prof. Trudgill to the issue of language equality goes far beyond academic work, and his unprecedented commitment to promoting language awareness is a continuing source of inspiration.” She also added that Peter Trudgill is not only a researcher, but also a traveler, a connoisseur of life in its many guises, and a sports enthusiast. Prof. Peter Trudgill, who after the ceremony gave a lecture at KUL entitled "Sociolinguistics and value judgments in linguistics", was born on November 7, 1943 in Norwich. The researcher was educated at King's College, Cambridge and at the University of Edinburgh, where in 1971 he defended his PhD in linguistics with a dissertation that was the first study of an urban dialect in Great Britain. The scientist pointed out during the lecture that “as linguists, we are compelled to the sad conclusion that in many contemporary societies there is a widespread lack of respect for linguistic diversity, which seems to occur most often where it could be least expected: among the intelligentsia, creators of culture, journalists, politicians and opinion-forming circles.” The ceremony, which gathered many representatives of the world of science and culture, was graced by the performance of the Choir of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin under the baton of Dr. habil. Grzegorz Pecki, prof. KUL. Numerous congratulatory letters were also sent to the honored researcher from Great Britain, among others, from the hierarchies of the Catholic Church, as well as from representatives of the central and local government authorities. *** Prof. Peter Trudgill, who is a co-founder of modern dialectology and sociolinguistics, wrote almost 50 books and several hundred scientific articles; he is a member of many prestigious academic associations and scientific committees gathering the world's best researchers. It is also worthy to note that he has lectured at over one hundred universities on six continents. He devoted his entire professional life not only to theoretical considerations and in-depth study of the language, but also to the active promotion of the concept of linguistic equality. In recognition of his contribution to the development of linguistics, Prof. Peter Trudgill was awarded the highest academic honorary doctorate by six universities: Uppsala University, University of East Anglia Norwich, La Trobe University in Melbourne, University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Patras University in Greece and the University of Murcia. https://www.kul.pl/admissions-2023,art_102892.html 5 May 2023 is the start of enrollment for the 2023/2024 academic year, and until 12 July, candidates can choose their dream courses of study in The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. In addition to almost a hundred programs and specializations in Polish, our university has also prepared an offer of studies in English. It is worth noting that not only foreigners study in English but also Polish citizens. A condition to get admition for studying these courses is documented knowledge of English. We encourage you to visit the website kadydat.kul.pl/en, where you will find detailed information about the available programs at Bachelor and Masters level, read step-by-step registration instructions, learn about the detailed schedule and required documents. Admission Office staff will answer all questions of candidates by email (study@kul.pl), phone (81 445 41 37) or in person at Collegium Norwidianum 004, 14 Racławickie Avenue. Registration for the 2023/2024 academic year will close on 12 July 2023, and candidates will get the results on 18 July after 9:00 am on the candidates' website account rekrut.kul.lublin.pl. We invite you to follow our website and social media: facebook, instagram, tiktok. tweeter, where updated information is published. We wish all candidates good luck and success in getting into their dream studies! https://www.kul.pl/the-ceremony-of-conferring-kul-honorary-doctorate-doctor-honoris-causa-to-prof-peter-trudgill,art_103065.html The Rector and the Senate of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin have the honour to invite all to the ceremony of awarding the title of doctor honoris causa to Prof. Peter Trudgill. The ceremony will take place on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at 11.00 at Collegium Aegidianum, auditorium CTW-113. Professor Peter Trudgill was born on November 7, 1943 in Norwich, England. He was educated at King's College, Cambridge and at the University of Edinburgh, where in 1971 he defended his PhD in linguistics with a dissertation that was published by Cambridge University Press as the first study of an urban dialect in Great Britain. He is a co-founder of modern dialectology and sociolinguistics, the author of 47 books and several hundred scientific articles, a member of many prestigious academic associations and scientific committees gathering the world's best researchers. He has lectured at over one hundred universities on six continents. He devoted his entire professional life not only to theoretical considerations and in-depth study of the language, but also to the active promotion of the concept of linguistic equality. In recognition of his contribution to the development of linguistics, he was awarded the highest academic honorary doctorate by six universities: Uppsala University, University of East Anglia Norwich, La Trobe University in Melbourne, University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Patras University in Greece and the University of Murcia. https://www.kul.pl/happysad-and-sylwia-grzeszczak-at-kulturalia-2023,art_103055.html Happysad, Sylwia Grzeszczak, Ania Karwan and Natalia Szroeder will perform during this year's KULturalia in the courtyard of the Main Building of KUL. The concerts will take place on May 26-27, and part of the proceeds from tickets will be donated to the Good Samaritan Hospice. Tickets can be purchased at biletomat.pl. KUL Vice-Rector for students, doctoral students and development, Dr. habil. Beata Piskorska, prof. KUL, during a press briefing, invited all to participate in the festival of student culture. The concerts will take place in the beautiful university courtyard with favourable and excellent atmospheric condition. We're keeping our fingers crossed for good weather, she encouraged. Tomasz Tokarski, President of the Management Board of the KUL Development Foundation, which co-organizes KULturalia, gave a reminder that it was last year the only student event in Lublin and was very well received. We hope that this year will be similar, he further said, emphasizing that the Foundation supports many events at the university, including those organized by students and doctoral students. Drawing attention to an additional dimension of this festival, the Vice-President of the Management Board of the Foundation, Fr. Dr. habil. Jaroslaw Jeczeń, pointed out that, during KULturalia, we have fun with thoughts about others. Fr. Jęczeń, who is also a member of the board of the Lublin Society of Friends of the Sick which runs a hospice, emphasized that part of the proceeds last year was allocated to help Ukraine, but this year, it will go to the Hospice of the Good Samaritan. The concerts will start at 19.00. On Friday, May 26, Sylwia Grzeszczak and the team Happysad will perform, and a day later, Ania Karwan and Natalia Szroeder will sing for the students. Giving this information, the president of KUL Student Council, Paweł Zdybel added that the tickets for the concerts are available on the portal biletyomat.pl - Students, regardless of the university where they study, will pay 25 PLN for a one-day ticket, and 40 PLN for both days. The price for other people will be 40 PLN and 70 PLN respectively. The prices are attractive, added Paweł Zdybel, and thanks to the fact that the concerts are ticketed, we were able to donate PLN 25,000 to help Ukraine last year. The doctoral Student Council of KUL is involved in the organization of this year’s event. One of the goals of the event, as the president of the Council, Joanna Majewska-Zarychta stressed, is to integrate the entire academic community. Days of Student Culture - KULturalia (previously known as Kullages) is a cyclical, most important project of the KUL Student Council, organized since the early 1970s and promoting high student culture. The aim of the event is to animate academic life and integrate the student community. It has become a permanent fixture in the calendar of academic events organized at KUL. It is very popular among students and residents of Lublin and has an established position among Lublin's cultural events. Program of KULturalia Music Concerts May 26, 2023 (Friday), at 19:00 · Official opening · Concert by Sylwia Grzeszczak · Happysad concert May 27, 2023 (Saturday), at 19:00 · Commencement · Ania Karwan's concert · Concert of Natalia Szroeder · Official Closing https://www.kul.pl/lublins-days-of-integration,art_103056.html Lublin's Days of Integration are the first event of this type organized in the city of Lublin. It is an initiative of five Lublin universities: the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, the Lublin University of Technology, the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, the Medical University of Lublin, and the University of Life Sciences in Lublin. Our goal is to integrate academic communities, increase awareness of issues related to accessibility, disability and diversity. We have planned a number of attractions for you, including workshops, discussion panels and sports competitions. The main point of the LID will be the signing of an agreement on cooperation between universities for people with disabilities. At the end of the event, we invite you to the Integration Picnic, which will take place in the green areas at the UMCS Physical Culture Center. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the LID program. Registration for workshops and sports competitions is required via the application forms: Workshop application form Boccia tournament application form Application form for a sitting volleyball tournament Swimming competition application form https://www.kul.pl/recruitment-for-the-third-edition-of-the-kul-studies-for-the-polish-community-and-poles-abroad-has-started,art_103029.html As many as 18 course proposals are to be found in the recruitment offer for the third edition of the KUL Studies for the Polish community and Poles abroad, run by the KUL Polonia Academy. Novelties among them include artificial intelligence, speech therapy, mediation and negotiation, effective management, culture of the Polish language, history of literature, study of reportage and interview, and Christianity and Judaism - common roots. Classes, in the form of lectures and workshops, will start in the autumn. The meetings will be online; however, meetings are also planned, for example, in Paris and London. The KUL Polonia Academy has also prepared a special offer for USA and Canada, taking into account the time differences. Registration and detailed information at polonia.kul.pl. The rector KUL, Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski said that actions for the Polish community in diaspora are part of a long tradition of cooperation between our university and our compatriots around the world. As an academic community, he added, we want to meet the expectations of the Polish community abroad and share our knowledge and experience with those who, regardless of where they live, want to gain knowledge at the highest level and improve their competences. The director of the KUL Polonia University, prof. Janusz Bień emphasizes that the prepared new offer of courses is a response to the great interest which the Polish community showed in the first two editions of the Study. As the Polonia Academy of KUL, we often hear that we should continue and expand educational activities aimed at developing professional skills and competences of Poles living abroad. That is why we have prepared a wide range of courses as part of the third edition of the Study, which will be actualized in the upcoming academic year 2023/24. We cordially invite you to register after familiarizing yourself with the offer, Prof. Bien concluded. Dr. Wojciech Wciseł, coordinator of the KUL Study indicates that classes and workshops carried out as part of the Study are more than mere educational gatherings. These meetings, conducted live, with the active participation of the hosts and participants, are the beginning of making friends and building relationships among the Polish community from around the world. Characteristically, they often integrate the Polish diaspora community, resulting in joint activities. Dr. Wciseł emphasized that study is something more than just learning; for many, it is a way to strengthen ties with Poland and Poles, regardless of where they live. The KUL Studies for the Polish community and Poles abroad was inaugurated in November last year. The two editions so far were attended by over 550 participants from 16 countries, including France, Germany, Great Britain, USA and Canada. All classes are free for participants and are conducted by KUL professors, lecturers and experts. Graduates receive KUL diplomas and certificates for the completion of studies in Polish, English and in the language of the country of residence. It will be possible for those who wish, to continue their studies. A detailed description of the proposed courses is available in the third edition The registration form for those interested in specific courses is available here. https://www.kul.pl/ambassador-of-the-republic-of-rwanda-visited-the-catholic-university-of-lublin-kul,art_103014.html Cooperation with the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) is an important direction of development for Rwanda; Poland is the most frequently chosen place for study among Rwandans - emphasised Prof. Anastase Shyaka, Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda, during his official visit to the KUL. This was the ambassador's second visit to the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL), during which he met with the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, to discuss cooperation between the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) and Rwandan universities. Prof Anastase Shyaka has served as Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda to Poland since the establishment of the embassy in Warsaw in 2021. The diplomat is involved in various initiatives to strengthen ties between Rwanda and Poland. He spoke about the culture, traditions and economy of his homeland at the Catholic University of Lublin during a lecture entitled 'Rwanda - Development and Transformator in the Heart od Africa'. Not only did students from Poland come to listen to the Ambassador's lecture, but also young students from Tanzania, Rwanda and other African countries who are studing at the Catholic University of Lublin. Prof. Anastase Shyaka pointed out that Poland is the most chosen place for study among Rwandans. Currently, there are about 1,500 students at Polish universities, while about 100 study in Lublin. A large part of our population is under 30 years old. Young Rwandans have a huge appetite for science, so scientific and educational cooperation will bring only advantages," assured the diplomat. The ambassador, a graduate of the Warsaw University of Technology and the University of Gdansk, participated in the Fulbright Scholar in Residence programme in the United States, where he gave lectures. He is also active in promoting investment and economic cooperation between Poland and Rwanda, which has been gradually recovering from the 1994 genocide for almost 30 years. Rwanda is a country located in central Africa, surrounded by mountains, lakes. Today, Rwanda is experiencing rapid economic and social progress and is becoming an example for other African countries by, among other things, being the first to give up plastic products. In recent years, there has been a particular emphasis in the country on developing the renewable energy, agricultural economy and tourism sectors. https://www.kul.pl/about-geopolitics-and-the-three-seas-initiative-at-the-kul-conference,art_102997.html As the expert, Dr. Habil. Agnieszka Orzelska-Stączek noted in the plenary lecture "The Three Seas Region as a concept of security and development," there are two contradictory narratives about the Three Seas Initiative in the public space - one of them indicates that it is a competitive project facing the European Union while the other indicates that it is an intra-EU forum that is supposed to strengthen the EU. The lecture of the expert from the Institute of Political Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN), as well as the discussion after it, in which scientists from KUL and and War Studies University, among others, participated, were one of the events of the KUL conference connected with the inauguration of the Three Seas University Network (3SUN - The Three Seas University Network) - an initiative of KUL which is to build the foundations of a lasting and stable partnership of universities from the 12 countries of the Three Seas Initiative. The vice-rector for students, doctoral students and development, Dr. habil. Beata Piskorska, prof. KUL, opened the second day of the KUL international scientific conference entitled "The Three Seas Universities Network in the Face of Contemporary Challenges of Science and the Region." Delivering her paper, she emphasized that "it is worth looking at the geopolitical importance of the Three Seas region, and doing so from the perspective of the challenges related to the education of the intellectual base of the administrations of the countries that participate in this project.” She also added that "this topic fits perfectly into the issues raised during the Three Seas Local Government Congress in Lublin and in the behind-the-scenes conversations.” The Three Seas Initiative, i.e. North-South cooperation in the eastern part of the EU focuses on infrastructural and economic development, but due to changes in the international environment, including Russia's aggression against Ukraine, it is increasingly associated with security issues, although mainly in the area of energy and new technologies. This reminder came from Dr. habil. Agnieszka Orzelska-Stączek, who works at the Department of Central and Eastern Europe and Post-Soviet Studies of the Institute of Political Studies of PAN. The political scientist drew attention to what she also considered as important - "the security of the information space, as well as the role of science in building the narrative and message about the Three Seas Initiative which reaches the public space.” She further explained that in cooperation under the Three Seas Initiative, it is crucial to build trust between countries, among other things, through better mutual understanding and clear communication of intentions, because there are conflicting narratives about this cooperation, which in turn can be a source of problems. In the opinion of the expert, "scientific research and study visits show that some distrust is caused by combining the Three Seas Initiative with the concept of Isthmus (Intermarium) and treating these two concepts as the same." She also pointed out the concerns about the fact that the Three Seas Initiative is an international organization. Meanwhile, as she emphasized, this undertaking has a character of an informal form of cooperation. Among the most important contradictions, Dr. habil. Orzelska-Stączek also listed narratives regarding the Three Seas Initiative in relation to the European Union. "These are two mutually exclusive narratives: on the one hand, an intra-EU forum which is to strengthen the EU and this goal is unquestionable, and on the other hand, there are also publications and, in some circles, a narrative is being built that the Three Seas Initiative is an alternative to the EU." In the light of the declarations of the Initiative countries and the research on this subject, she pointed out the Initiative aims at strengthening the EU, and that is what it actually does. She also added that the foundation of the Three Seas Initiative is the experience from the past, when the countries belonging to it were in the sphere of influence of the Soviet Union and - as President Andrzej Duda noted at the Congress - were "on the wrong side of the Iron Curtain". As she concluded, "we are witnesses of the competition about building the image of this form of cooperation which takes place on the level of narrative, words." She noted that it is very important in communication between countries, especially between larger countries and smaller ones, to maintain the precision and consistency of the message, as well as the presentation of intentions and consideration of the asymmetry of potentials of individual countries. After the plenary lecture on "Geopolitical significance of the Three Seas Initiative," experts from KUL, War Studies University, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University and the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv discussed, among other things, about the mutual relations of the Three Seas Initiative towards Western Europe (partnership and equal treatment are key here), geoeconomics and financial contribution to this project (Poland contributed incomparably more funds to it than other countries), differences of interests in the context of the geopolitical game of the whole world (including US support for the Three Seas Initiative in the face of Germany's dominance in the EU and the growing power of China). The researchers also agreed with the thesis that the establishment of the Three Seas Universities Network can significantly help in communication among the Three Seas Initiative countries. Collaboration of this kind acquires - according to them - an institutional character, and is not exclusively related to individual undertakings of scientists. The Three Seas Universities Network, to which KUL, as its initiator and leader, invited universities, among others, from Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary (including Ukraine), is to be a tool for establishing and maintaining regular contacts as well as undertaking joint research and implementing innovations in the area of quality of education. Integration of the academic community of 12 countries of the Three Seas Initiative is to take place, among other things, through cooperation in the commercialization of knowledge and the exchange of teaching and research experience. https://www.kul.pl/kul-is-the-initiator-and-leader-of-the-three-seas-universities-network,art_102921.html KUL is the initiator and leader of The Three Seas University Network, which is to build the foundations for a lasting and stable partnership among universities from 12 countries of the Three Seas Initiative. The document inaugurating the Three Seas Universities Network will be signed on May 16 during the Three Seas Local Government Congress in Lublin. A scientific conference is also planned as part of the MEiN project "Excellent Science" entitled "The Three Seas Universities Network in the Face of the Contemporary Challenges of Science and the Region". The Three Seas Universities Network, to which KUL as its initiator invited universities from Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary, is to be a tool for establishing and maintaining regular contacts as well as undertaking joint research and implementing innovations in the area of quality of education. Integration of the academic environment of 12 countries of the Three Seas Initiative is to take place, among other things, through cooperation in the commercialization of knowledge and the exchange of teaching and research experience. According to the vice-rector for students, doctoral students and development, Dr. habil. Beata Piskorska, prof. KUL: "The undertaking by KUL of the ambitious task of creating scientific and research cooperation among universities from 12 countries of the Three Seas Initiative, called the Three Seas Universities Network, is associated with the need to undertake a broader academic and institutional debate involving research centers from these countries.” She also reminded the audience that the discussion of the university rectors and researchers on this topic, initiated by MEiN, took place last year at the Three Seas Regions Congress. In addition, she said: "The creation of the Three Seas Universities Network is the answer to this discussion.” The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin - as emphasized by the vice-rector of the Catholic University of Lublin - declared the role of the initiator, but above all the leader of the Network on the side of Poland and Lublin. Explaining further, she said: "This is an important initiative that can effectively contribute to the internationalization of scientific cooperation by: creating an internal system for the exchange of researchers and students, joint implementation of international conferences, summer schools, joint preparation of international projects, cooperation with the socio-economic environment.” An important element of the project - as pointed out by Prof. Piskorska - is also to create a common scientific and cultural identity of the region, to emphasize their subjectivity against the background of other educational and scientific projects in Europe, while maintaining national distinctiveness. The inauguration of the Network will take place during the Three Seas Local Government Congress, which will be held on May 16-17 at the Center for the Meeting of Cultures (CSK) and the Lublin Conference Center (LCK). On this occasion, KUL, which is the substantial partner of the event in the area of science, is organizing, at the LCK, a scientific conference "The Three Seas Universities Network in the face of the contemporary challenges of science and the region." It will be the first in a series of international conferences of the Three Seas Universities Network, which is to become part of the series of political and economic events implemented by Poland under the framework of the Three Seas Initiative and be an opportunity to promote the achievements of the Polish scientific community. During the conference, representatives of the member universities of the Three Seas Universities Network will speak. Others to have the floor include the scientists and representatives of academic circles dealing with the issues of cooperation in the Three Seas region. The inaugural lecture "Countries of the Three Seas in the face of the challenges of modern times" will be delivered by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Paweł Jabłoński. Participants at the conference will discuss relevant topics such as cooperation of universities for the development of the Three Seas macroregion, the Three Seas Universities Network as an instrument of research cooperation, security of Central and Eastern Europe, the role of the Three Seas countries in supporting the reconstruction of Ukraine, digital transformation and cyber security, the geopolitical significance of the Three Seas Initiative and the role of diplomacy of three Seas countries. Scientific researcher at KUL Dr. habil. Marcin Szewczak, prof. KUL, who is the chairman of the Program Council of the Three Seas Local Government Congress, pointed out that the emerging Network will be an important instrument for developing international cooperation in the area of the Three Seas Initiative. Thanks to the Network, our University will gain wider opportunities for scientific and research cooperation, manifesting primarily in the actualization of joint projects, the creation of international research teams, the preparation of scientific publications and the organization of conferences. Prof. Szewczak, who works daily at the Institute of Law at KUL, further gave the assurance that the process of internationalization of the university will be significantly increased, as well as the process of mutual international exchange of academic staff and students. The scientist said: "It is our earnest desire that the newly established Network be institutionalized by the creation of a research center actively applying for grants and projects. At the same time, KUL is actively involved in the development of the Three Seas Regions Network, thanks to which university cooperation will be extended to the local government and economic sectors.” He also argued that the Network will strengthen the regional component of the Three Seas Initiative development, thanks to the cooperation of universities with regions that actively operate within the Three Seas Regions Network. Summing up, Prof. Szewczak said that "the goal of our University is to strive for the best preparation of staff - students, doctoral students and research scientists - for the development of the Three Seas Initiative.” https://www.kul.pl/days-of-digital-humanities-2023,art_102907.html Days of Digital Humanities KUL will last from 8 to 19 May 2023. During this year's edition, students will present their diploma projects and showcase their passions. Interesting discussion panels will also be part of the event. On May 9 at 12.00 in the atrium of Collegium Norwidianum, the official inauguration - the opening of the exhibition of students' works - will take place. At. 13.00 in the theater hall CTW-02, there will be a show of editorial, film, graphic, audio and photographic works. The exhibition will run until May 19. On May 10, between 12.00 and 13.30, we invite you to an ‘Afternoon with board games’ in the atrium of Collegium Norwidianum! On May 15, between 11.00 and 14.00, a scientific seminar in the form of a debate will be held in the CTW-02 theater hall, during which we shall have the honor to host representatives of Lublin's cultural centers and museums. May 16, 2023 at 11.00-12.30 - we invite you to a second debate directed to the students:Perspectives of a digital humanist on the labor market. Do not worry if you can't attend the event! Just follow our social mediaFB: https://tiny.pl/wvcdf and our website of the event: https://tiny.pl/wb1pw, where we shall be posting different types of updates, ranging from student works, photographs, and online broadcasts. Be with us! Detailed schedule of the event: Monday, May 08, 2023 10:00 - Opening of activities in the digital sphere; publication of our students' works (website, facebook) Tuesday, May 09, 2023 12.00 - 13.00 - Official opening of the exhibition [CN atrium] 13.00 - 15.00 - Presentation of diploma projects [CTW-02 theater hall] Wednesday May 10, 2023 12.00 - 13.30 - Afternoon with board games [CN atrium] Monday, May 15, 2023 11.00 - 14.00 - Scientific seminarLublin cultural institutions in cyberspace (and beyond)[theater hall CTW-02] Tuesday, May 16, 2023 11.00 - 12.30 - Discussion panel:Perspectives of a digital humanist on the labor market[theater hall CTW-02] All events are free. Media Partners: „Gość Niedzielny”, „Forum Akademickie”, Radio Lublin, TVP 3 Lublin, Gaudium Publishing House https://www.kul.pl/students-from-lublin-took-over-the-keys-to-the-city,art_102869.html After a four-year break, the Lublin Days of Student Culture returned to its former shape. The Student Procession in the style of the 80s went through the streets of the city. Participants of the event were delighted with colorful costumes, neon accessories and bright make-ups. Photo report from the event According to tradition, the event began with the transfer of the key from the city to the presidents of students’ councils of the universities, an action which symbolizes the power of young people in the city. The Mayor of Lublin, Krzysztof Żuk, emphasized thus: „This year, Lublin plays the role of the European Youth Capital. I appreciate that the cooperation of all the Students’ Councils has led to inter-university integration.” The presidents of Students’ Councils, taking over the city, declared that during Lublinalia 2023 they would take care not only of security, but also of entertainment and dynamism of events. A few thousand people took part in the Student Procession which went through the streets such as Krakowskie Przedmieście, Racławickie, Sowiński, Głęboka and Nadbystrzycka. They marched to the green areas of the Lublin University of Technology where the first event inaugurating the Student Culture Days in Lublin took place - Juwenalia KULturalia, which will end the students’ May events, will, traditionally, take place on the last weekend of May in the courtyard of KUL at Al. Racławickich 14. Lublinalia 2023 is a party event organized by students’ councils of four Lublin universities: UMCS, Medical University, University of Natural Sciences and Lublin University of Technology. https://www.kul.pl/a-meeting-with-former-inmates-kul-graduates-in-kazimierz-dolny,art_102854.html In Kazimierz Dolny on the Vistula River, the Rector of KUL, Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski met with prison inmates who, while serving their prison sentence, graduated from the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. Among them were inmates who, in the framework of KUL Study Center at the detention facility in Lublin, studied subjects such as social work or family science. Our 10 years of experience, having begun the first year of education in 2013, clearly showed that having a university diploma significantly strengthens the self-esteem of prisoners and makes it easier for them to return to normal life in the society. Emphasizing this, Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski also confirmed that, out of almost 30 graduates who left the prison walls with a KUL diploma, only two returned to crime after some time and ended up consequently in detention. As the Rector argued, this shows that what we call social rehabilitation or readaptation through education is effective compared to other programs. He also noted that the KUL project is unique on a global scale. Full-time studies are conducted both on the premises of the prison - for the first three years, and within the walls of the university for a part of the student-inmates. The Rector of KUL also added that the experience in conducting lectures for people deprived of freedom is the result of many years of cooperation between the Catholic university and penitentiary services - not only from Lublin, but also from Zamość, Chełm and Krasnystaw. Dr hab. Iwona Niewiadomska, prof. KUL and a psychologist, who directs the work of the Department of Social Psychoprophylaxis and who was present at the meeting in Kazimierz Dolny, drew attention to the importance of the KUL Study Center for the world of science. For us as researchers and educators, she said, conversations with people who have experienced crime and isolation in their lives are very interesting because they show us the dimensions of reality, inherent both in a person and in external reality on which the process of social rehabilitation can be based. She also emphasized that it is crucial to treat each person individually, including those deprived of liberty, which helps to avoid creating stereotypes and even stigmatization. A very important example for me, she continued, was the case of a convict whom I asked what studies for him meant. He replied that it didn't even matter whether he finished his studies or not, but that these studies have helped him, for the first time, to find out that he has dignity. He explained that he had been abused all his life, and coming from a family that did not care for him, he was quickly sent to a correctional facility and later to prison. It was only in the university that he got to know that he has a chance in his life. For cases such as this, Prof. Iwona Niewiadomska thinks it wise to take this kind action in the line of education. The KUL Study Center at the detention facility in Lublin was launched in autumn 2022, but the university has been conducting classes for inmates for the past 10 years. The initiative is intended to enable convicts - in accordance with the content of the letter of intent signed with the Central Board of the Prison Service – to get higher education and to acquire significant ethical and humanistic values through them. For us, the student-inmates declare, the most important thing is not to waste time in the place where we found ourselves. Among the new students of KUL in the current academic year, there are several inmates who were recruited for the first year of studies in the second degree program which was launched this year in the field of family science (specialization: animation of the social environment). This specialization does not only suit the socio-economic needs (labour market), but also takes into account the formal and legal situation of inmates. Another specialty that is very popular among inmates is the assistant of a dependent person. Since 2013, almost 30 people serving a prison sentence at the detention facility in Lublin have graduated from KUL. https://www.kul.pl/the-catholic-university-of-lublin-kul-commemorated-the-warsaw-ghetto-insurgents,art_102694.html The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin - On Wednesday the authorities of the Catholic University of Lublin in the person of the Rector, Fr. Mirosław Kalinowski, and the university's academic community - commemorated the Jewish insurgents from the Warsaw Ghetto. In front of the Main Building of the Catholic University of Lublin, the Rector together with some students and academic staff distributed paper daffodils - a symbol of remembrance of the heroes of the uprising 80 years ago. "Commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising is of great importance not only for Poles and Jews, but also for the whole world. In this way, we want to recognise those who fought for their dignity. It is worth remembering that the message from the events of 80 years ago makes us aware of the truth about the need to value every human being regardless of their origin, creed or religion," said Rev. Prof. Kalinowski, who stressed that the Catholic University of Lublin joins the nationwide commemoration of the heroic uprising of Jews 80 years ago. "The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising is an expression of the great spirit of the Jewish people, who rose to the heroic act of fighting against the German invaders occupying not only Poland, but almost all of Europe," the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin added. The social and educational action "Daffodils", which has been organised for 10 years by the POLIN Museum, is linked to the figure of Marek Edelman, the last leader of the Jewish Combat Organisation, who survived the liquidation of the ghetto and for years nurtured the memory of the events of 1943. Until the end of his life, on the anniversary of the uprising, he paid tribute to his fallen comrades by placing a bunch of daffodils in front of the Monument to the Warsaw Ghetto Heroes. The coordinator of the "Daffodils" Action at the Catholic University of Lublin is the Abraham J. Heschel Centre for Catholic-Jewish Relations - a new scientific, educational and cultural unit whose mission is to deepen the dialogue between Catholics and Jews on the scientific, educational and cultural levels. "The Heschel Centre of the Catholic University of Lublin wants to look to the future, while remembering history. Through the 'Daffodils' Action at the Catholic University of Lublin, we want to awaken the awareness and engage Polish students into Catholic-Jewish dialogue," emphasised the director of the Heschel Centre at the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Mirosław S. Wróbel. Rev. Mirosław S. Wróbel also announced that students from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles will come to the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) as early as at the end of May this year, in order to - as he pointed out - "look at history together, but also build together a future of encounter and mutual understanding". "About 20 students from different faculties will come to us together with their lecturers. In working groups they will discuss Catholic-Jewish relations, their history, the richness of their shared traditions and common roots, and reflect on where we are going, what kind of future we want to build and how to do it. There will be an evening of Shabbat prayer in the synagogue and a Mass for those who wish to attend," added Fr Professor Wróbel. The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising began on 19 April 1943 and was the first urban uprising in occupied Europe. In an uneven battle that lasted almost a month, the poorly armed soldiers of the Jewish Combat Organisation and the Jewish Military Union resisted, among others, SS and Wehrmacht troops, as well as auxiliary formations. During this time, the Germans razed the ghetto to the ground, methodically burning house after house. On 8 May, in a shelter at Miła Street 18, the leader of the uprising, Mordechai Anielewicz, committed suicide along with a group of several dozen soldiers. A few insurgents managed to get out of the burning ghetto through sewers. https://www.kul.pl/summer-polish-language-courses-at-the-catholic-university-of-lublin,art_102616.html The Catholic University of Lublin has been offering foreigners the opportunity to learn Polish for many years. This year, summer classes at the Summer School of Polish Language and Culture will be held for the fiftieth time. In addition, thanks to funding from the National Agency for Academic Exchange, the university will organize a course intended for foreign university students and researchers. For half a century now, the corridors of the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) have come alive during the summer vacations thanks to foreigners from all over the world who come to learn Polish. - The classes cover not only the secrets of our language, but we also try to familiarize the students with Polish history and culture," says Cezary Ruta, director of the School of Polish Language and Culture at KUL. The summer language programs have varying degrees of intensity -from 5 to 8 hours a day. In addition to classes, the program includes sightseeing in Lublin and excursions, such as to Warsaw, Sandomierz, and Zamość. Course participants will also attend concerts and dance workshops tailored especially for them. Once a week there will be a seminar for those particularly interested in Polish culture. Additional workshops and events, such as a pronunciation contest and a city game, will add variety to the program. Recruitment will continue until July 2, 2023. The School of Polish Language and Culture of the Catholic University of Lublin will also organize a course for students of foreign universities, in particular, students of Polish philology, Slavonic studies, or majors whose curriculum includes issues related to Central and Eastern Europe. It will also be accessible to scholars whose work includes studies of Polish history, culture, or politics. In addition to an intensive study of the Polish language, the training will include classes in Polish history and culture, a sightseeing program, as well as visits to institutions providing assistance and support to foreigners. The course will last from July 3 to 30, 2023, and thanks to funding from the National Agency for Academic Exchange will be free of charge for participants (except for travel expenses to Poland). Recruitment for this course continues until the limit of places is reached, the enrollment deadline is April 30, 2023.For details on the summer Polish language courses, visit the website of the School of Polish Language and Culture of the Catholic University of Lublin - an organizational unit of the university, specializing in teaching Polish as a foreign language. More than 10,000 foreigners from around the world have already taken advantage of its offer. https://www.kul.pl/academic-debate-at-the-catholic-university-of-lublin-quot-cardinal-karol-wojtyla-facts-archives-interpretations-quot,art_102454.html Media publications concerning Cardinal Karol Wojtyła, including the accusations levelled against him, as well as the surveillance of the communist secret police and repressions of the Catholic Church and the clergy, were the central theme of the academic debate “Cardinal Karol Wojtyła - facts, archives, interpretations”. Historians and experts on the history of the Catholic Church in Poland agreed that diligent work of historians, who are capable of a competent evaluation of historical records and who consider the historical context of the events described by the media, is crucial in this matter. Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, who opened the debate, pointed out that Karol Wojtyła, a lecturer at this University between 1953 and 1978, spent here nearly 25 years of his life as a scholar and academic lecturer. Father Rector recalled the words spoken by Pope John Paul II during his visit to the Catholic University of Lublin in 1987: “University, serve the truth. If you serve the truth, you serve freedom, the liberation of man and the nation; you serve life”. We want these words to not only reverberate within us, but also to change us so that we might follow the path of truth, stressed Fr. Prof. Kalinowski. The meeting, chaired by journalist Krzysztof Ziemiec, focused among others on media publications concerning Cardinal Karol Wojtyła as Metropolitan Archbishop of Krakow, including allegations of covered-up sexual abuse cases. Experts moreover highlighted the socio-historical context of the time in which Cardinal Wojtyła lived, his surveillance by the secret services of the communist regime and the methodology of working with archival materials, including the resources of the Polish Institute of National Remembrance (IPN). A recording of the event is available on the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin's channel on YouTube. Dr. Ewa K. Czaczkowska – a journalist, publicist, lecturer, and spokesperson of the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University, who has for years researched the history of the Catholic Church, when asked about the recent attack on the authority of John Paul II in the media, offered a negative assessment of journalists’ materials on this subject. “If I were to assess these findings, which are also the reason we meet today, I would say that indeed I think that the aim was not exactly to pursue the truth. We could actually say that, since we know today that these materials greatly diverged from facts and real events, their aim was to tarnish and slay the authority of this man”, said the expert, referring to the allegations concerning Wojtyła's covering up sexual abuse in his capacity of Metropolitan Archbishop of Krakow. Such allegations were made in Marcin Gutowski's report Franciszkańska 3 aired on TVN24, as well as in Ekke Overbeek's book Maxima Culpa. John Paul II Knew. Dr. Ewa Czaczkowska observed: This film and this book appeared together, of course, for good reason. I am confident that they – even if I am thinking primarily of the film, as there is probably no point in discussing the book – are inherently manipulative in three ways. First, at the level of the hypothesis put forward. Second, at the level of the sources, which is highly significant. Finally, the manipulation concerns the victims of these paedophile priests. The expert moreover indicated earlier articles published by Rzeczpospolita daily, whose authors, Tomasz Krzyżak and Piotr Litka, having had access to the same documents and many more, arrived at conclusions completely different from those reached by Marcin Gutowski and Ekke Overbeek. The journalist found especially outrageous the accusations levelled at Cardinal Adam Sapieha, the carer and superior of Karol Wojtyła, which, as has recently been described by Rzeczpospolita, were most likely a result of reliance on forged files. Prof. Łucja Marek – a historian from the Historical Research Bureau of the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) in Krakow, who specialises in the subject of state-church relations in the period of the People's Republic of Poland, including the operational methods of the security services against the Catholic Church, recalled that from the very beginning in 1945 until 1989, the communist regime treated the Catholic Church and the clergy as enemies. In this context, she highlighted the assassinations of priests by the secret police (SB), pointing among others to Fr. Jerzy Popiełuszko and most probably Fr. Franciszek Blachnicki. The scholar recalled the magnitude of the regime's surveillance of the clergy: Each priest had their own file, in which information on their weaknesses and activities was collected (...). If, in the course of collecting this information, some compromising or incriminating material was obtained, then additional cases were set up in order to investigate it further, to punish the priest or to elicit his cooperation (e.g. as a secret collaborator of the Security Service), explained Prof. Łucja Marek. Dr. Robert Derewenda– a historian, director of the Institute of National Remembrance in Lublin and a lecturer in archival records at the Catholic University of Lublin, when asked whether historical records unambiguously point to Cardinal Karol Wojtyła’s covering up cases of sexual abuse, responded that the key issue is the historians’ critical approach to the resources: We have the cases of several priests and Cardinal Wojtyła's attitude towards what we can euphemistically call these priests’ objectionable conduct. These documents are hard to read in terms of what is described there and with regard to these priests' engaging in a particular conduct. It is a very difficult read and, of course, it evokes great emotions, but (...) one must also approach (the subject) on the basis of facts rather than emotions only. Dr. Robert Derewenda referred also to the much-discussed case of Fr. Józef Lorenc, who was removed from office and punished by the secular authorities. The historian observed: The most important point now. If indeed the documents that were being produced at that time, the facts that the Security Service was discovering about the appalling behaviour of those priests over whom Cardinal Karol Wojtyła exercised supreme ecclesiastical authority, if indeed these documents and facts could be used, then the first to do so would have been the Security Service officers. We are aware of many different operations against Cardinal Wojtyła, but essentially this case was not taken up by the Security Service. Prof. Paweł Skibiński of the University of Warsaw, a historian who also specialises in the history of the Catholic Church in the 20th century, discussed the problem of ahistoricism in the publications discussed, including the journalists’ failure to address the context of the events they account for. This concerned, among others, the many incidents when Cardinal Karol Wojtyła offered help to those in need. Prof. Skibiński observed: If we accuse this man of being insensitive to the plight of the victims and the excluded, why do we deal, literally, with three cases of sexual abuse by priests, and not show the context of the activities of the Archbishop of Krakow for over a dozen years. Asked whether we can be sure that Cardinal Karol Wojtyła did not protect the priests guilty of sexual abuse, the historian replied that, in line with the principles of the Western civilisation, the accusing party must prove that their allegations are justified: How are we supposed to prove that Karol Wojtyła did not do something? This is turned on its head ... Let us ask ourselves if the allegations are credible? We learn that in principle they are not. Do we know anything about Karol Wojtyła’s reaction to the victims? Well, the records of the Institute of National Remembrance make it very hard to say anything about it. The scholar moreover indicated that the allegations were made mainly on the basis of the IPN archival records. The scholar concluded: It is very difficult for me to say on what basis the authors of these media reports decided that the records of the Institute of National Remembrance are the best source to discuss Karol Wojtyła’s reaction towards the victims. I can understand that these records may indicate his reactions towards priests, but statements on the basis of these documents concerning his reaction towards the victims are far-fetched. In my opinion, we are yet to investigate this subject. https://www.kul.pl/catholic-university-of-lublin-on-the-rescue-of-jews-by-polish-catholic-clergy-during-the-holocaust,art_102373.html During the Holocaust help to Jews were offered by nearly 100 religious orders and congregations in over 500 venues and over 700 diocesan priests in at least 580 locations across the territory of Nazi-occupied Poland. These are the findings of the lawyer and documentalist Ryszard Tyndorf, who on 23 March 2023 introduced his two-volume publication Wartime Rescue of Jews by the Polish Catholic Clergy at the Catholic University of Lublin. Scholars from Poland and Israel also discussed the role of the Polish clergy in saving Jews, on the eve of the National Day of Remembrance of Poles who saved Jews under German occupation. The book can be downloaded free at: https://bit.ly/3TzWRaH The exact number of Jews who received help from the Polish Catholic clergy is difficult to estimate. However, according to the analyses published in the book by Ryszard Tyndrof, a resident of Canada who has been working on issues concerning the attitudes of Catholic Church people towards Jews for many years, the numbers are likely to be in the thousands. The monograph Wartime Rescue of Jews by the Polish Catholic Clergy is available online. "Our meeting today is the crowning achievement of many years of intense work; the text we will explore has been several decades in the making. It also concerns an important area of reality from the period of World War II and the German occupation of Poland. This is a beautiful page with which we want to reach every reader through this English-language publication," stressed the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Fr Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, who welcomed the guests. He also recalled the words of Karol Wojtyła; during his visit to the Catholic University of Lublin in June 1987, Pope John Paul II spoke the significant words: "University, serve the truth. If you serve the truth - you serve freedom, the liberation of man and nation, you serve life". "Importantly, the publication presented today contains many accounts of both those who rescued Jews and those who were rescued. It is very interesting that two sides speak on this subject," pointed out the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin. A special letter was addressed to the participants of the meeting by Poland’s Minister of Education and Science, Przemysław Czarnek, who thanked the Abraham J. Heschel Centre for Catholic-Jewish Relations of the Catholic University of Lublin for organising this extremely important conference. "I am glad that it brings together recognised international historians, experts on Polish-Jewish relations during World War II," said the minister, whose letter was read out by Jakub Koper, Minister of Education and Science's representative for students. The head of the Ministry of Education and Science also expressed the hope that Ryszard Tyndorf's publication would contribute to furthering research and strengthening Polish-Jewish dialogue. The academic conference “Rescuing those condemned to non-existence. Help given to Jews by priests and nuns during the Holocaust in occupied Polish territories” began with an address by Professor Limore Yagil from the Institute of Holocaust at Bar-Ilan University in Israel, who also lectures at the Sorbonne in Paris. The researcher discussed the issue of Catholics rescuing Jews in France between 1940 and 1944. Citing historical research, she stated that approximately one-fourth of the Jews living in France were deported during World War II, and of this entire population, most of them (220,000 out of 320,000) survived the war. In doing so, she pointed out that a much larger number of Jews were deported from the Netherlands and Belgium. "Despite the fact that xenophobia and anti-Semitism were rampant in France in the 1930s, my research indicates that the survival of the Jews was largely due to the efforts of bishops, priests, seminarians, monks, nuns, and lay Catholics," stressed Prof Limore Yagil, who also discussed in detail the role of Pope Pius XII in saving Jews during the Holocaust. "Pius XII himself condemned Nazism and the deportation and murder of Jews but preferred to act diplomatically and with discretion. From 1939 onwards, the Vatican regularly sent financial and logistical aid to help Jews escape from France," concluded the researcher, who was in the past affiliated also with the Yad Vashem Institute in Jerusalem. Director of the Second World War Museum in Gdańsk, Prof. Grzegorz Berendt, who presented the state of research on rescuing Jews in Poland, recalled that the German National Socialists chose the area of occupied Poland as the place to annihilate the majority of European Jews. "As a consequence, at least 90 per cent of the approximately 3.4 million Polish Jews and nearly one million citizens of other countries were annihilated in our country. The crime proceeded in stages, gradually, but its beginnings can be traced back to September 1939 and the main stage to the period of about two years between June 1941 and November 1943," indicated the historian, noting at the same time that the ferocity and unprecedented nature of the methods used by the German Nazis, and above all the scale of the crime, surprised Polish society. Emphasising the value and importance of the research of, among others, historians from Lublin, including those from the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL), Prof. Grzegorz Berendt pointed out that the involvement of the Catholic Church in various forms of assistance to Jews during the occupation must not be underestimated. "Of the 20 Roman Catholic bishops still in office in the occupied country, seventeen, i.e. the vast majority, were directly or indirectly involved in providing aid. The issuing of the ecclesiastical documents necessary for the Aryan legalisation of the struggling Jews was done not against, but with the consent of the bishops. The same applied to the provision of shelter in buildings belonging to the Church," pointed out Berendt. Referring to the research of Ryszard Tyndorf and his latest, monumental publication, the historian emphasised that the author deserves recognition and acknowledgement for several decades of effort, which yielded an extensive database. "On the other hand, we must remember that his work does not in the least conclude historical research. It represents another node on the axis of the cognitive process. There is still much to be done, especially the research concerning the recognition of events on the territory of the eastern provinces of occupied Poland," added the director of the Museum of the Second World War. In turn, Prof. Sebastian Piątkowski, a historian from the Institute of National Remembrance in Lublin (Radom Branch Office) and specialises in research on the social and economic history of central Poland in the 19th and 20th centuries, spoke about archival records concerning the rescue of Jews during the Holocaust. The researcher outlined the specificity of the historian's work with archives, especially those relating to the occupation period. "Unfortunately, the work of a person dealing with such topics resembles putting together a jigsaw puzzle. We pick up some loose threads, a name, or a detail and subsequently we try to put them together in order to construct a story," said the researcher. In this context, he pointed to the work of lawyer Ryszard Tyndorf, estimating that he had built "a gigantic mosaic": "This book proves how much effort must be invested in the preparation of such a work and how information can be gathered from various sources to build an extremely interesting, and at times even passionate, story," added Prof. Piątkowski. *** Further on, the two-volume monograph Wartime Rescue of Jews by the Polish Catholic Clergy (Polish: Ratowanie Żydów w czasie II wojny światowej przez polskie duchowieństwo katolickie), published by the Publishing House of the Catholic University of Lublin, was introduced by Prof. Wacław Wierzbieniec from the University of Rzeszów. The book is a study of rescue efforts of the Catholic Church and its clergy in German-occupied Poland during World War II. The study is based primarily on the testimonies of Jewish survivors and Poles offering rescue, supplemented by church records. According to Ryszard Tyndorf's publication, various forms of assistance to Jews were provided by 66 congregations of women religious in about 450 institutions (mainly convents), 25 male orders in about 85 institutions, and more than 700 diocesan priests in at least 580 locations in German Nazi-occupied Poland. The book succinctly sums up the extent of the rescue of Jews by the Polish Catholic clergy. Its core consists of a narrative based on testimonies of Jewish survivors and the Poles who saved them, supplemented by church records," said attorney Ryszard Tyndorf, who was a guest of honour at the meeting. The author explained that he was not an academic: "I have not written an academic textbook. The book does not address every single aspect of the Catholic Church related to the Holocaust. However, I hope that the book will contribute to rectifying some of the unfavourable and unjustified opinions that appear in the literature on the Holocaust. The sources collected show that the rescue carried out by the Polish clergy can be regarded as the pars pro toto of the rescue of Poles on behalf of Jews. The stories are very often complementary or overlapping," indicated the Canadian lawyer and documentalist. Ryszard Tyndorf’s monograph is the first publication in English which reviews the comprehensive literature on the subject in the Polish language. As such, it is an important contribution to the body of scholarly work and calls for a reappraisal of the historical record of the rescue provided by the Catholic Church in Poland at a time when its own clergy fell victims to persecution unprecedented in German-occupied Europe, and where mandatory punishment for helping Jews in occupied Poland was death. The Heschel Centre at the Catholic University of Lublin also recalls that a multimedia encyclopaedia on the subject of rescuing Jews during the Holocaust is forthcoming, with the aim of popularising figures who set an example in times of moral collapse, war and oppression. The National Day of Remembrance for Poles Saving Jews under German Occupation is celebrated yearly on March 24, the anniversary of the death of the Ulma family from Markowa, who were executed by German gendarmes for providing rescue to Jews. This day honours all Polish citizens, regardless of their nationality, who helped Jews subjected to genocidal extermination by the German occupiers. https://www.kul.pl/events-at-kul-february-2023,art_102334.html https://www.kul.pl/events-at-kul-january-2023,art_102285.html Events at KUL January 2023 https://www.kul.pl/the-rector-of-kul-essential-today-the-promotion-of-the-teaching-of-st-john-paul-ii-among-the-youths,art_102281.html The teaching, spirituality, work and attitude of St. John Paul II demand systematic promotion among young people, with the help of modern methods of communication. The rector of KUL, Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski, after Monday's speech at the Plenary Meeting of the Polish Bishops' Conference in Warsaw, stressed that reliable scientific researches are the answer to the accusations. - The rector of KUL told journalists that the researches of historians are the continuation of their work which has been carried out for a long time. Analyzing archival documents, we do not see any serious evidence that St. John Paul II consciously made decisions to protect perpetrators of sexual crimes from being held accountable in any way. Given the Holy Father's approach to the disadvantaged, the weak, the abandoned, the victims of crime and persecution, it is absurd to claim that he was not interested in the fate of the disadvantaged. These are purely media speculations made on the basis of residual and selectively presented archival materials, without taking into account the socio-historical context. He also informed about an academic debate, to be transmitted online, which will be held at the Lublin university on March 29, with the participation of historians who will address the issues in detail. Rev. Prof. Kalinowski also noted that KUL, responding to the contemporary challenges and social needs, has initiated a two-year project of coordinated, multidimensional and systematic media-scientific and journalistic activities. - The rector of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin stressed that the main objective of the project is to promote the biography, teachings, spirituality, scientific and literary achievements of St. John Paul II. The times, today, require the use of new communication tools and technologies so that the message can effectively reach the young people. We invite scientists, researchers, journalists, publicists, directors and artists to a team work. He added that activities will be conducted in several areas: media, popular science, research and creativity. Professional multimedia, journalistic and popular science materials will be prepared, as well as reports with the results of historical and sociological researches, among other things. The materials will be translated into English, Italian, French, German and Spanish languages. Rev. Prof. Kalinowski noted that the legacy of St. John Paul II is also being accomplished in initiatives undertaken by the university such as the Center for Studies at the Detention Center in Lublin, the Areopag of Universities, the Abraham J. Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations, KUL Study Center for Poles abroad. In addition during this year’s autumn the series of diocesan congresses will be launched at KUL they will consist, among other things, of debates on contemporary challenges of the Church, especially in the context of questions of young people. https://www.kul.pl/rector-of-the-catholic-university-of-lublin-kul-has-established-the-polonia-academy,art_102271.html Cooperation with the Polish community, the media, and Polish organizations, as well as the coordination and development of activities undertaken by the Catholic University of Lublin for the benefit of the Polish community, including the organization of the KUL Studies for the Polish community and Poles abroad, are the main tasks of the newly established Polonia Academy of the Catholic University of Lublin. "We want to meet the needs of our compatriots abroad more effectively and create new opportunities for cooperation and activities for the benefit of Polonia," stressed the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, while appointing the Academy's authorities. "In the history of our university, Polish community abroad has always played a special role, so the establishment of the Academy is a response to the growing interest and educational and cultural needs of Poles abroad. I deeply hope that the activities of the Academy will be able to respond, at least in a small part, to the needs of our compatriots living outside their homeland," the Rector of the Catholic University of the Lublin pointed out. "The establishment of such a unit by the Rector is undoubtedly one of the most important undertakings of the University in recent years," stressed Janusz Bień, Ph.D., professor of the Catholic University of Lublin and newly appointed director of the Academy. "Activities for the benefit of the Polish community are directly in line with the motto of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin - Deo et Patriae. As we well know, there are millions of Poles and people declaring Polish ancestry living outside Poland. Depending on the country and continent, Polish communities are reviving and reactivating, but they need constant support coming from Poland on educational, scientific, and also cultural level. As the Catholic University of Lublin, we want to actively support our compatriots abroad and share our knowledge and experience," added Prof. Bień. The Polonia Academy of the Catholic University of Lublin will be responsible, among other things, for coordinating and organizing the operation and promotion of the offer of the KUL Studies for Polonia and Poles abroad. "The great interest with which our offer has been met is a signal that we should develop not only educational activities, but also those conducive to developing the skills and professional competence of the Polish community," said Dr. Wojciech Wciseł, deputy director of the Academy and coordinator of the Study. "We also want to direct our activities to Polish children and young people by continuing, for example, the organization of summer camps for Polish children. We will cooperate with ambassadors and consuls, Polish Catholic Missions and Polonia organizations in educational and cultural projects for Polish community and Poles abroad," Wciseł added. https://www.kul.pl/rector-of-the-catholic-university-of-lublin-inaugurated-the-second-edition-of-the-program-of-studies-for-poles-abroad,art_102134.html More than 160 people from around the world, including Norway, Vietnam, Australia, Romania, the USA, France, Great Britain, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, and Germany, have expressed their willingness to participate in the courses of the Studies of the Catholic University of Lublin for Polonia and Poles abroad. "Today we are repaying a debt of gratitude for the support we, as a university, have received from the Polish community in difficult times," noted Fr. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski, the Rector and the initiator of the program. The educational offers include training in Polish culture promotion, new media and communication, theology and new evangelization, chronic and palliative care, risk behavior prevention, and counseling and support strategies. A new addition is a course in effective management and team leadership, the basics of management. The courses will begin in March 2023. "In addition to the already operating office in Paris, for Polonia and Poles from France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, we are planning to open such points in London, Germany, North America," the Rector informed. Other plans concern the establishment of a Polonia Academy and the organization of Polish Culture Days in Paris. Dr. Beata Piskorska, a Professor at the Catholic University of Lublin, who will conduct a course on effective management and team leadership, also attended the opening of the Studies' second edition. She drew attention to the university's relationship with the Polish community. "Cooperation with Poles abroad is very important to us." She adressed the students: "You are our extraordinary students. I encourage you to participate in all the university's offers, such as the Areopag of Universities and the Discourses on world affairs, meetings with diplomats, leaders, and masters," Piskorska noted. The head of the Studies, Dr. Wojciech Wciseł, also commented on the undertaking. "The didactic classes are an opportunity not only to improve qualifications and professional competence, but also provide an opportunity for personal development, and promotion of Polish culture, language, and history. This is also a place to meet and exchange experiences for Polonia from all over the world," says Dr. Wciseł. The Study of the Catholic University of Lublin for Polonia and Poles abroad started last November. In the first edition, more than 330 participants from 11 countries, including France, Germany, the UK, the US, and Canada, attend six various courses. All the classes are free of charge, and are taught by Catholic University of Lublin professors, lecturers, and experts in a hybrid mode: there are four two-day online conventions and two two-day hybrid conventions in the countries of the course participants (stationary with online streaming). Graduates will receive diplomas from the Catholic University of Lublin and certificates of completion of the Studies, written in Polish and English, as well as a certificate in the language of their country of residence. It will be also possible to continue the study. Detailed enrollment information, course descriptions, and class schedule are available atwww.polonia.kul.pl. The recruitment will continue until March 17th, 2023. https://www.kul.pl/why-ratzingers-teaching-is-important-to-us-interview-with-rev-prof-krzysztof-kaucha,art_101949.html Interview with Rev. Prof. Kaucha about Pope Benedict XVI. Why Ratzinger's teaching is important to us? Why Ratzinger's theology is important for everyone, for those who are looking for God and those who are doubting in His existence and have thousands of questions. Why Ratzinger diserves to be called doctor of Christianity? https://www.kul.pl/hallo-science-program,art_101866.html Three simple reasons we encourage you to follow the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin “Hallo Science” program. Meeting great scholars Learning newsworthy matters Enlarging your horizons Good scholars, You don't "find" them, You choose them. They deserve to be heard of. With the program “Hallo Science” we present our experts and their achievements. We explore, look and select the subject you might be interested in today. With “Hallo Science„ we open the doors of our University to the local and global community. We are proud to present our prominent scholars and experts. We travel with you around over 100 years old JP II Catholic University. Don’t miss this journey. The first episode is now available on our YouTube page. The Interview with Rev. Prof. Krzysztof Kaucha about his new book regarding Ratzinger’s way of defending the Christian faith. Prof. Kaucha explains the importance of Ratzinger’s teaching and his courage to demonstrate the errors of contemporary thinking. https://www.kul.pl/catholic-university-of-lublin-kul-with-an-appeal-to-support-the-albertine-brothers-in-zaporizhzhia-and-lviv,art_101859.html “In eastern Ukraine, the number of homeless, maimed, refugees and vulnerable people awaiting support has increased,” wrote Bishop Jan Sobiło of the Diocese of Kharkiv-Zaporizhia. The Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin responds to the appeal: “Together with the Albertine Brothers, we will help to give bread to the poor.” The Albertine Brothers have been ministering in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine for 20 years. They are very involved in helping the people of Ukraine, including in Lviv. They run bakeries, a shelter for the homeless, and an open kitchen for the poor, from which they dispense a plate of warm soup every day. Before the war, it was 150 portions a day. Currently, with the war going on, it is up to 1,500. The Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Fr Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, was informed about the situation in war-torn Ukraine in recent months by the Albertine Brothers from Krakow - Brother Franciszek Grzelka, Superior General of the Albertine Brothers’ Congregation, and Brother Tomasz Pączek. Both the brothers travel to Zaporizhia in small lorries and deliver food to the local kitchen. Being as good as bread “The Albertine Brothers are very involved in helping the people of Ukraine, especially in Zaporizhia and Lviv. The ministry of the Albertine Brothers is welcome. “Some say that it is a drop in the ocean, but it does a lot of good, and I think that also the continued commitment of the Albertine Brothers will bear great fruit,” Fr Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski added. Regular shipments of food Brother Franciszek Grzelka, the Superior General of the Congregation of Albertine Brothers, emphasized that the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) supports the brothers' activities directed towards the poor, including refugees. "There are very many of them there, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Zaporizhzhia is a large city, with a current population of around 900,000, which has - fortunately - not been captured by the Russians for almost a year of the ongoing war. The Russians only reached the vicinity, seizing a nuclear power plant about 50 km from the city,” he said. “The city is still free, including access to it from Poland via Ternopil, Vinnitsa and Humana. Zaporozhye has become the first stop for internal refugees from the occupied territories, including from cities such as Berdyansk, Melitopol and Mariupol,” Brother Grzelka recounted. He added that the organization of regular food shipments from Poland, the purchase of which is supported by people of goodwill, and institutions, is crucial in bringing aid to the people of Zaporizhia. To serve as well as possible Helping Ukraine is dangerous. Last October, in Zaporizhzhia, there was rocket fire at a site just 400 meters from the Albertine friars; one of the missiles hit an apartment block and killed 24 civilians and many wounded. “Certainly everyone experiences fear. I remember one of the travels, back in March. There was a difficult situation with fuel, which started to run out. There was some fear and apprehension, but by the grace of God I had such a desire in me to simply be there and to go, despite this fear and the apprehension that sometimes arose. There is also this inner courage that I give all to God and God will do what he wants; and I want to serve him as well as I can,” shared Brother Tomasz Pączek, the bursar of the Congregation. They will not survive without aid Bishop Jan Sobiło, who serves in the Kharkiv-Zaporous diocese, addressed an appeal to those who would possibly like to support the Albertine brothers in their ministry in Ukraine. In a letter to the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Fr Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, he pointed out that many people ask Catholics for help, without which they would not survive in the situation of warfare and severe weather conditions. “For 20 years now, the community of Albertine Brothers at the Shrine of God the Father in Zaporozhye has been working with great commitment among the poor and excluded. The supplies we accumulate diminish very quickly. Hence my heartfelt plea for support, without which we will not be able to help people in extremely difficult life situations,” wrote Bishop Jan Soblova. Those who would like to respond to the appeal for help can make donations to the account number of the Society of Friends of the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL): 23 1240 5497 1111 0011 0311 8537, with the note: Donation to help Ukraine. https://www.kul.pl/i-dirigenti-dei-media-vaticani-in-visita-alluniversita-cattolica-di-lublino,art_103148.html Radio Vaticana e VaticanNews sono i media più importanti per la Chiesa cattolica di tutto il mondo, che con Facebook, Twitter e YouTube e altri, ha centinaia di migliaia di follower e raggiunge milioni di persone. Il dott. Andrea Tornielli – giornalista e scrittore cattolico, direttore editoriale del Dicastero per la Comunicazione della Santa Sede e Massimiliano Menichetti – giornalista, docente universitario, responsabile di Radio Vaticana/VaticanNews parleranno all'Università Cattolica di Lublino di come funziona la realtà digitale del XXI secolo e di come viene annunciato il Vangelo. L'incontro, dal titolo "I media e tecnologie moderne nella comunicazione della Chiesa", si svolgerà il 1 giugno alle ore 11,00 nell'aula CTW-114, per iniziativa del Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, Rettore dell'Università Cattolica di Lublino. La conversazione con gli ospiti sarà tradotta in lingua polacca. Il Dr. Andrea Tornielli e Massimiliano Menichetti hanno una vasta esperienza nella cooperazione internazionale con i media. Radio Vaticana/VaticanNews è un partner strategico della nostra università e un media molto importante nel mondo. Pertanto, l'invito a partecipare all'incontro è stato rivolto sia agli studenti che ai dipendenti dell'Università Cattolica di Lublino (KUL), ma anche ai portavoce della stampa, ai giornalisti, ai responsabili delle Équipe dei media – ha dichiarato Monika Stojowska, vice portavoce della KUL, responsabile anche dei social media dell'università. Ha ricordato anche che il dottor Andrea Tornielli è il direttore editoriale dei media vaticani, cioè: Osservatore Romano, Radio Vaticana – Vatican News e la Libreria Editrice Vaticana. VaticanNews è il nuovo sistema informativo della Santa Sede creato il 27 giugno 2015 con il Motu Proprio di Papa Francesco, che ha istituito la Segreteria per la Comunicazione, che è un nuovo Dicastero della Curia Romana. VaticanNews – come scrive di sé la redazione – ha quattro aree tematiche principali, che riguardano le attività del Papa, della Santa Sede, delle Chiese locali, nonché le informazioni dal mondo. VaticanNews non deve solo informare, ma anche proporre una chiave interpretativa alla luce del Vangelo. La sfida principale è quella di rispondere "sempre meglio alle esigenze della missione della Chiesa" nella cultura di oggi, con l'obiettivo di "comunicare il Vangelo della misericordia a tutti gli uomini" nelle diverse culture. Il Prefetto del Dicastero è il Dott. Paolo Ruffini, il Direttore del Programma dei Media Vaticani è il Dott. Andrea Tornielli e il Responsabile della Radio Vaticana/VaticanNews è il Dott. Massimiliano Menichetti. https://www.kul.pl/lublin-theological-studies,art_101798.html LUBLIN THEOLOGICAL STUDIES(LTS) contains the finest studies and edited collections written both by members of the Faculty of Theology of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) and by other collaborating theologians. The title of the series by Vandenhoeck Ruprecht Verlage indicates that all the books published are theological in their content but, beyond that, might be related to any of the disciplines of theology, broadly speaking: biblical, systematic and practical theology. The common factor linking all of these studies is their provenance, namely Lublin. The Faculty of Theology in Lublin, founded in 1918, has managed to evolve its own original "take" on theological discourse. For one thing, it is grounded in personalism. This orientation is especially evident in the field of systematic theology, which even developed its own semiotic-personalistic method of research. Indeed, within academia the Lublin School of Theology is sometimes referred to as the “Lublin Personalistic School”. Historically speaking, theologians in Lublin were rather forced, due to the relative isolation of the “iron curtain” era, to develop their own original approaches. Thus, in different fields of theology they have come to present an innovativerelectureand reception of various Western and Eastern theologies and theologians. Moreover, theology in Lublin is cultivated within the context of Eastern and Central Europe, as a dialogue between the Western Churches (including various Protestant denominations) and the Eastern (Orthodox and Catholic) Churches. Until now, many publications of the Faculty of Theology at KUL have been dispersed among various publishing houses, and have thus far been written predominantly in the Polish language. Now, however, with the advent of the LTS series – publishing exclusively in English – comes what we believe will be a more methodical and focused approach. It is our sincere hope that this new series will, in the years to come, more effectively expose many important theological works to the worldwide readership they deserve. The following books have been published in the series: Krzysztof LEŚNIEWSKI,Man in Metanoiacal Dialogue with God. The Biblical and Hesychastic Message of the Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete https://www.kul.pl/archdiocesan-celebration-of-the-day-of-judaism-at-the-catholic-university-of-lublin-kul,art_101618.html Poles and Jews lived together for centuries on the same Polish soil, worked and prayed together, created together a common Polish culture, of which Jews are prominent representatives - recalled the rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski, on the occasion of the Day of Judaism in the Lublin Archdiocese. - We are united by a great deal, much more than we think on a daily basis - the rector of the KUL added. The Archdiocesan Center for Catholic-Jewish Dialogue in Lublin and the Abraham J. Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations of the Catholic University of Lublin organized on January 18 - on the occasion of the XXVI Day of Judaism in the Catholic Church - a meeting devoted to relations between Christians and Jews. In addition to Catholic clergy, the event was attended by representatives of Jewish circles, including Rabbi Yitzhak Chaim Rapoport of the Jewish Community in Warsaw, who delivered a lecture on the Jewish Passover. Opening the meeting, the director of the Heschel Center of the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Miroslaw S. Wróbel, recalled that the motto of this year's XXVI Day of Judaism is the words referring to the Book of Exodus: "The passage of the Lord: Today you are going out." - The Day of Judaism is an opportunity to meet together, to read the Word of God together, to reflect together and to pray together - stressed Rev. Prof. Wróbel. He also recalled that the Commission on Religious Relations with Judaism conveyed in 2015 that "the first goal of dialogue is to deepen mutual knowledge of Jews and Christians. One can only love what one has gradually learned and one can only know truly and deeply what one loves. This deepened knowledge is accompanied by mutual enrichment, by virtue of which the partners in dialogue become recipients of gifts." The director of the Heschel Center of the Catholic University of Lublin also recalled the message for the Day of Judaism by Rabbi Abraham Skorka, who stressed the need for Judaism and Christianity to develop dynamically in order to seek new ways to realize God's designs in the modern world: "In these changing times, Christianity, like Judaism, still needs to show new spiritual paths. Each generation has its own spiritual challenges and seeks role models. No static religion has a future. We need to develop dialogue and creative thinking." - Dialogue and creative thinking open up a spiritual space where we can experience God's saving touch and recognize that we are children of one God. Today we are called to experience the "passage of the Lord" (pesach Adonai), in which our "coming out" (exodus) from slavery to sin towards a life of freedom for God's children is accomplished - concluded Rev. Prof. Wróbel. Rabbi Yitzhak Chaim Rapoport, instead spoke about the Jewish Passover, he referred to Lublin, where Jewish life flourished for hundreds of years before World War II and the Holocaust, including the world-famous rabbinical college in Lublin, called Jerusalem of the Kingdom of Heaven. - There was a tremendous Jewish life here, and today we are doing everything we can to rebuild it - Rapoport noted, adding that he teaches Talmud for three hours every day in Warsaw. - This is something that didn't exist for very many years - he added. The rabbi also expressed his gratitude to the participants of the ceremony, including the Grand Chancellor of the Catholic University of Lublin, Metropolitan Archbishop Stanislaw Budzik and Bishop Mieczyslaw Cisło as well as many representatives of Lublin's authorities, culture, science and media, for their presence. A letter from the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin to the participants of the ceremony was read by the Vice-Rector for Education, Prof. Ewa Trzaskowska. Referring to the Day of Judaism in the Catholic Church, Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski stressed that this day allows us to search for what Christianity and Judaism have in common. - And we have a great deal in common, much more than we think on a daily basis. We are united by a common Bible - the Old and New Testaments; we are united by the Holy Land called the Fifth Gospel, and in it the holy cities of Jerusalem, Nazareth, Bethlehem, Capernaum, Mount Tabor or the Sea of Galilee; we are united by the Decalogue, a common culture and shared values; we are also united by the Exodus from Egyptian slavery, which became a symbol of liberation from slavery, dependence, overcoming one's own weaknesses, rejecting apparent prosperity and wandering to the promised land - wrote the rector of the Catholic University of Lublin. He also stressed that the Day of Judaism celebrated in Poland, as well as in Lublin, has a special meaning. - Poles and Jews lived together for centuries on the same Polish soil, worked and prayed together, and together created a common Polish culture, of which Jews are prominent representatives. At the same time, Poland was for several centuries home to the largest concentration of Jews in the world, was the world center of Jewish learning, famous Jewish universities - yeshivas, was the center of Hasidism, Yiddish culture, Zionism - said Rev. Prof. Kalinowski. The Day of Judaism at the Catholic University of Lublin began with a performance of the song ‘Shema Israel’, after which texts from the Torah and the Gospels were read and two commentaries - Jewish and Catholic - were delivered. After a speech by Rabbi Yitzhak Rapoport, who talked about the Jewish celebration of Passover, while Father Mirosław Bielecki, father of the Light and Love Centre in Łopoczno, presented Passover from a Christian perspective. The meeting ended with a performance by the violin duo Lucjan Szalinski-Balwas and Martin David King. The Day of Judaism in the Catholic Church in Poland was established in 1997 by the Polish Episcopal Conference. It is celebrated on the eve of the start of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - January 17. Its purpose is to advance Christian-Jewish dialogue, as well as prayer and reflection on the relationship between the two religions. https://www.kul.pl/the-day-of-judaism-in-the-lublin-archdiocese-at-the-catholic-university-of-lublin-kul,art_101580.html This year's celebration of the Day of Judaism in the Lublin Archdiocese will begin on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at 5 pm in auditorium 1031 of John Paul II College at the Catholic University of Lublin. The event is organized by the Archdiocesan Center for Catholic-Jewish Dialogue and the Abraham J. Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations of the Catholic University of Lublin. - The Day of Judaism is an expression of concern for the welfare of the Church, for its vitality, for the faith of its members, but also a shared experience with Jews that God is one, He is close and good to man, and the People of Israel have never been rejected by Him - Archbishop Grzegorz Ryś wrote in a special message for the day from the Chairman of the Committee of the Polish Bishops' Conference for Dialogue with Judaism. The motto of this year's Day of Judaism are the words: "The passage of the Lord: Today you go forth." The main nationwide celebration will take place in Siedlce on January 17. A day later, on January 18, the Day of Judaism celebrations in the Lublin Archdiocese will be held at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. Its organizers are the Archdiocesan Center for Catholic-Jewish Dialogue in collaboration with the Abraham J. Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations of the Catholic University of Lublin. - We need this Day of Judaism, in which we can discover the Jewish roots of the Christian religion, we can dialogue together, we can pray together, we can discover together the richness of our religions and together we can solve the problems we face in the modern world - stressed Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Wróbel, director of the Abraham J. Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations at the Catholic University of Lublin. The meeting will begin with the song "Shema Israel," after which texts from the Torah and the Gospels will be read as well as two commentaries - Jewish and Catholic. Rabbi Yitzhak Rapoport of the Jewish Religious Community in Warsaw will talk about celebrating Passover from a Jewish perspective, while Passover from a Christian perspective will be presented by Father Miroslaw Bielecki, father of the Light and Love Fire in Lopoczno. The meeting will conclude with a performance by the violin duo Lucjan Szalinski-Balwas and Martin David King. The ceremony will be attended by the Grand Chancellor of the Catholic University of Lublin, Metropolitan Archbishop Stanislaw Budzik, Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski, Bishop Mieczyslaw Cislo and Cantor Symcha Keller. - You are cordially invited to participate in the meeting. The Day of Judaism is organized primarily for Christians to deepen their religious identity, because in meeting Jesus we always meet Judaism - added Rev. Dr. Tomasz Adamczyk, director of the Archdiocesan Center for Catholic-Jewish Dialogue. The Day of Judaism in the Catholic Church in Poland was established in 1997 by the Polish Episcopal Conference. It is celebrated on the eve of the start of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - January 17. Its purpose is to advance Christian-Jewish dialogue, as well as prayer and reflection on the relationship between the two religions. https://www.kul.pl/service-learning-in-laos-nature-conservation-through-social-cooperation,art_101584.html Implementation of our ideas in different places around the world is becoming more and more possible thanks to the acceleration of digitization - emphasizes Prof. Bartosz Jóźwik from the Institute of Economics and Finance at the Catholic University of Lublin. Prof. Jóźwik, together with Marlena Golębiowska and Jan Kaminski, are developing the Design Thinking Laboratory at our university, which allows us to work with the Service Learning method in different regions of the world. This work and its method, the expert pointed out, has been described by specialists in the book "Design Thinking Laboratory" recently published by the KUL Publishing House. This publication, along with other tools, is available at https://www.design-lab.pl. Service Learning permit the use of knowledge, but also its utilization in practice, through work for the local community. - Currently, while on a research internship at the National University of Laos, we have started a project with Prof. Phouphet Kyophilavong of the Faculty of Economics and Business Management to reduce environmental degradation in Laos. As part of it, we are planning joint online classes with students in the summer semester - conveyed Prof. Jóźwik, adding that the results of research conducted in the Department of International Economics on economic development and environmental degradation in developing countries, including South Asia, are being used to carry out this project. Antonina Gavryshkiv is preparing her doctoral thesis in this area. - However, we are not limited to activities in Laos. In the near future, we want to implement similar projects in other regions of the world to promote economic development and environmental protection on a wider scale. We believe that through our activities we can improve the quality of life of people around the world - the professor added.The Design Thinking Lab provides a place for the exchange of experience and ideas. Thanks to this - together with the students of the Catholic University of Lublin - innovative ideas can be created and contribute to solving many social and economic problems. As Prof. Jóźwik assessed, cooperation with Prof. Phouphet Kyophilavong and the National University of Laos is an excellent example of this. - We are confident that together we will be able to find effective solutions to protect and restore the natural environment of Laos. It is a great responsibility and satisfaction for us to contribute to the protection of this remarkable country and its people. We hope that our cooperation will be fruitful and bring many benefits to both us and the Lao community - the researcher concluded. https://www.kul.pl/opening-of-the-kul-study-office-in-paris,art_101494.html KUL along with the Polish Catholic Mission in France invites you to attend the grand opening of the KUL Study Office for Polonia and Poles abroad at the Polish Seminary in Paris (Issy-Les-Moulineaux, 11 rue Jules Guesde, access: Metro line 12, station Mairie d'Issy), which will be held on Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 4:45 p.m. The event will be enriched by the conference "Modern Patriotism, how to promote values in today's world. Contemporary communication challenges, new media and technologies". The event will be attended, among others, by Bishop Piotr Turzynski, Delegate of the Polish Episcopal Conference for the Pastoral Care of Polish Emigration, Rev. Prof. Dr. Miroslaw Kalinowski, Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, as well as Minister Jan Dziedziczak, Government Plenipotentiary for Polonia and Poles Abroad * and Prof. Jacek Gołębiowski, Director of the newly established St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe Institute for the Development of the Polish Language. There will also be a message from the Chairman of the Polish Bishops' Conference, Metropolitan of Poznań, Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki. Among the projects of the opening KUL Study Office will be the organization of full-time classes in courses, training and postgraduate studies, as well as conferences, symposia, thematic debates, courses and classes in Polish language as well as improving qualifications, for example, for Polish school teachers. The office will also be a venue for classes and meetings for Polish children and youth. Those interested in participating in this important event for Polonia are asked to confirm their attendance by sending an email to polonia@kul.pl. The online broadcast, available on kul.pl, will be provided by the Academy of Modern Media and Communication of the Catholic University of Lublin. https://www.kul.pl/rectors-college-of-the-catholic-university-of-lublin-benedict-xvi-one-of-the-most-outstanding-figures-of-the-church-in-the-20th,art_101398.html Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, then Pope Benedict XVI, was one of the most outstanding figures of the Catholic Church in the 20th and 21st centuries, the Rector's College of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin stresses. The governing body of the Catholic University of Lublin recalls that Cardinal Ratzinger received an honorary doctorate from this University in October 1988. The award of an honorary doctorate is not the only connection between Cardinal Ratzinger, John Paul II's successor on the See of Peter, and the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL). In 2011, the University obtained from the Vatican the exclusive right to publish in print - in book form - the texts of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in the series "Opera Omnia Joseph Ratzinger," in a total of 16 volumes. "The Holy Father Benedict XVI was always very kind and supportive to our University. We experienced this during his visit to our University at the time he was a cardinal, as well as during the visits of a delegation of the Catholic University of Lublin to the Vatican," the statement reads. The Rector's College of the Catholic University of Lublin also points out that Cardinal Ratzinger was a close associate of St. John Paul II, and he also began his beatification process, which led to the Polish Pope's elevation to the altar. "Although Benedict XVI called himself a 'humble worker in the Vineyard of the Lord,' he was one of the most outstanding theologians in the history of the Catholic Church. His thought and work influenced the development of modern culture, ecumenical dialogue, and interreligious dialogue with Judaism and Islam," the authorities of the Catholic University of Lublin stress. https://www.kul.pl/co-worker-of-the-truth-joseph-ratzinger-and-his-relations-with-the-john-paul-ii-catholic-university-of-lublin,art_101425.html At the end of February 1988, the Senate of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin unanimously decided to confer an honorary doctorate on the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. This connection was not the only one between Card. Ratzinger and the oldest Catholic university in Europe...The ceremony of conferring the title took place in October, during the inauguration of the 1988/89 academic year, and attracted to Lublin the most important clergy in Poland. Bishop Alphonse Nossol's laudation highlighted Ratzinger's considerable scholarly output, who at the age of 60 had in his scholarly bibliography as many as 59 books, 267 articles in various theological journals and collective works, 34 entries in important, Christian encyclopedias, 71 reviews, 17 co-publishing engagements in special works and journals, 110 popular science works and 63 titles of radio broadcasts, on theological topics. - This is the creative output of a priest who already at the age of 31 became a professor of theology. He is a man of success. For his outstanding academic achievements, Cardinal Ratzinger has already received honorary doctorates at three universities, one in the United States, in Peru and in West Germany, and today at the Catholic University of Lublin - stressed Bishop Nossol. The ceremony conferring the honorary doctorate to Ratzinger brought closer his concept of the Church based on Jesus Christ - the model of Christian existence. Bishop Nossol also referred to the cardinal's theme of "Christian optimism and hope rooted in faith, regardless of deep crisis". Ratzinger himself, during this historic event at the Catholic University of Lublin, gave what one might say an experimental lecture, "Man-reproduction or creation?" in which he analyzed and synthesized knowledge from biology, biotechnology, anthropology, medicine, philosophy and theology. - This new synthesis is a great spiritual challenge. It is here that we will decide whether humanity will have a future, a future worthy of man, or whether it will head toward chaos and the self-destruction of man and creation - said the German theologian. The conferral of the title of doctor honoris causa is not the only connection between Cardinal Ratzinger, the successor of John Paul II on the See of Peter, and the Catholic University of Lublin. In 2011, the university obtained from the Vatican the exclusive right to publish in print in book form the texts of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in the series "Opera Omnia Joseph Ratzinger," in a total of 16 volumes. - The project deals with the universal thought and comprehensive philosophical and theological achievements of Joseph Ratzinger - Benedict XVI, which perfectly captures the essence of the two-thousand-year heritage of the meeting of three cultures: Jewish, Greek-Roman and Christian - says Rev. Prof. Krzysztof Góźdź, editor-in-chief of the Polish edition of Opera Omnia. As experts note, the publication in Polish of the works of Pope Benedict XVI puts the city of Lublin on a par with Freiburg, Rome, Paris and Madrid, which are the publishers of this very valuable thought of Ratzinger in their national languages. So far, at the Catholic University of Lublin, there has been a presentation of 14 volumes, for a total of 23 volumes of the entire work. Remains one biographical volume, My Life and register. The prestigious project of the university allowed a direct contacts between the scientists of the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) and the former Pope. On June 6. 2012, during a general Vatican’s audience, the Grand Chancellor of the Catholic University of Lublin, former Rector and the Editors of Joseph Ratzinger's Opera Omnia presented the first volume (Volume XI) of the Polish version to Pope Benedict XVI. Less than three years later, Pope Benedict XVI, emeritus, received Rev. Prof. Krzysztof Góźdz, editor of the Polish edition of Opera Omnia and member of the International Theological Commission, at a special audience at the Monastero Mater Ecclesiae in the Vatican on December 3, 2015. The Pope blessed the entire work and made a personal introduction in volume VI/2 of Jesus of Nazareth, published at the time. This was one of many extraordinary encounters with the theological genius of our time, who is rightly described as the Mozart of Theology or the modern Father of the Church. Other meaningful event was a special audience with Benedict XVI on the 26th of April 2018 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Catholic University of Lublin, present Archbishop Stanislaw Budzik. grand chancellor of the Catholic University of Lublin, Antoni Dębinski, rector of KUL and the editors of Opera omnia Ms. Marzena Górecka and Rev. Krzysztof Góźdz. - The Pope Emeritus presented all the volumes of Opera omnia, and a delegation from the Catholic University of Lublin presented him with the recently published Volume IX, Faith in Scripture and Tradition. During the meeting, the Pope illuminated great moments in the history of Polish Christianity and mentioned his love for the Polish language because of John Paul II. He gave His blessing for the continuation of the work Opera Omnia - recalled Rev. Prof. Krzysztof Góźdź. https://www.kul.pl/wishes-of-the-rector-of-kul-for-christmas-2022,art_101349.html https://www.kul.pl/advent-and-hanukkah-at-the-catholic-university-of-lublin,art_101335.html The Abraham J. Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations at the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) organized a joint celebration of Hanukkah and Advent for the academic community and residents of Lublin, which is a multicultural and multireligious city. "The light of the Hanukkah candlestick and the Advent wreath is an organic unity. It warms and unites," noted Mieczyslaw Cisło, auxiliary bishop of the Lublin Archdiocese. The event Light in the Darkness, organized for the first time at the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL), brought together many people: representatives of the Jewish community, students, and passers-by who attended this symbolic meeting in front of the main building of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. "Light paves the way to human hearts and unites. That is why today we are together, Jews and Catholics. We Catholics are discovering the Judaic roots, and Jews are discovering the brotherhood of the Christian faith. This is the fruit of initiatives taken by the University, such as the creation of the Abraham Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations of the Catholic University of Lublin," said Bishop Mieczyslaw Cisło, chairman of the Committee of the Polish Bishops' Conference for Dialogue with Judaism in the years 2006-2016. As stressed by Fr. Pawel Rytel-Andrianik Ph.D., deputy director of the KUL Heschel Center, the Hanukkah candlestick is a sign from the Old Testament of the recovery of the Jerusalem Temple, and the Advent wreath symbolizes the coming of Jesus as the Messiah. "Lublin is a multicultural, university city, which, before World War II, was home to Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin, the largest Talmudic university in the world. Today the largest Catholic university in Poland, which is the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL), recalls and reminds us of the historical character of the city," noted Fr. Dr. Adrianik. The celebration began with the song Shema Israel, after which two commentaries were delivered. The Jewish one was presented by cantor Symcha Keller, while the Catholic one was given by Prof. Wojciech Kaczmarek, head of the Department of Drama and Theater at the Catholic University of Lublin. The meeting culminated with the joint singing of songs by both neocatechumenal and Jewish cantors. "Light unites us, rituals divide us, but this does not mean that our differences are bad. Human beings carry within themselves the light that radiates from the Hanukkiah and the Advent wreath," concluded Symcha Keller. Hanukkah is an annual Jewish holiday lasting eight days, beginning on the 25th day of the month of Kislev (according to the Jewish calendar). It commemorates the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple in 165 BC. With Hanukkah is associated the ritual of lighting lights – candles or olive lamps, placed on a special Hanukkah candlestick - a hanukkiah. The genesis of Hanukkah is related to the events that took place in the Jerusalem Temple on the 25th day of the month of Kislev 165 or 164 B.C., when the ruler of Syria and Palestine, Antiochus IV of the Hellenistic Seleucid dynasty, decided to make the Jews abandon their customs, traditions and Mosaic faith and adopt Greek customs. The Abraham J. Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations at the Catholic University of Lublin is a scientific and educational unit that aims to deepen Catholic-Jewish relations. Its patron is Abraham J. Heschel, a Jewish theologian, philosopher, and poet. The Center was inaugurated in October 2022. Its director is Fr. Prof. Miroslaw Wróbel. Photos are available at: https://www.kul.pl/swiatla-w-ciemnosciach-wspolne-swietowanie-adwentu-i-chanuki-na-kul,art_101332.html https://www.kul.pl/pope-francis-the-catholic-university-of-lublin-commemorated-the-anniversary-of-operation-reinhardt-in-which-2-million-people-wer,art_101215.html On Monday, the Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations at the Catholic University of Lublin commemorated the anniversary of Operation Reinhardt. During the second world war, the operation caused the extermination of nearly two million victims, mostly of Jewish origin”, Pope Francis stressed during his weekly Wednesday general audience at the Vatican. “May the memory of this terrible event arouse the intentions and actions for peace in every person. And history repeats itself. We see now what is happening in Ukraine. I heartily bless you here present and your country people,” the Holy Father added, greeting the pilgrims from Poland. The J. A. Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations of the Catholic University of Lublin organized a ceremony on December 5 to commemorate the victims of Operation Reinhardt, on its 80th anniversary. It was held on the grounds of the former German Nazi camp at Majdanek and at the seat of the Heschel Center, at the Collegium Iuridicum of the Catholic University of Lublin. This building housed the headquarters of Operation Reinhardt. “The memory of these events must be kept alive, especially among young people, also by means of new media and communication technologies. This is as well the task of the Heschel Center of the Catholic University of Lublin,” stressed the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski. Israeli Ambassador to Poland Yacov Livne pointed out that the reason for the murder of Jews was solely their origin. “We must work together so that the memory is not lost,” he said. The Heschel Center of the Catholic University of Lublin is a scholarly-educational unit, which aims to deepen Catholic-Jewish relations. Its patron is Abraham Joshua Heschel, a Jewish theologian, philosopher and poet. Catholic University of Lublin Press Office https://www.kul.pl/the-heschel-center-of-the-catholic-university-of-lublin-commemorated-the-victims-of-operation-reinhardt,art_101193.html In Operation "Reinhardt" almost two million Jews were murdered for the one and only reason: they were born Jews. We must work together so that the memory of these events is not lost. I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the establishment of the Heschel Center. This is a very important project, a very important sign of trust, dialogue, and understanding, and this is exactly what we need today," said Israeli Ambassador to Poland Yacov Livne at the commemoration of the victims of the German Operation Reinhardt on the 80th anniversary of its beginning. The events in Lublin were organized by the Heschel Center of the Catholic University of Lublin. Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski, the rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, also spoke about the value of our shared history and the mission involved in passing it on. He recalled that among the first victims of the German terror in Lublin were also Catholic University of Lublin lecturers, including the university's rector, Rev. Prof. Antoni Szymański. "The memory of these events must be kept alive, especially among young people, also by means of new media and communication technologies. This is as well the task of the Heschel Center of the Catholic University of Lublin," Rev. Prof. Kalinowski emphasized. The commemoration ceremony began on the grounds of the Majdanek concentration camp, with the participants praying for the murdered people. "We cannot bring back to life those who were so cruelly murdered. However, we can remember them," Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Wróbel, director of the Center, said during the ceremony. The ceremony was followed by the opening of the seat of the Heschel Center at the Collegium Iuridicum of the Catholic University of Lublin. This very building served as the headquarters of Operation Reinhardt beginning in the fall of 1941. A plaque of the Center was unveiled there today and blessed by Archbishop Stanislaw Budzik, Metropolitan of Lublin. The participants of the meeting listened to two lectures, which presented Operation "Reinhardt" from two perspectives: the perpetrators and the victims. The background and course of the "Reinhardt" action were presented by Stephan Lehnstaedt, professor of Jewish studies at Touro College in Berlin. The second speaker, Dr. Witold Mędykowski, a historian from the Catholic University of Lublin, spoke in turn about the German occupation of Lublin. The Germans carried out the "Reinhardt" operation in 1942-1943, as part of which liquidation of all the ghettos in the General Government was carried out. Nearly two million people, mostly of Jewish origin from eastern Poland, were killed then. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the start of this atrocity. The Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations - the Heschel Center of the Catholic University of Lublin is a new scientific, educational and cultural unit designed to deepen Catholic-Jewish relations. The facility was established in October. Its patron is Abraham Heschel, a Jewish theologian, philosopher, and poet, born in Warsaw. https://www.kul.pl/chief-of-the-foreign-service-of-the-ministry-of-foreign-affairs-lublin-is-a-symbolic-and-important-place,art_101096.html The International Scientific Conference “Poland, Europe and the world in the era of multidimensional crises” is the title of an international conference begun at the Catholic University of Lublin. Arkady Rzegocki, head of the Foreign Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressed during his lecture that the university is one of the most representative venues for debates on international policy. The conference is very broad in scope and addresses topical issues such as the war in Ukraine and its consequences, inflation or the energy crisis. The meeting provides an opportunity to tighten Poland's relations with Moldova. "The inclusion of issues related to Moldova and Ukraine has a symbolic dimension. The war in Ukraine and the particular geopolitical situation in Eastern Europe have resulted in an unprecedented decision on the part of the European Union Member States to grant Moldova and Ukraine the status of candidate countries. This is an extremely important and long-awaited step, but it does not yet imply the membership of both countries in this organisation, points out Prof. Beata Piskorska, political scholar, Vice Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin for BA, MA, and PhD students and development. The inaugural lecture of the conference, “Polish diplomacy in the face of present-day challenges”, was by Arkady Rzegocki, professor of the Jagiellonian University and head of the Foreign Service. A letter from the Minister of Education and Science, Przemysław Czarnek, was read out by Radosław Brzózka, Head of the Political Bureau. "I appreciate the fact that such an important event is part of the Civic Forum. I look forward to even better integration and collaboration of representatives of the world of academia and business", wrote Minister Czarnek in his letter. During the three days of the conference, 12 panel discussions will discuss topics such as information and culture wars, the crisis of values, challenges for the Catholic Church, the energy transition, as well as the defence and security policy. Two seminars on the 30th anniversary of Polish-Moldovan cooperation and the reconstruction of Ukraine are an integral part of the event. The main organiser of the event is the Foundation for the Development of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. The conference is co-organised by: John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Doctoral Student Government and Student Government of the Catholic University of Lublin. The three-day meeting was funded by the Ministry of Education and Science as part of the Excellence in Science programme. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Education and Science, Voivode of Lublin, Marshal of Lublin Voivodeship, Mayor of Lublin, and Rector of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin are Honorary Patrons of the international conference. The partners of the event include: Lublin Science Society, Institute of Central Europe in Lublin, Employers of Lublin Land, Lublin Lodge of the Business Centre Club, Kierunek Polska Foundation, ERIA Association for Education and International Research, Foundation for the Development of Central and Eastern Europe and the Association of Graduates and Friends of the Faculty of Law of the Catholic University of Lublin. The conference is streamed in Polish and English Day 2 - https://youtu.be/Q4twJg6SCk0 Day 3 - https://youtu.be/LYiWFKi2syk EN Day 2- https://youtu.be/ahC2tZ_8VC8 Day 3- https://youtu.be/OjCs5z6EHa0 Photo coverage: Polska, Europa i świat w dobie wielowymiarowych kryzysów - konferencja międzynarodowa (kul.pl) https://www.kul.pl/joseph-ratzinger-s-opera-omnia-vol-5-origins-and-destiny,art_101016.html In the presence of H.E. Cardinal Gerhard L. Müller of the Vatican, a special ceremony was held at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin presenting Joseph Ratzinger's latest volume entitled. "Origins and Destiny" in the theological triptych: created, redeemed, and fulfilled man. These are milestones of the retired Pope's theological anthropology. The event from the side of the Catholic University of Lublin was coordinated by Rev. Prof. Krzysztof Góźdź. https://www.kul.pl/the-chair-of-the-union-of-rectors-of-ukraine-i-express-gratitude-to-poles-for-their-help,art_100930.html Rectors of major Polish and Ukrainian universities met at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin to discuss possible common solutions regarding the education of students. "The mission of every university is to form the elite of a country," stressed Prof. Petro Kulikov, Chair of the Union of Rectors of Ukraine, Rector of the Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture. The Polish-Ukrainian Rectors Seminar, which was held as part of the project "Polish-Ukrainian cooperation of representative institutions representing rectors for the improvement of the operation of the university" was hosted by Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski, Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin. "Cooperation with the Ukrainian academic community has a long-standing tradition. Already since 1989, we have signed many partnership agreements. We are committed to developing a similar model of the educational system in order to facilitate cooperation and provide mobility for Ukrainian students," stressed Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski. Taking floor rectors and experts from Ukraine expressed their gratitude for the numerous aid initiatives for their country. They also stressed that due to the ongoing armed conflict, they are concerned about losing students. "We are afraid that students who go to study in Poland will not want to return to Ukraine. It is these young people that we will need in the future to rebuild our country," noted Prof. Petro Kulikov. The meeting of distinguished guests at the Catholic University of Lublin was also an opportunity to present Prof. Jerzy Woznicki of Warsaw University of Technology with an honorary doctorate from the Kyiv State University of Construction and Architecture. Prof. Jerzy Woznicki is the President of the Polish Rectors' Foundation and has been involved in the field of higher education and science for many years. He is one of the founders of the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland and its former chairman. He also initiated the partnership between the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland (CRASP) and the Union of Rectors of Ukraine (ZRUU). The meeting was attended by delegations from CRASP and ZRUU , experts from major Polish and Ukrainian universities, including Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Maria - Curie Sklodowska University in Lublin, the Medical University in Lublin, the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw, Lublin University of Technology, Warsaw University of Technology, the Silesian University of Technology, the Dnipro Technical University and the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine. The seminar is part of a project entrusted to Warsaw University of Technology by the Ministry of Education and Science in Poland, supported by the CRASP, implemented with the support of the Polish Rectors' Foundation and endowed with the patronage of the Ministry of Education and Science in Ukraine. Photo gallery https://www.kul.pl/agreement-between-the-catholic-university-of-lublin-and-the-military-institute-of-medicine-in-warsaw,art_100898.html Scientific research, exchange of experiences, and co-organizing symposia, seminars, and conferences are the main points of the agreement signed by the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin and the Military Institute of Medicine in Warsaw. The agreement was signed by the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski, and the Director of the Military Institute of Medicine, General Prof. Grzegorz Gielerak. The document notes that the parties undertake to support each other to the best of their abilities. Detailed provisions on the principles of cooperation, will be regulated by separate agreements. “This is one more major partner of ours, connected with the operation of the Faculty of Medicine at the Catholic University of Lublin, which was inaugurated in October. Presently we offer education in nursing, midwifery, biotechnology and dietetics. With the start of the next academic year, we are also launching a medical faculty,” said Rev. Prof. Kalinowski. PHOTO: WIM-PIB Tomasz Zaborowski The Faculty of Medicine of the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) operates at the Konstantynów Campus, where the required research and teaching infrastructure is located. The teaching staff includes not only faculty members from the Catholic University of Lublin but also doctors from the Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration in Warsaw, as well as from hospitals in Lublin and Puławy. The University has also established cooperation with leading medical centers in the world, including the Medical College of Wisconsin in the USA, the Gemelli Polyclinic and La Sapienza University in Rome, the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik in Lebanon, and the School of Medicine and Medical Sciences there, the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain, and the Medical University of Lublin. It has also begun works to establish a clinical hospital. 60 future doctors will begin their education at the Catholic University of Lublin in October 2023. The first-year curriculum will include classes in anatomy, cytophysiology, chemistry and biochemistry, biophysics, physiology, information technology, and the basics of telemedicine, among others. To become a medical student at the Catholic University of Lublin, high school graduates will have to pass a high school diploma exam at the extended level in biology and one elective subject: mathematics, chemistry or physics. https://www.kul.pl/the-catholic-university-of-lublin-kul-has-inaugurated-a-program-of-study-for-poles-abroad-more-than-300-people-from-11-countries,art_100814.html For the next six months, professors of the Catholic University of Lublin, experts in various fields, will conduct courses that the university has prepared as part of the activities of the Study of the Catholic University of Lublin for Polonia and Poles abroad. "We are ready to take on the scientific and didactic challenges," Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski, the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, assured the participants. The Rector of KUL said that he appreciates the readiness of the Polish community to study and develop personally. "The proposal with which we reached out to you was received not only with great approval, but above all with great interest. There are more than three hundred of us from 11 countries in the program," pointed out Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski. Przemyslaw Czarnek, Minister of Education and Science, who attended the study's inauguration, noted the enormous potential of the university's project, the launch of which coincided with the Polish Parliament's adoption of a law on the establishment of the St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe Institute for the Development of the Polish Language. "Take advantage of the opportunities offered to you by the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin," added the minister. Jan Dziedziczak, Government Plenipotentiary for Polonia and Poles Abroad, spoke about the need to create strong lobbies among compatriots. "To be a patriot is to be an ambassador of our country. Pass on Polishness to your children, grandchildren, talk in your mother tongue, remembering that we are one no matter where we are," Dziedziczak said. In the first stage of its activities (the academic year 2022/2023), the KUL Study for Polonia and Poles Abroad launched 6 courses, which improve professional competencies (New Media and Communication, Promotion of Polish Culture, Care of Chronically Ill and Palliative Patients; Theology and New Evangelization, Counseling and Support Strategies and Prevention of Risky Behavior). More courses are in the pipeline, for which recruitment will begin later this year. https://www.kul.pl/catholic-university-of-lublin-launches-a-study-centre-at-a-detention-facility,art_100683.html The Catholic University of Lublin has officially launched a Study Centre at the detention facility in Lublin. “The Centre can be set as a model for all penitentiary units around the world,” highlighted Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin. “Of prime importance for us is not to waste time in a place we are in right now,” comment the detainees, who are new University students. The inauguration of the academic year at the Detention Facility in Lublin began with Holy Mass in the local chapel, followed by the opening ceremony of the Catholic University of Lublin Study Centre. This important initiative of the Catholic University of Lublin is meant to enable convicts to receive higher education and to acquire vital ethical and humanistic values. Such objectives are set out in the letter of intent signed earlier with the Central Board of the Penitentiary Service. As the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, stressed, the Study Centre “is becoming not only a leading centre of this type in Poland but can also be set as a model for all penitentiary units around the world. It will hold educational projects and offer postgraduate courses.” Father Rector added that the success of the endeavour relies on the University’s care for academic procedures and the Prison Service’s care for the safety and security of the process. Letters to the attendees of the inauguration were sent by the Papal Almoner Cardinal Konrad Krajewski and Minister of Education and Science Przemysław Czarnek. The former recalled the words of Pope Francis, who observed that “in prison it is not enough just to ransom guilt, but real rehabilitation of the convict is necessary.” Consequently, as Cardinal Krajewski wrote, When it is lacking, serving a sentence is reduced solely to the instrument of punishment and social retaliation. This, in turn, is harmful both to the person and to society. Poland’s Minister of Education and Science expressed a hope that the nearest months would be a “time for academic growth and unique accomplishments for the Centre.” The launch of the Catholic University of Lublin Study Centre was favourably assessed by representatives of the Penitentiary Service. - You are offered a great chance. All of you who think about the future; those of you, who wish to change their future for the better; those of you, who have particular resources and potential, think rationally, are offered a great chance. I urge you to embrace this opportunity, said Deputy Director General of the Penitentiary Service, Colonel Krzysztof Stefanowski. Secretary of state in the Ministry of State Assets Jan Kanthak observed that “work and education are the prime paths to find oneself in a new reality after serving a sentence.” Deputy minister congratulated the detainees on their decisions to continue education at the Catholic University of Lublin and pointed out: - Reality is changing on a daily basis and after you leave this place, you will need to adapt and recognise the new reality. Education and work are the most appropriate tools to do it. The matriculation of students took place during the official inauguration of the Catholic University of Lublin Study Centre at a Detention Facility in Lublin, attended also by e.g. Bishop Adam Bap from the Archdiocese of Lublin and Prof. Susannah Heschel, daughter of the patron of the University’s Heschel Centre. The launch of the Study Centre was possible e.g. thanks to the support of the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of State Assets and the Ministry of Education and Science. The new students include several inmates who were recruited for the first year of the MA course in Family Science (specialisation in social environment animation), launched only this year. This specialisation is not only relevant to the socio-economic needs (labour market), but also takes into account the formal and legal situation of the inmates. Another specialisation that is of great interest to the student-inmates is the assistant of a dependent person. - Personal growth is important for me as I do not want to waste time in a place I am in right now. I want to develop myself further; this is going to be my third degree, as I previously studied law as well as business and management – said Maciej, who said that the first class in Family Science resembles those that take place outside the detention facility. He also indicated that the inmates Make use of the reference materials offered by lecturers and people from outside the facility. We also have access to a library. Piotr, another inmate-student added: - This is going to be a major experience for me; I would like my life to be enriched with something, now that I am in prison. I do not want my time to be wasted here. Piotr studied in the past, as many as 30 years ago. The inauguration lecture titled “Why, after the tragic experiences of the 20th century, armed conflict has broken out again in Eastern Europe today” was delivered by Fr. Prof. Marcin Składanowski from the Institute of Theological Sciences. The ceremony was attended by the University Choir. *** As of 2013, nearly 30 students serving time in a Detention Facility in Lublin have earned their degrees from the Catholic University of Lublin. It is a unique endeavour with proven social rehabilitation results, since as many as 80 percent of the alumni do not re-offend after leaving the prison. Preparations for the launch of the Catholic University of Lublin Study Centre at the Detention Facility in Lublin began in April 2022. Studies undertaken by persons deprived of liberty, as proven by research and experience resulting from the implementation of academic education in detention centres and prisons, has a positive impact on prisoners. Studying enhances their sense of dignity and self-esteem, allows them to feel like legitimate members of society, enhances their knowledge and skills, which can all be used after their sentence is over. Studying under the guidance of lecturers also teaches empathy, cooperation and responsibility and prompts a willingness to make amends for the offences committed. https://www.kul.pl/kul-in-the-worlds-most-prestigious-university-ranking-list,art_103212.html THE World University Ranking is the world's best-known university ranking, which assesses teaching, research, knowledge transfer to the wider community and university internationalisation. THE World University Rankings 2023 includes 34 universities from Poland. Among them is the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL). A total of 1,799 higher education institutions from 104 countries and regions have been included in the ranking. https://www.kul.pl/the-heschel-center-has-begun-its-activities-at-the-catholic-university-of-lublin,art_100584.html The Abraham J. Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations - a new scientific, educational, and cultural unit to deepen Catholic-Jewish relations internationally - began its activities at the Catholic University of Lublin on Monday. Scientific research, publishing activities, student exchanges, as well as international symposia, conferences, debates and cultural events are the main tasks of the institution. - The inauguration of the Abraham J. Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations at the Catholic University of Lublin is a historic event, I am convinced that it is important not only for our University - Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski stressed. - The pillars on which the Center's activities are based can be summed up in a motto: Common Bible – Common Past – Common Future. They also relate to shared biblical roots, to the community of the history of both societies, as well as to the need to shape a future based on dialogue and openness to multiculturalism - said the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin. Israeli Ambassador to Poland Yacov Livne wrote in a special letter for the occasion: “Focusing on research, the Centre will open up to questions related to Jewish history, culture and legacy as well as to Polish-Jewish relations over the centuries, including the present.” The daughter of the Center's patron, Professor Susannah Heschel, a researcher at Dartmouth College in the US, recalled her father's most important ideas, including those concerning Christian-Jewish dialogue. “What you are doing is in line with my father's message not to be indifferent to each other,” Prof. Heschel said. Rabbi Abraham Skorka, who works for interreligious dialogue and has been friends with Pope Francis for many years, stressed that the Catholic University of Lublin - by creating the Heschel Center - is giving a positive response to the call to Jews and Catholics to change the course of history, and “to create the paths of dialogue that allow a future of understanding, peace, and affection”. Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, recalled that the history of Christian-Jewish relations has been difficult, which is why dialogue between brotherly religions is of such great value. “Christian-Jewish dialogue is the first and most important dialogue, because it is a dialogue with our roots. We cannot have approach the teaching of Jesus Christ, if we are not aware of his Jewish roots,” the archbishop said. In turn, the President of the Polish Bishops' Conference Archbishop Stanislaw Gądecki stressed that the Heschel Center is the realization of the conciliar declaration "Nostra aetate" and the teaching of the Church expressed by successive popes. He also recalled the role of the Patron of the Catholic University of Lublin, Pope John Paul II, who is a role model in Catholic-Jewish dialogue. “He was the first pope to pray together with a rabbi for peace, the first pope to enter a synagogue and to visit the German Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. John Paul II was the first pope to pray at the Western Wall, asking God for forgiveness and mutual brotherhood.” During the ceremony, which concluded with the presentation of appointments to the Board of Directors of the Abraham J. Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations at the Catholic University of Lublin and a speech by Cantor Symcha Keller, the Honorary Committee and the Center's Scientific Council of the new institution were also introduced. The Scientific Council and Honorary Committee included Rabbi Prof. Abraham Skorka of Argentina; Rabbi David Rosen, Director of Interreligious Relations of the American Jewish Committee; New York University Professor Rabbi Prof. Lawrence H. Schiffman; Oxford University Professor of Hebrew and Jewish Studies Prof. Judith Olszowy-Schlanger; Prof. Amy-Jill Levine, a specialist of New Testament Studies E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter at Vanderbilt University Divinity School in Nashville; Prof. Glenda Abramson of Oxford University; Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa; Prof. Slawomir Zurek, Director of the International Center for the Study of the History and Cultural Heritage of the Jews of Central and Eastern Europe; and Prof. Yagil Limore of Bar Ilan University in Tel Aviv. The Abraham J. Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations at the Catholic University of Lublin is a scientific and educational unit whose mission is to build Catholic-Jewish relations on the scientific, educational, and cultural levels on an international scale. The center combines research work, commemorating the past, educating and engaging young people, as well as shaping public awareness through modern media on a global scale. https://www.kul.pl/medical-school-of-the-catholic-university-of-lublin-launched,art_100385.html "We want to see the whole person, their somatic, mental and spiritual aspects," said Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, during the official inauguration of the Faculty of Medicine, held on 5 October 2022. The new Faculty already offers education in midwifery, nursing, biotechnology, and dietetics; as of October 2023, it will also include training for physicians. Support for the new Faculty was pledged by the Minister of Health Adam Niedzielski, who noted that the increase in the number of medical students will be reflected in better access of patients to doctors in the future. Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin pointed out that the establishment of the School of Medicine is the fulfilment of the plans of the founder of the Catholic University of Lublin, Fr. Prof. Idzi Radziszewski, who wanted the university to do research and provide education in the widest possible range of disciplines. He also pointed out that the presence of medicine at a Catholic university is natural because it stems directly from the Gospel. As Fr. Prof. Kalinowski indicated, "Jesus not only healed himself, but also taught to care for everyone in need, including the sick." He stressed that the education at the new faculty would be take a holistic view of the human being, in every aspect of his or her life. He cited the results of an international study, confirming the importance of the spirit for a faster therapeutic process. Minister of Health Adam Niedzielski, who was present at the inauguration of the faculty, recalled that one of its goals is to increase patients' access to physicians. This is why the number of enrolment opportunities in medical schools is increasing year on year. This is helped by the launch of doctor training at more universities. As the minister observed, "This academic year is a landmark year. We have recorded the highest number of medical students in many years." He moreover emphasised that the establishment of the Faculty of Medicine at the Catholic University of Lublin fits in with the activities of the Ministry of Health and therefore the university can count on its support. He also undertook to allocate PLN 40 million in the form of bonds to support this initiative. The Plenipotentiary of the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin for the development of medical and health sciences departments, Prof. Ryszard Maciejewski, MD, PhD, pointed out that since prospective doctors will be educated at one faculty with representatives of other medical professions, they will acquire important teamwork skills. He emphasised that the School of Medicine has the necessary infrastructure and staff to provide high-quality education. The launch of the Faculty of Medicine is the culmination of several years of efforts to enrich the university's offer with courses in medical and health sciences. The Faculty of Medicine will complement the curriculum of the Faculty, which already offers nursing (undergraduate and postgraduate studies), midwifery (undergraduate studies), dietetics (undergraduate studies), and biotechnology (undergraduate and postgraduate studies) in Polish and English. It is also a response to the social needs arising from the increasing percentage of elderly people in Polish and European society, the spread of civilisation diseases, the deteriorating health of children and young people due to lifestyle or the risk of further pandemics. All these factors make it necessary to educate more doctors, but also to conduct research in the fields of medicine, biomedicine and biotechnology, which should both respond to existing threats and anticipate future ones, all with a view to increasing the level of security of citizens. According to estimates by the Chief Chamber of Physicians, there is still a shortage of tens of thousands of doctors in Poland. The Faculty will be located in the Konstantynów Campus, which the necessary research and teaching infrastructure. The teaching staff will consist not only of lecturers from the Catholic University of Lublin, but also of doctors from the Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration in Warsaw and hospitals in Lublin and Puławy. The University has also established cooperation with leading medical centres in the world, including the Medical College of Wisconsin, USA, the Gemelli Polyclinic and La Sapienza University in Rome, Italy, the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, Lebanon, and the Lebanese School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain, and the Medical University of Lublin. Work has started on creating a clinical hospital. In October 2023, 60 future doctors will start their education at the Catholic University of Lublin. The first-year curriculum will include classes in anatomy, cytophysiology, chemistry and biochemistry, biophysics, physiology, information technology, and the rudiments of telemedicine. In order to become a medical student at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, high school graduates will have to pass an upper secondary school leaving exam in biology and one subject of their choice: mathematics, chemistry or physics. https://www.kul.pl/inauguration-of-the-heschel-center-for-catholic-jewish-relations-october-17,art_100243.html Academic research, publications, international symposia, conferences, debates, as well as cultural events and building relations between students from Poland and Israel - these are the main tasks of the Abraham J. Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations at the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL). The inauguration will take place on October 17, announced the rector of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Fr. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski,. The rector of the KUL noted that work on the establishment of the Center has been going on for several months, and it will be a unit functioning within the structure of the university. - We plan that in addition to scientific activities and research on history, culture, common heritage and interreligious dialogue, socio-cultural projects will also be organized. A strategic issue is the involvement of young people from Poland and Israel, mutual visits and events with their participation. We want this activity to be widely present in the modern media," said Rev. Prof. Kalinowski. He also informed that the director of the Center will be Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Wróbel, head of the Biblical Sciences Section of the Catholic University of Lublin. Prof M. Wróbel, among other things, is a translator of the Aramaic Bible and a scholar of rabbinic literature, having earned a doctorate in biblical studies at the École Biblique in Jerusalem. Dr. Witold Mędykowski and Rev. Dr. Paweł Rytel-Andrianik will serve as deputy directors. The former is a historian, political scientist and archivist, specializing in, among other things, the history of Polish Jews and the Holocaust. In turn, Rev. Rytel-Andrianik, a biblical scholar and orientalist, earned a doctorate in biblical studies and archaeology at Studium Biblicum Franciscanum in Jerusalem and a doctorate in oriental studies (in Judaic and Hebraic studies) at Oxford University. The rector of the Catholic University of Lublin announced that details of the Center's operation will be presented on October 17, during a conference at the Catholic University of Lublin, which will be attended by, among others, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Chairman of the Polish Bishops' Conference Archbishop Stanislaw Gądecki and Prof. Susannah Heschel, daughter of Abraham J. Heschel. The composition of the honorary committee, which included Rabbi Abraham Skórka, will be announced as well. https://www.kul.pl/the-catholic-university-of-lublin-plans-to-open-a-clinical-hospital-in-lublin,art_100166.html The rector of the Catholic University of Lublin Rev. Prof. Miroslaw Kalinowski looking for support of the Marshall of the Lublin Voivodship Jaroslaw Stawiarski in obtaining a location for a clinical hospital. From October 2023 KUL is planning to launch a medical faculty, as well as nursing and midwifery studies already underway. As Marshal Stawiarski informed in his response, two locations have been preliminarily selected: at 21 Herberta Street and at 81-83 Lubartowska Street, they are currently used by the Stefan Kardynał Wyszyński Regional Specialized Hospital Independent Public Health Care Center in Lublin. At the moment underway is an estimate of the value of both properties and equipment on hand. - We would like to thank Mr. Stawiarski for the fruitful cooperation, and we remain in contact with the management of the Regional Hospital. Analysis of the matter is in progress. We will present more precise information in the near future," said Rev. Prof. Kalinowski. He added that the KUL, by launching a medical faculty, is responding to social needs related to the education of doctors, and thus increasing the availability of medical services. - We are already educating nurses and midwives, and starting next year we will also educate doctors. The launch of the Catholic University of Lublin's clinical hospital is also a way out to meet the expectations of the community of Lublin and the entire Lublin province, in service to patients and the sick. This is in line with the mission of our university which is the social teaching of the Catholic Church. We want to provide access to high-class specialists and modern medical equipment, appropriate conditions for hospitalization, keeping in mind that at the center of our activities is the human being," the rector of the Catholic University of Lublin noted. Rev. Prof. Kalinowski informed that regarding the medical faculty and the clinical hospital, the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) has established cooperation with, among others, the Medical College of Wisconsin in the USA, the Gemelli Polyclinic in Italy, "La Sapienza" University in Rome, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik in Lebanon and the School of Medicine and Medical Sciences there, the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain, and the Medical University of Lublin. The medical faculty will be run by the Catholic University of Lublin at its campus in Lublin's Konstantynów district, where there are modern laboratories for the biotechnology faculty and specialized research infrastructure, which is being gradually supplemented. Training is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2023, initially for 60 students, with plan to to increase each year. There are also plans to launch this major in English. https://www.kul.pl/threats-to-democracy-and-the-response-of-christianity-new-international-research,art_99941.html Does Christianity have the potential to (co)respond to the threats of democracy? - is one of the key issues of the new international and interdisciplinary research project “Threats to democracy: nationalism, populism, extremism and the response of Christianity.” We invite the Ph.D. students of the Catholic University of Lublin to participate in the project that cooperates with the universities in Germany, Georgia and the Czech Republic. Can religion avoid being degraded to the level of an ideology supporting authoritarian power? Are the slogans of returning to Christian Europe and the so called Christian values not a facade hiding the political aspirations of populists, leading to a dangerous variety of idolatry? Do references to tribalist narratives that generate increased followers for their authors find an audible alternative? These are the exemplary issues of the project, whose aim – as explained by the director of the Institute of Political Science and Administration, Professor Agnieszka Łukasik-Turecka, Professor at the Catholic University of Lublin – is firstly an in-depth identification, analysis and the interpretation of phenomena that pose threats to democracy and secondly, looking for answers to the question about the potential of religion, especially Christianity, in theoretical and practical support of democracy. We encourage the Ph.D. students of the Catholic University of Lublin to send the abstracts. We shall choose the best one – this Ph.D. student will participate in the project. The deadline of sending the abstracts for the Ph.D. students of the Catholic University of Lublin is September 20th 2022 – informed Professor Łukasik-Turecka, noting that the volunteers will be required to have the knowledge of English at least at B2 level. She added that any questions and abstracts with reference to the project should be sent to her e-mail address agnieszka.lukasik-turecka@kul.pl In the western world – as we read in the project’s CALL FOR PAPERS ‘there are long-standing trends that remain under tension in the face of democracy.’ These include, on the one hand, the creation of demands to return to the Christian Europe and the so called Christian values, especially given the growing number of the followers of Islam. Behind these slogans, most frequently, are hidden political aspirations of populists, who using Christian symbols, suggest Catholicism without Christianity, i.e. a new religion focused on the nation perceived as a mythical object, hostile to what does not fall within its strictly limited and closed framework. On the other hand, the extreme liberalism and secularism, to which Christianity is exposed to, may lead to the emergence of Christian fundamentalism, used by populists and nationalists as an element of defense against so-called hostile ideologies. Such fundamentalism is built on post-seizure privileges, using which populists and nationalists, often try to win favor of Church representatives. Similarly, the fundamentalist tendency is reinforced by a tribalistic narrative, focused on the defense and struggle, thanks to which nationalists and populists gain new supporters, including among young people, whose involvement is often highly radical – it has been stated. What is also crucial in this context, is the full-scale Russian aggression on Ukraine, which started on February 24th this year and continues to this day. The last months, as we read, have proved explicitly and dramatically that nationalism, populism and various forms of extremism, which threaten democracy, are accompanied by Russian imperialism. - The war in Ukraine, unleashed by Russia, is openly supported by the Patriarch of Moscow, who appeals to religious ideology. In the context of western Christianity, what provokes serious questions is the Vatican’s position referring to this war – it has been noted. By giving the floor to experts and those who acquire their academic skills, we want – following the best legacy of the Academy, as a community of Students and Scholars – to lead our search towards the new open questions through discussion and dispute – it has been concluded. The meetings of researchers, which will include seminars and conferences in English or German, will start in Krakow, Poland, between November 29th and December 2nd this year (general expert session + cultural program). Students/ doctoral students will have the task to search for inspiration and issues for individual work with the professor. Then, the plan for the period between December 2022 and April 2023 are seminars in participating countires and the preparation of students’ statements. The subsequent sessions of the project are planned for the next year in Tbilisi, Georgia, from May 1st until May 4th, in Budapest, Hungary, from June 26th until June 29th, as well as in Erfurt, Germany, from October 2nd until October 5th, where the seminar concluding the research and the selection of articles for publication will take place. The publication itself is planned in one of the leading international publishing houses (level II on the Polish list). As part of the application for participation in the project (for all those who are interested, including Ph.D. students from other partner universities, the deadline is the 30th of September this year) please prepare the title and the abstract of a proposed speech in English or German (up to 1500 characters with spaces) and include a note about the author. In the case of Ph.D. students of the Catholic University of Lublin, please do not pay the fee before the selection of the abstract by the committee. The partner universities of the project are the University of Erfurt, Germany, Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani University in Tbilisi, Georgia and the Czech Christian Academy in Prague. As for Poland, apart from the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL), the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow also participates in the research. https://www.kul.pl/sign-up-for-postgraduate-studies,art_99936.html This year, the university offer includes almost thirty fields of study, from which eight are new. Some of them are unique in the country, such as: Film and Television Production, Executive Master of Business Administration, Management of family businesses - effective successor. Some studies will be conducted online. Recruitment continues until the 30th of September. Postgraduate studies are not only the opportunity to develop one’s competences, but also a chance to gain a new profession – emphasizes Dr. Dorota Bis, head of the University Centre for Competence Development. The University Centre for Competence Development is constantly completing its offer, adjusting it to the needs of potential students. Some fields of study will be conducted at the branch of the university in Stalowa Wola. The students in Stalowa Wola will be able to complete an MBA and studies in the range of rural infrastructure management and agricultural modernisation, as well as entrepreneurship. The classes will be conducted mainly online. The quality of postgraduate studies at the Catholic University of Lublin is confirmed by the great number of their graduates – notes Dr. Bis and adds that over 10 thousand students have already taken advantage of this system of education. The recruitment for postgraduate studies will continue until the 30th of September. Detailed information about each field of study can be found on: kandydat.kul.pl/podyplomowe. It can be also obtained by phone at (81) 445 39 96 or on the Facebook profile of KUL postgraduate studies. Studies can be undertaken by first and second degree graduates as well as students in their final year of unified master's studies. https://www.kul.pl/nprh-grants-for-kul-scientists,art_99890.html On July 8, the Ministry of Education and Science announced the winners in the National Program for the Development of the Humanities in the National Heritage module. Out of the 83 applications submitted, 30 were qualified for funding, among them two from KU. Project of Professor Slawomir Lukasiewicz called “Zbigniew Jordan - forgotten emigrant critic of Marxism and totalitarianism. Collected works and correspondence.” The second project of Professor Bogumił Szada is entitled “Territorial divisions of the Latin Church in Poland (X-XXI century). From data management to synthesis.” Zbigniew Jordan – “The forgotten emigrant critic of Marxism and totalitarianism. Collected works and correspondence.” The project aims to recall the figure and thought of Zbigniew Jordan, as well as a critical edition of his texts about: a) political concepts, including those devoted to geopolitical solutions and alternative regional political organization; b) analysis, and criticism of the post-war realities constituting the functioning of European non-democratic regimes, the political system and internal politics of the People's Republic of Poland and c) philosophical criticism of Marxism and the discourse of using Marxism as an ideological basis for legitimizing systemic solutions in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. In turn, the project “Territorial Divisions of the Latin Church in Poland (X-XXI century). From data management to synthesis” tries to prepare synthesis in two different ways. First, atlas-dictionary monograph and second, database and web application. Both of them aim to illustrate the development of territorial divisions of the Latin Church in lands historically connected with Poland. During the course of the project, the digitization of maps, inventories, catalogs and other materials will be carried out, which will form the main information basis of the study. The use of databases and GIS technology will make possible to harmonize spatial and attribute information, and then prepare a monographic work and repost all the collected material on the Internet in the form of a web application, services and downloadable data. In the methodological dimension, solutions will be prepared for the collection and integration of data on the territorial divisions of the Latin Church. In addition, a specialized dictionary will be compiled. https://www.kul.pl/more-than-5-thousand-applied-to-study-at-kul,art_99809.html The results of the first stage of recruitment for bachelor's and master's degree programs are available. This year more than 5 thousand candidates applied - 450 more than last year. The top majors chosen were: Italian Studies online, Psychology, Criminology, Nursing, English Philology, Management, Sinology, Computer Science and Law. - For applicants, the university has prepared more than 2,400 places in nearly 60 undergraduate and single master's degree programs. Such great interest in the study offer is a very good sign for us," says Monika Stojowska, deputy spokesperson for the Catholic University of Lublin. Popularity ranking of destinations in terms of the number of people per place: the best results Italian Studies online - 6.45, Psychology - 6.24, Criminology - 4.74, Nursing - 3.6, English Philology - 3.7, Management - 3.26, Sinology - 2.83, Psychology (spec. business) - 2.83, Computer Science - 2, 31, Law - 2.16. Besides, almost 2 candidates per place applied for such majors as Administration, National Security, Journalism and Social Communication, Economics, Polish Philology, Pedagogy and Special Pedagogy. - Candidates who have been qualified for admission have until Monday, July 18, to confirm electronically and send their documents. Those who remain on the waiting list for the most popular majors will receive the final decision on admission on July 20. That's when the committees will decide on possible shifts in the ranking list - explains Magdalena Pranagal, head of the KUL Recruitment Office. Recruitment for second-cycle studies is ongoing at the Catholic University of Lublin until July 15 (see https://kandydat.kul.pl/ for a full list of majors). The results of the qualification for the second degree program will be announced electronically on July 20. A day later, the university will announce additional recruitment for majors with vacancies. The offer will be available by logging on to https://rekrut.kul.lublin.pl. We encourage you to follow our social media profiles. https://www.kul.pl/new-project-through-the-eyes-of-students-for-candidates-and-students-at-kul,art_101845.html An interview with Michal Dziubii, a first-year journalism student at KUL, about the challenges for university candidates and his original project "Through the Eyes of Students" Michal Dziubii is from Lviv and is studying first-year journalism and social communication in English. How did he choose the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin and where did he get the idea for the project in supports of applicants? Why did you choose the Catholic University of Lublin? What made you study journalism and social communication? – After a four-month internship as a journalist, I understood that I wanted to develop in this direction. However, I was looking for studies exclusively in English. I chose the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) and it was the best decision i had made among other possible ones. What was your first impression of the Catholic University? Did anything surprise or amaze you? – I have plenty of positive experiences to share. It turned out that the Catholic University of Lublin is not only about studies. Spirituality plays here very important role. The academic ministry was a great support for me at the beginning. In September I joined a group of youth for hiking in the mountains, there I met many new people. It was the best way to start a new academic year! What problems did you face at the beginning? – I can't hide that I was troubled by the number of questions, related to studies. I didn't know what to expect? How complicated will these studies be? I sought answers from students or graduates of journalism. I relied on their experience and opinions. This helped me a lot in my adaptation. Tell us about your project? Where did the idea come from? – It was my experience of adaptation in college that became the starting point of the project " Through the Eyes of Students". I'm going to implement it with the Academy of Modern Media and Communication of the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL). It has only one goal – to help candidates make exactly the right decision, and it covers almost all faculties at the university. In addition, it is intended to help manage stress and trouble in the first moments at the university, it presents the entire study program through the EYES OF STUDENTS, and it opens up a new opportunity for candidates to contact the FACE of the chosen faculty, that is, the person who will provide informational and emotional support to the new candidate. Do you have other ideas on how to help candidates and students? – There are plenty of ideas, but the idea – is only 1% of success, the rest 99% - is implementation. Therefore, I invite all students who would like to support the project – to join. We will elaborate, in my opinion, an important value for candidates – an integral and supportive community of KUL students. Details of the project on our social media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/KULlublin Instagram: www.instagram.com/kul_university/ https://www.kul.pl/kul-has-begun-recruitment-for-postgraduate-studies,art_99826.html This year's offer of the university includes approximately thirty options, including eight new ones. Some of them are unique in the country, for example, Film and Television Production, Executive Master of Business Administration, Management of Family Businesses - Effective Successor. The studies will be conducted both at the university and online. Recruitment lasts until September 30. “Postgraduate studies are not only an opportunity to deepen one's competences but also a chance to advance a new career," emphasizes Dr. Dorota Bis, head of the University Center for Competency Development. The Center is regularly broadening its offer to be the most suitable for potential students. Some of the courses will be conducted in Stalowa Wola (where a branch of the university operates) and in Lublin; there it will be possible to take an MBA, rural infrastructure management, agricultural modernization, and entrepreneurship studies. Most classes will be held online. “The mark of quality of postgraduate studies at the Catholic University of Lublin is the wide range of their graduates," comments Dr. Bis and adds that more than 10,000 students have already benefited from this form of education at the university. Recruitment for postgraduate studies will last until September 30. Detailed information about each course can be found at kandydat.kul.pl/postgraduate. They can also be obtained by phone at (81) 445 39 96 or on the postgraduate studies profile of KUL on Facebook. The Study is open to graduates of first- and second-level studies, as well as students in the final year of unified master's studies. https://www.kul.pl/the-mind-within-the-web-vi-summer-school-of-cognitive-science,art_99787.html The Mind within the Web. VI Summer School of Cognitive Science The Summer School of Cognitive Science, organized under the patronage of the Polish Cognitive Science Association, is aimed at young researchers, Ph. D. and cognitive science (cognitive and social communication sciences) students, as well as academic organizations conducting various kinds of cognitive science research. The Summer School consists of a series of lectures and workshops that cover disciplines such as cognitive science, cognitive and social psychology, semiotics, cultural studies, visual studies, and neuroaesthetics. The title of this year's Summer School of Cognitive Science drew attention to how new technologies and media affect individuals and society. What are the consequences, considered psychologically, sociologically, anthropologically, and ethically, of the increasing technological merging of cognition, knowledge and communication? What new kinds of cognition and knowledge, social behaviors and values will emerge in the global network society? Nowadays, the belief is that new communication technologies are an important factor in determining the development of society and civilization, especially the growth of information and the advancement of knowledge. On the one hand, many researchers claim that they enhance man's natural cognitive abilities and capabilities. On the other hand, it is noted more and more that information technologies are weakening and even destroying certain forms of perception, memory, imagination, as well as independent and creative thinking; abilities essential for education, public discourse, and participation in culture with its’ symbolism. There are plenty of indications that the development of modern communication technologies is contributing to the weakening of the ability to focus and control the attention span, the ability to remember larger chunks of information, and the ability to argue rationally. The atrophy of these skills can have serious political and social consequences in the form of radicalization and polarization of views, the wide spread of stereotypes, superstitions, prejudices and, consequently, the formation of post-truth culture. The aim of the 6th Summer School of Cognitive Science, to be held September 7-10, 2022 in Kazimierz Dolny, is to attempt to provide a methodical and empirically supported answer to the question of how new technologies and media affect individuals and society. What are the psychological, sociological, anthropological and ethical consequences of the increasing technological mediation of cognition, knowledge and communication? What is the right balance between the positive and negative consequences of new communication technologies ? What new forms of cognition, knowledge and attitudes are emerging from the global Internet society? Westrongly encourage students, PhD students and young researchers from the fields of cognitive science, psychology, social sciences, linguistics, anthropology and finally philosophy toactively participate inthe 6th Summer School of Cognitive Science. Wewould greatly appreciate presentations focusing onthe problems and questions listed below. Communication technologies asnew cognitive environments new forms of cognition inthe age of internet communication diversity of cognitive systems emerging from new communication technologies new media asasocio-cultural revolution orjust aprolongation of cultural trends impact of Internet communication onhuman cognitive abilities such asmemory, attention, reasoning, problem solving, creativity and imagination obstacles tothe construction of intuitive human-machine interfaces study of online social behaviour asameans of understanding individual and social behaviour new opportunities for social research provided byemerging communication technologies such ascrowdsourcing, social network analysis, Big Data and cyber-ethnography Between knowledge and disinformation the impact of the global communication network onthe perspective of traditional epistemic virtues such astruth, reliability and credibility post-truth and related mechanisms, such asfake news, clickbait, deep fake, information bubble non-cognitive aspects of knowledge building practices possible ways of counteracting disinformation through verification of beliefs and popularisation of science The web mental health artificial intelligence, Big Data and network applications asnew tools for diagnosing certain mental disorders depression and anxiety disorders inthe age of the Internet new forms of technology addiction the Internet and its role inraising awareness of mental disorders impact of new technologies onredefinition of life priorities, sense of individual existence and social relations. You are warmly invited! Kognitywistyka KUL https://www.kul.pl/the-catholic-university-of-lublin-has-obtained-the-consent-to-open-the-medical-faculty,art_99689.html The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin will be able to establish the long-cycle studies with a general academic profile in medicine. KUL has obtained the consent of the Minister of Education and Science as well as the positive recommendations of the Polish Accreditation Committee and the Ministry of Health. ‘It is a significant moment in the over hundred-year-old history of our university. Launching of medical faculty will be the realisation of the vision of our founder, Rev. Idzi Radziszewski. Medical studies are conducted by Catholic universities in many countries around the world. It is a natural thing that we join this group. By educating new doctors we will also respond to social needs connected with the access to the health benefits’ said the Rector of KUL Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski. He informed that the medical faculty will be launched in 2023. The Rector of KUL added that the university had established cooperation with, among others, the Medical University of Lublin, the Medical College of Wisconsin in the USA, the Gemelli University Hospital and the Sapienza University of Rome, the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik in Lebanon and its local School of Medicine and Medical Sciences as well as the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain. The medical faculty will be conducted by the Catholic University of Lublin at its campus in Konstantynów in Lublin, where there are modern laboratories and specialised infrastructure, which is successively supplemented. The education is planned to begin in the autumn of 2023. In the beginning, 60 students will be able to study medicine at KUL, but the number of students is expected to increase every year. The launching of medical studies in the English language is also planned. The Faculty of Natural Sciences and Health already offers nursing and midwifery studies. https://www.kul.pl/ambassador-of-the-state-of-israel-at-catholic-university-of-lublin-meetings-of-israelis-and-poles-are-very-much-needed,art_99575.html Dialogue and meetings between young people from Israel and Poland are the key to building understanding between our nations, stressed Yacov Livne, Ambassador of Israel to Poland, who met with the students and faculty of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin on June 21. We are called to build bridges of mutual understanding and close the communication gap, emphasized the diplomat. At the beginning of the meeting, Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski said he was looking forward to the forthcoming cooperation with the Embassy of the State of Israel in Poland and academic centres in Israel. He announced the creation of The Abraham Joshua Heschel Centre at the Catholic University of Lublin. – The Centre seeks to build bridges and develop Polish-Israeli research and cultural cooperation – stressed Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski. Ambassador Yacov Livne highlighted Poland’s significant role in the history of the Jewish people: A thousand years of living together on Polish soil is the cornerstone of our present and future cooperation (...) We should work together to solve the problems that Poland, Israel and all of Europe are currently facing. Challenges open up new opportunities. Responding to these challenges is our task. – A lack of respect between parties who do not understand each other is the root of many conflicts. My people have experienced this very strongly. Our main task is to build bridges - bridges of mutual understanding, bridges of communication. This is the answer to the challenges we are going to face in the future – added the ambassador. – It is much easier to distort history when we do not know our own past and that of our neighbours. It is therefore our responsibility to conduct thorough research and to learn from history based on facts –indicated Yacov Livne, highlighting the value of academic collaboration. – Meetings of young Poles and Israelis constitute an investment in our common future. The future of our mutual relations is in their hands – he pointed out. The visit of the Ambassador of the State of Israel to Poland to the Catholic University of Lublin is a stepping stone of an ongoing cooperation. The Catholic University of Lublin plans to open The Abraham Joshua Heschel Centre, which will carry out joint educational and cultural projects addressed to Jewish and Polish youth. The first meeting between the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski and Ambasador Yacov Livne took place on 13 May 2022 in the Israeli Embassy in Warsaw. Yacov Livne has served as the Israeli Ambassador to Poland since 28 February 2022. https://www.kul.pl/scholarship-at-the-university-of-notre-dame,art_99764.html From January to May 2022, dr hab. Magdalena Smoleń-Wawrzusiszyn, Professor at the Department of Polish Language of the Catholic University of Lublin, stayed at the University of Notre Dame (U.S.A., Indiana), where she conducted an introductory Polish Studies semester course offered to students of various majors by the Nanovic Institute of European Studies. The course entitled "Freedom and Authority: the Case of Poland", with a predominantly cross-cultural approach, focused on presenting various issues concerning Poland's role as a Catholic-based country in the center of Europe, where the process of decommunization of the former Soviet bloc countries had begun. One of the students taking the course undertook to prepare his graduate dissertation on current church-state relations in Poland. As part of the research for this thesis, and with the support of his American home department, the Nanovic Institute of European Studies, the student came to Lublin, where he conducted interviews with priests and students of our university during the last week of May. In addition to the above course, dr hab. Smoleń-Wawrzusiszyn also organized and taught classes in Polish culture and Polish as a foreign language, which was last taught at Notre Dame in the 1950s. The five-month stay at the University of Notre Dame was made possible by the Kosciuszko Foundation Exchange Program to the United States. Dr hab. Smoleń-Wawrzusiszyn received the scholarship in March 2020, but it was implemented with nearly a two-year delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic. https://www.kul.pl/the-rector-of-the-john-paul-ii-catholic-university-of-lublin-met-with-the-mayor-of-lviv-and-visited-universities,art_99601.html Projects related to helping victims of the war – was the topic of the meeting of Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, Rector of KUL with Andrij Sadowy, Mayor of Lviv. The delegation of KUL visited Ukraine on Wednesday. - ‘During the meeting with the Mayor of Lviv we offered various forms of help for the victims of the war. We talked with university rectors about cooperation and support projects for them on our part. In a similar way, we met with the National Center of Rehabilitation “Unbroken”. Since the beginning of the war we have provided help for Ukraine and for several hundred of our students, postgraduates and workers from that country as well as for their families. We will still continue relief efforts and maintain contacts with our partners in Lviv. We are aware that the needs are huge, today we are not able to predict the end of the war’, – said the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin. Rev. Prof. Kalinowski was accompanied by the management members of the Foundation for Development of KUL (Fundacja Rozwoju KUL). In addition to meeting with the Mayor of Lviv, encounters with university rectors were held: with prof. Volodymyr Melnyk from Ivan Franko National University of Lviv and with prof. Borys Zmienkosvsky from Daniel Halicki National Medical University, as well as with the Rector of the Ukrainian Catholic University, Rev. dr Bogdan Prach. Furthermore, the Rector of KUL also spoke to the Archbishop of Lviv, Rev. Mieczysław Mokrzycki, with the consul of the Republic of Poland in Lviv. Ms. Joanna Kocot and with the Director of St. Józef Bilczewski Institute of Theology, Rev. dr Jacek Uliasz. Then, the delegation visited “Cmentarz Orląt Lwowskich” - the cemetery in Lviv , where they met with Janusz Balicki – the President of the Association for the Protection of Military Graves in Lviv. Additionally, they visited the Archcathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Pantaleon hospital as well as the National Center of Rehabilitation “Unbroken”, where there are treated who suffer physical and mental violence during Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine. After the Russian invasion on Ukraine on February 24th, the Catholic University of Lublin launched a social, legal, psychological and pastoral assistance for Ukrainian citizens. Thanks to the involvement of the academic society in volunteering, it was possible to arrange 20 transports with gifts that reached Ukraine, as well as to prepare the accommodation for refugees, to organize the fundraising and to start the language courses that are still underway. Moreover this year’s KULturalia, took place under the banner of helping Ukraine. Since December last year, one of the Sunday Holy Masses in the church of the Catholic University of Lublin has been celebrated in Ukrainian. The first one was celebrated by the bishop of Kiev-Żytomierz, Rev. Witalij Krywicki who also met the Ukrainian students of the Catholic University of Lublin. https://www.kul.pl/the-most-important-activities-of-the-university-in-the-passing-academic-year,art_99582.html Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski presented the most important, current information concerning the functioning of the University. –In the passing academic year we had almost ten thousand of students, including about 800 Ph.D. students. KUL employed over 1000 academic teachers and over 800 administrative staff. As far as current recruitment is concerned, at the moment we have about 200 more candidates than in a similar period last year – Professor Mirosław Kalinowski informed. The Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin reminded us that for the new academic year 2022/2023 the university has launched different attractive faculties, such as artificial intelligence or law in business. Currently, KUL offers education in almost 60 faculties. The meeting of the representatives of the KUL authorities with the academic community –teachers and students – was held in the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński Hall in the main headquarters of the university in Lublin. It was preceded by the broadcast of promotional videos, prepared by the Academy of Modern Media and Communication KUL. – In these presentations we have our University in a nutshell – emphasized the Rector of KUL, pointing out that the promotional activities of KUL put emphasis on social media, the main sources of information for young people. During his speech, the Rector reminded the audience that at the end of February, when Russia invaded Ukraine, the KUL, like many other institutions in Poland, delivered help to Ukrainian citizens. He also listed the most important forms of support from the Catholic University of Lublin for Ukrainian students, including accommodation, legal, psychological and pastoral assistance, provided also to refugees not affiliated with the university. Rector pointed out that there were as many as 20 transports to Ukrainian cities, such as Lviv, Kyiv and Kharkiv – organized by the staff of KUL – with the most necessary gifts in that moment. Moreover, Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski informed about many ongoing initiatives of KUL in the current academic year e.g. Areopag of Universities or the KUL Centre of Studies for the incarcerated. – The Agency of the Holy See for Evaluation and Promotion of the Quality of Education at Universities has positively evaluated and certified studies in philosophy, theology and canon law. This certificate is a confirmation of the highest academic standards and quality – stressed the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin. More detailed information on the functioning of the university was provided by the Vice-Chancellors of the Catholic University of Lublin – Vice-Rector for Mission and Administration, Rev. Prof. Mirosław Sitarz; Vice-Rector for Education, Prof. Ewa Trzaskowska; Vice-Rector for Science and Human Resources, Prof. Beata Zarzycka; Vice-Rector for Students, Doctoral Students and Development, Prof. Beata Piskorska. The meeting was chaired by the University Spokesperson, Prof. Michał Wyrostkiewicz. More information about meeting in the VIDEO REPORT, photos in the PHOTORELATION. https://www.kul.pl/the-catholic-university-of-lublin-signed-an-agreement-with-gemelli-and-the-la-sapienza-university-regarding-research,art_99418.html "The scientific-research cooperation with the Gemelli Polyclinic and the La Sapienza University in Rome guarantees a high level of medical studies at the Catholic University of Lublin, which are to start soon," said the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski. KUL signed an agreement on cooperation with the "La Sapienza" University and the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome on Monday, 6 June 2022. The event was attended by the Polish Minister of Education and Science, Przemyslaw Czarnek, and President of the Medical Research Agency, Radoslaw Sierpinski, Ph.D. in medical studies. During the meeting Minister Przemysław Czarnek pointed out that everything that is done in the medical field is done with the other person in mind, which is deeply embedded in the Christian attitude. “I am convinced that this meeting will now enable us to start cooperation in specific scientific projects, in which the human being is the center,” said the Minister of Education and Science at the meeting. Prof. Kalinowski emphasized that thanks to cooperation with the best universities in the world, medical students at the Catholic University of Lublin will be able to gain knowledge based on the latest research and from the most eminent specialists. “Developing joint educational, clinical and social projects, cooperation in scientific and medical research in hospitals and on the premises of medical universities, and expanding and strengthening the capacity and potential of both staff and students are just some of the possibilities provided by the agreements signed today,” the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin said. “I believe that a new chapter in the history of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin begins with the opening of a new field of study. Medical studies at KUL are a natural part of a deeply Christian view of human nature as a spiritual-bodily unity. This is what our long-time professor, St. John Paul II taught us. This is what we want to live by today,” stressed the Rector. Prof. Kalinowski, alluding to the statements of the Encyclical Evangelium Vitae by John Paul II, stressed that the life of every human being is a value in itself and our task is to defend its inviolability at every stage. “We are called to enfold life with care and respect, especially life marked by illness and aging, and therefore we want to make every effort to ensure that the education of future medical personnel is of the highest possible level,” emphasized the Rector of KUL. The Catholic University of Lublin and the University of Rome “La Sapienza” declared their involvement in the activities of the projects: INOFLAM - involving laboratory and clinical studies of degenerative diseases such as fibrosis, cancer, and heart disease, and ANDROMEDA - focusing on the extraction and identification of natural antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs produced by single-celled organisms under conditions of weightlessness (microgravity). The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin will begin educating future doctors in the fall of 2023. Initially, 60 students will be accepted to study medicine at KUL. Earlier the Institute of Health Sciences of the Catholic University of Lublin also established close cooperation with the Medical College of Wisconsin in the USA, in the field of academic exchange and medical research, mainly in oncology. In addition, KUL is undertaking cooperation with the faculty of medicine of Universidad de Pamplona, which is one of the best private medical training centers in Europe. https://www.kul.pl/lub-law-day-2022-modern-challenges-of-legal-education,art_99581.html At the Faculty of Law, Canon Law and Administration at KUL, we do not educate for education's sake, we educate people who will significantly influence the functioning of the country, and the judiciary and will protect citizens' rights and freedom - said dean WPPKiA prof. Andrzej Herbet, during the Lub§Law DAY 2022. The theme of the first edition of the event addressed to the Lublin legal community were the challenges of legal education. They were discussed not only by academic lecturers from both Lublin law faculties (KUL and UMCS) but also by practitioners. The debate was followed to by a large group of law students. The organizers intended that Lub§Law DAY shall become an annual meeting of the Lublin legal community. The attendance during the first meeting, which took place on May 31, proves the need for such initiative. The debate gathered over 400 people - lecturers, students, but also practitioners: judges, attorneys and legal advisors. The co-organizer of the meeting was the Catholic University of Lublin Development Foundation. Its president Tomasz Tokarski drew attention to the importance of lawyers in every democratic state. Lawyers are there to protect citizens against negative phenomena and help them in life difficulties - he said. What’s more,Vice Chancellor for KUL Education prof. Ewa Trzaskowska, paid attention to the holistic aspect of law studies, thanks to which graduates find employment not only in legal professions, but also where the law is applied - in public administration, uniformed services, or foreign service. Therefore, law studies must prepare for further professional training, which takes place, for example, within legal corporations. Gallery https://www.kul.pl/accomplishment-of-the-kul-on-capitol-hill-in-the-usa,art_99362.html The Institute of Health Sciences of the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) has established close cooperation with the Medical College of Wisconsin in the United States in the field of academic exchange and medical research, mainly in oncology. Dr. Katarzyna Czarnek from the Institute of Health Sciences of the Catholic University of Lublin and Mr. Stanislaw Pisarski, the Rector's Representative for Strategy, opened the cooperation of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin with the MCW in the field of academic exchange and medical research, mainly in oncology. - This opens completely new perspectives for our university, especially for its scientists and students of the newly created medical faculty,' emphasizes Dr. Katarzyna Czarnek. Close cooperation between KUL and this leading medical center in the United States is under the patronage of the Ministry of Education and Science. The university plans to start training future doctors in 2023. On the anniversary of the foundation of the Catholic University of Lublin, on December 8, 2021, the Convention for the creation and development of a medical faculty was established. The declaration of joining the Convention was signed by the representatives of the government and local administration, the Rector of the Medical University in Lublin, Prof. Wojciech Załuska, and the directors of hospitals. The work on the creation of medical faculties at the KUL started several years ago, in the first stage education in nursing and midwifery was launched. https://www.kul.pl/professor-przemyslaw-czarnek-presented-with-the-primate-wyszynski-award,art_99214.html The Alumni Association of the Faculty of Law, Canon Law and Administration of the Catholic University of Lublin has decided bestow the Primate of the Millennium, Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński Award to the Minister of Education and Science, Prof. Przemysław Czarnek. The award ceremony will take place on 20 May 2022 at 3 p.m. in the John Paul II College, assembly hall C-1031. The laudation will be delivered by Rev. Prof. Józef Krukowski. https://www.kul.pl/the-rector-of-kul-and-ambassador-of-israel-spoke-about-common-educational-projects,art_99184.html Meetings of Polish-Jewish youth as well as the common educational and cultural projects - were the main topics of the conversation between the Rector of John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski and the Ambassador of Israel in Poland, Yacov Livne. The meeting was held on Friday, 13 May 2022, at the Israeli Embassy in Warsaw. "I would like to thank the Ambassador for his friendly reception. We hope for fruitful cooperation, which will lead to the meetings and mutual visits of KUL students and Israeli youth", said Rev. Prof. Kalinowski. The Rector of KUL added that he invited Ambassador Yacov Livne to deliver a lecture at KUL. "We also discussed the Centre of Jewish Studies and the Catholic-Jewish Relations, on which we are working for several months. We are planning to open it at KUL in the new academic year", stressed Rev. Prof. Kalinowski. Ambassador Yacov Livne emphasised the importance of the Jewish-Christian and Israeli-Polish dialogue. "I will gladly support the actions leading to further education and a better understanding of our common heritage and history", added Ambassador Livne and thanked KUL for its engagements in this field. https://www.kul.pl/54th-ecclesiology-week-the-church-of-the-saints,art_99204.html The Ecclesiological Week will be held at the Catholic University of Lublin for the 54th time. The theme of this year's proceedings will be "The Church of the Saints". The event, which will be held from 17th to 19th May 2022, in room 1031 of the John Paul II College (10th floor), will be hosted by the Academic Circle of Theologians. Holiness, is as John Paul II wrote, "the aspiration to the 'high measure' of the ordinary Christian life". As he explained, it should not be misunderstood that this ideal of perfection is "a vision of an extraordinary life, accessible only to a select few 'geniuses' of holiness. The ways of holiness are manifold and adapted to every calling" (Novo millennio ineunte). During this year's ecclesiological conference, students and lecturers of the Catholic University of Lublin as well as guests from Polish and foreign universities will analyze the topic of holiness from various perspectives - from the biblical perspective, from the tradition of the Church, from the ecumenical perspective, moral theology and history of art. Scientific proceedings will begin with the Holy Mass in the Academic Church of the Catholic University of Lublin, which on the first day of the session will be chaired by the Grand Chancellor of KUL, Archbishop Stanisław Budzik. The program of the event consist of many interesting lectures, incl. "Sanctity - Eternal Rest? What are the redeemed engaged in?”, Delivered by Fr. Zdzisław Kijas OFMConv from the Pontifical Faculty of Theology of Saint Bonaventure in Rome; "Lay theology and synodality as the way of living out the universal call to holiness" - a topic prepared by Fr. prof. Andrzej Proniewski from the University of Bialystok or a lecture by Fr. prof. Tadeusz Zadykowicz from the Catholic University of Lublin about controversial images of saints. https://www.kul.pl/applications-for-the-summer-school-2022-are-open,art_99187.html For for the 49th time The School of Polish Language and Culture of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin will organize theThe Summer School of Polish Language and Culture. Fromthe beginning of June until the end of August 2022international groups will explore the secrets of the Polish language and will be acquainted with Polish culture.We plan to organize our courses in-person, at the main University campus. You may choose a course lasting from 2 to 8 weeks, which will commence from July 4 or July 25 for the next group (depending on your choice). Summer language programs will last from 2 to 8 weeks having various intensity levels - from 5 to 8 hours daily. Apart from learning Polish our program includes lectures of Polish culture and literature, Polish history and socio-economic issues. Moreover, there is a rich cultural and tourist program. Our participants will go on a sightseeing tour of Lublin, they will also visit Sandomierz, Warsaw, Kozłówka, Zamość, and take part in concerts and especially prepared dance workhops. A seminar for those interested in Polish culture will be held once a week. The program will be diversified by additional workshops and events, e.g. a pronunciation competition or a city game. Applications are open until July 3, 2022!More information on our dedicated website HERE https://www.kul.pl/kul-expands-its-cooperation-with-the-detention-centre-in-lublin,art_99161.html An agreement on cooperation has being signed on 12 May 2022 by the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, and the Director of the Detention Centre, Lt. Col. Anna Ausz. It will enable the students and employees of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the Catholic University of Lublin to conduct re-socialisation programmes at the Detention Centre in Lublin. The programmes will concern, among other things, counteracting aggression, violence and addictions, preventing the negative effects of isolation and shaping social skills. The agreement constitutes another stage in the cooperation between the university and the detention centre, which includes conducting studies for inmates. As a result of the agreement, the educational and re-socialisation activities for detainees carried out by the detention centre will be complemented by an in-depth theoretical basis thanks to the involvement of employees and students of the Faculty of Social Sciences, in particular the Institute of Sociological Sciences. Apart from preparing new re-socialisation programmes, the university will, additionally, enable officers and employees of the detention centre to raise their professional qualifications within the framework of post-graduate studies, as well as through participation in academic classes. Moreover this cooperation will allow to conduct joint research in the field of social sciences. Since 2013 the Catholic University of Lublin has made possible for inmates to study. Currently 26 inmates are studying family science in three years of first degree studies. Since October the Centre of Studies for Prisoners will be opened, which will enable imprisoned persons not only in the Detention Centre in Lublin, but also in other correctional facilities in Poland, to start their studies. https://www.kul.pl/registration-of-candidates-for-studies-begins,art_99031.html Registration for studies 5 May 2022. KUL has initiated the registration of candidates for studies. High school graduates will have time to register electronically until 8 July, and the results of the recruitment procedure will be announced on 13 July. Registration for MA programmes will last until July 15, and the results will be announced on July 20. The university has prepared more than 2400 places for candidates in nearly 60 fields of study for bachelor's and master's degrees, and more than 1000 places in 40 fields of study for bachelor's degrees. These are alike studies in the humanities, social sciences, law, theology, philosophy, as well as science and health sciences. Recruitment of candidates is carried out through the e-Recruitment service: https://rekrut.kul.lublin.pl. A detailed description of all the courses available at KUL can be found at kandydat.kul.pl In this year's recruitment the university offers five new courses: - dutch studies - Italian studies – on-line - law in business - romance studies - artificial intelligence Those who have not yet decided on a particular field of study or are not sure of their professional predispositions are invited to contact the KUL Career Office, which offers free consultations with a vocational counselor. The counsellor will help to define the candidate's strengths and will suggest appropriate fields of study. Registration for the meeting is necessary (e-mail: doradca@kul.pl) or phone: tel. 81 445 41 31. https://www.kul.pl/kulturalia-2022-under-the-banner-quot-in-solidarity-with-ukraine-quot,art_99088.html This year's Days of Student Culture - KULturalia 2022 will be held on the 13th and 14th of May under the slogan "In Solidarity with Ukraine". Stars such as Ania Dąbrowska, Daria Zawiałow, Piotr Cugowski and the band IRA will be performing in the courtyard of the Catholic University of Lublin. The events will be devoted to supporting refugees from Ukraine, as well as to honoring institutions that help them thanks to KUL The tickets for the concerts are available online on kupbilecik.pl or in the office of the Student Council (room CN-231) in the university building at Racławickie Avenue 14 (Polish: Aleje Racaławickie) in Lublin. Part of the income from the tickets will be allocated for helping refugees from Ukraine. The price of a ticket for all events every day is PLN50 for students, and PLN70 for others. “KULturalia 2022 – the event that for many years has been characterized by a high level of student culture, this year will be held under the banner: “In Solidarity with Ukraine”. The purpose of the events is to support Ukraine and its citizens as well as to integrate the academic society of our university, while maintaining openness to all universities in Lublin.” - said the Vice-Rector for students, postgraduates and development, Prof. Beata Piskorska. The Vice-Rector of KUL also emphasized that the university authorities had decided to reduce the scale of this year's KULturalia for safety reasons related to the situation beyond the eastern border of Poland. The events accompanying the KULturalia, incl. sports or cultural ones, will be organized at a later date. Prof. Piskorska added that on the second day of KULturalia the people and institutions which supported KUL in its helping Ukrainian refugees will be honoured. John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin – as reminded Prof. Piskorska – has been offering a broad help for Ukrainian refugees since the first days of the Russian aggression. What is important, not only students of KUL but also their relatives obtained lodging, legal and psychological support. The Event called ‘Days of Student Culture – KULturalia 2022’ is organized by University’s Student Council and the foundation “Fundacja Rozwoju KUL” in cooperation with the university authorities. “What is important and should be emphasized here is that KULturalia this year take place under the banner of “In Solidarity with Ukraine”. “We are aware that our eastern neighbours are struggling with Russian invasion and we want to support our Ukrainian brothers not only in a symbolic way.” - said the board chairman of the foundation “Fundacja Rozwoju KUL”, Tomasz Tokarski who, during the press briefing at University Media Center, was accompanied by vice chairman of the foundation Tomasz Ośko. “We hope that KULturalia yet again will be an event with high level of student culture, and that it will fulfill the expectations not only of students of KUL but also of students of other universities in Lublin.” - added Tomasz Tokarski. The planned concerts and artists of KULturalia 2022 were introduced by the Student Council’s chairman Paweł Zdybel. “We count on the huge success of our event. We are planning two concert days – on the 13th of May the performers will be Ania Dąbrowska and Daria Zawiałow, on the 14th of May there will be a concert of Piotr Cugowski and the band IRA. During the second day of the concert we are planning to present a film that summarizes our foregoing help for Ukraine” – said Paweł Zdybel, thanking the medial patrons and sponsors. For the Catholic University of Lublin the most important thing was, especially during the first days of Russian invasion, to provide free accommodation for refugees – in a short-term way it was possible in the dormitories at Konstantynów and Niecała Streets in Lublin. Furthermore, the workers and volunteers of KUL got engaged in collecting most necessary things for families from Ukraine. So far, thanks to the help of donors, over a dozen of transports with gifts have gone to Ukraine. In addition to the direct in-kind assistance and help, the University also launched a fundraiser: the foundation “Fundacja Rozwoju KUL” opened a bank account to which funds can be transferred to help victims of Russian aggression. KUL also started a hotline/helpline, thanks to which students from Ukraine could obtain information on where to search for help, how to continue their studies in Poland, as well as information on the forms of assistance provided by the Catholic University of Lublin The refugees also receive legal, psychological and spiritual support from the Catholic University of Lublin The refugees also receive also legal, psychological and religious/spiritual support from KUL. The University has offered help for families, for mothers to look after their children, a bank of job offers for refugees (permanent and temporary job offers can be forwarded to “Biuro Karier KUL”), free Polish language courses, financial support for students and postgraduates from Ukraine as well as assistance of volunteers at information and accommodation points, including assistance for people with disabilities https://www.kul.pl/the-manuscript-of-romanticism-in-the-chopin-museum-in-warsaw,art_98979.html One of the most precious exhibits from the collection of the KUL Universities Library, the manuscript of Adam Mickiewicz's ballad 'Romanticism', can be seen at the exhibition 'The Birth of Polish Romanticism' at the Fryderyk Chopin Museum in Warsaw. The exhibition, organised in the Year of Polish Romanticism, pays tribute to the two renowned artists of the era - Chopin and Mickiewicz and will be on display until 24 July 2022. This year marks the 200th anniversary of the first publication of Adam Mickiewicz's Ballads and Romances. This event is considered to be the symbolic beginning of the Romantic era in Poland, which is why 2022 has been declared the Year of Polish Romanticism. The Chopin Museum is recalling this anniversary in unique way, presenting together with the manuscripts of two great works by Chopin and Mickiewicz - a fragment of the Ballad in G minor by the great composer and the ballad 'Romanticism' by one of the bards. The works were juxtaposed not by accident - they are linked by the ballad genre. "Romanticism", published in 1822 in the volume "Ballads and Romances", is a manifesto of the Romantic perception of the world, it is an apotheosis of folklore, and spirituality, it presents supernatural phenomena as a force that can be perceived only with the heart. The ballad manuscript presented at the exhibition comes from the Philomaths' Archive, located in the collection of the University Library of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. The collection includes 69 manuscript units comprising materials on the history of the Philomaths, correspondence of the Society's members and poetic works, including Romanticism. The archives connected with the Philomaths survived the time of the partitions and world wars, some of them were transported from Vilnius to Poland after World War II, where they can be found in the collection of the University Library of the Catholic University of Lublin and the Museum of Literature in Warsaw. https://www.kul.pl/prof-adam-biela-member-of-the-european-academy-of-sciences-and-arts,art_98870.html We are pleased to inform that Prof. Adam Biela has become a member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts. The European Academy of Sciences and Arts is one of the most prestigious scientific and artistic organizations in Europe. Founded in 1990, it brings together more than 2,000 of the most distinguished scientists and artists from across Europe, including many Nobel Prize winners. https://www.kul.pl/professor-piotr-francuz-the-patron-of-the-laboratory-of-experimental-psychology-department-at-kul,art_98846.html The Laboratory of Experimental Psychology Department of the Catholic University of Lublin was named after its creator and long-time head, Prof. Piotr Francuz - an outstanding psychologist and academic teacher. Prof. Piotr Francuz died in November 2020, but as his colleagues emphasize, you can still feel his presence. For the community of psychologists at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin this ceremony was an important event. Sister Beata Zarzycka, Professor of the Catholic University of Lublin, Vice-Rector for Science and Human Resources worked with Professor Piotr Francuz. - Piotr was an excellent teacher and educator. He is still among us as a friend, a kind man, and an outstanding scientist," emphasized the Vice-Rector. "Remembering Prof. Piotr Francuz, who unexpectedly and shockingly passed away a year and a half ago, I think of his three most important qualities: openness, curiosity and expressiveness. He was an extremely eloquent researcher, we all knew what he was thinking, but at the same time he was a very open and curious person. I think that the Laboratory of the Department of Experimental Psychology at KUL reflects this openness and readiness to introduce new things". - emphasized the director of the Institute of Psychology of the Catholic University of Lublin, Dr. Wacław Bąk, Professor of the Catholic University of Lublin. The Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Arkadiusz Jabłoński, PhD, Professor of the Catholic University of Lublin, described Prof. Francuz as a creative spirit, a man of many talents who was able to be a good boss and a good companion at the same time. - He taught attention to the quality of scientific research, he motivated students to discover, to search. The Laboratory of the Department of Experimental Psychology at the Catholic University of Lublin is a specialized scientific unit that conducts experimental research on, among other things, perception and brain activity using specialized equipment. "The laboratory, which its staff will talk about on the occasion of honoring Prof. Piotr Francuz, is mainly of a research nature, but it also serves students, mainly those who conduct research as part of their master's theses around cognitive neuroscience," - said Prof. Wacław Bąk. The event was also an opportunity to present the latest issue of the "Annals of Psychology" dedicated to Prof. Piotr Francuz and his research. Prof. Piotr Francuz, an esteemed psychologist and long-time lecturer at the Catholic University of Lublin, died on November 14, 2020. He was director of the Institute of Psychology at the Catholic University of Lublin (2012-2020), head of the Department of Experimental Psychology at the Catholic University of Lublin and of the Laboratory of the Department of Experimental Psychology at KUL. He was 60 years old. https://www.kul.pl/prof-podraza-the-russian-attack-on-the-nato-country-will-be-a-quot-red-line-quot-for-the-usa,art_98622.html The aim of U.S. President Joe Biden's visit to Poland is to show the world that any Russian attack on one of the NATO countries will cross the "red line" - then the Alliance will have to respond to the Kremlin with all its might – said the political scientist, a specialist in the field of transatlantic relations, Prof. Andrzej Podraza from the Institute of Political Science and Public Administration of the Catholic University of Lublin. In the case of Russian use of chemical weapons on the territory of Ukraine it will be necessary to completely suspend the supply of Russian petroleum, natural gas and coal to the EU – adds the KUL expert. U.S. President Joe Biden began a two-day visit to Poland on Friday, March 25th, right after participation in the extraordinary summits of NATO, the European Council and the G7 (the seven most developed countries in the world) for Russian aggression against Ukraine which lasts more than a month. The U.S. leader announced there i.a. further strengthening NATO's collective defence, especially on the eastern flank of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The visit to Warsaw of the U.S. President Joe Biden is a clear signal that Poland – as a large country neighbouring war-torn Ukraine – is seen as one of the most active countries not only helping refugees, but also ensuring – in cooperation with the Americans – security in the east border of NATO and the European Union – said Prof. Andrzej Podraza. In his opinion, further sanctions that the USA decided to impose on the Kremlin and Russian oligarchs, do not lead to a possible clash between the West and Russia, but are intended to be a clear signal that the United States is continuing its policy of weakening Russia in military aggression against Ukraine. – This underlines the fact that the United States is fulfilling its allied obligations and that it will defend – as the leaders of the U.S. have provided – every inch of territory in the North Atlantic Alliance. This is also the main message of Joe Biden's presence in Warsaw – added Prof. Podraza. – Of course, there may also be an increase in the presence of American soldiers or NATO troops in the countries of our part of the North American Alliance, including Poland. There may be a change in the nature of this presence – that is, so far, we have been dealing with a so-called rotational presence, and a decision on the permanent presence of troops is now taken into account. This would be a significant change from the point of view of the importance of the U.S. Armed Forces’ presence, but there would be no significant change in the current American policy, which has been supporting Poland and the Baltic states since they joined NATO – he added. At the same time, the KUL expert ruled out direct action taken by NATO or by the USA on the Ukrainian territory – so far this has been pointed out not only by President Joe Biden, but also by other members of the U.S. administration, such as the U.S. President's Advisor on U.S. National Security Jake Sullivan, as well as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. This "red line" for NATO will be the violation of the borders of the Allies. NATO will not go into a further conflict with Russia, because it would risk a direct war. And this is not a conflict of a conventional nature, because perhaps – if only conventional weapons were at stake – NATO countries would risk presence in the Ukraine. However, let us remember that Russia is a nuclear power and we have already heard threats from President Vladimir Putin regarding the usage of nuclear weapons – emphasized Prof. Podraza. – This is the factor that makes NATO very restrained and it will not agree to the Polish proposal regarding the implementation of the NATO peacekeeping mission in Ukraine. And even if willing parties came togather – including Poland, perhaps a few other countries – this mission would be impossible to implement without the American support – he added. Recently, the West, including the US President, has raised the issue of possible use by Russia biological or chemical weapons – in their opinion Vladimir Putin, who accused Ukraine of considering its use, is thinking about using this kind of weapons during the current war. – We must be prepared for this - because there will be an important question of what to do next after use of chemical weapons, what to do about it. The best solution would be to completely break off the economic relationship with Russia, to completely stop the import of Russian petroleum, natural gas and coal to the EU Member States – said Prof. Podraza, stipulating, however, that at the moment, Germany and Hungary do not agree to this. – Germany could stop the supply of Russian hydrocarbons to their country, but this decision would be contrary to the already long-term dependence and further dependence on energy resources from Russia – added the KUL expert. In his opinion, greater military involvement in Ukraine could be decided only by the United States, which is the largest military power in the world. Prof. Podraza however, recalled that when it came to the use of chemical weapons in Syria, which for the administration of the Barack Obama’s presidency was supposed to be a "red line", but finally it did not cause any intervention from the USA. - Unfortunately, this may happen again in Ukraine. We can only stand aside, look at this tragedy, which in itself is a terrible thing. However, it seems to me, that this decision will still remain with the United States, which finance, it is worth recalling, as much as 1/3 of all defence spending in the world – said KUL expert. – It seems to me that it will be a far-reaching abstention, because if Vladimir Putin could use chemical weapons, then why not nuclear weapons? And this is what unfortunately ties hands to the Americans. Hopefully it will not end like in Srebrenica, were Dutch troops under the banner of the UN next to it were not able to do anything while the Serbs carried out the massacre of the Bosnian people – summed up Prof. Andrzej Podraza. Prof. Andrzej Podraza is a political scientist who heads the work of the Department of International Relations and Security at the Catholic University of Lublin. Beyond transatlantic relations, his main areas of interest are i.a. international security, including the concept and threats of energy security and security in cyberspace, taking into account protection of critical infrastructure. In the past, he was a researcher at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London (Chatham House) and European Commission’s expert. Prof. Podraza belongs to many national and international scientific associations. He has had lectures and scientific visits i.a. in the USA, Great Britain, Belgium, Spain and Sweden. He is an author of many publications in the field of European integration and international security. https://www.kul.pl/maria-gondek-phd-nominated-deputy-director-of-the-polish-national-school-of-judiciary-and-public-prosecution,art_98739.html We are delighted to announce that Maria Gondek, PhD, from the Institute of Journalism and Management, Department of Media Language, Rhetoric and Law, has been appointed by the Minister of Justice as Deputy Director of the Polish National School of Judiciary and Public Prosecution, where, in accordance with the decision, she has been in charge of the Centre for Continuing Training and International Cooperation since 1 April. Congratulations! https://www.kul.pl/artificial-intelligence-a-new-major,art_98623.html Starting with the new academic year 2022/2023, the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) will launch a new course of study - Artificial Intelligence. According to Prof. Piotr Kulicki from the Department of the Foundations of Computer Science at KUL classes will focus on practical programming skills related to artificial intelligence applications. The university is currently hosting the National Cognitive Science Conference entitled "Time for Mind 4.0 Artificial Intelligence." The new Artificial Intelligence degree program, which will be open to 36 students starting in October 2022, is designed to prepare students for careers as programmers and specialists in designing intelligent systems, as well as in evaluating their usefulness. “This is related, on the one hand, to the research we conduct at our university, and on the other hand, to the needs of the job market - not only in Poland, but all over the world,” - Prof. Piotr Kulicki said. He also stressed that these courses, in addition to obtaining theoretical knowledge, offer work experience in IT companies (KUL researchers cooperate, among others, with MakoLab digital agency) or in institutions related to the design and implementation of advanced technologies. Studying Artificial Intelligence will give you very specific professional competencies that will enable you to, among other things, create simple and complex computer programs to solve problems related to AI (Artificial Intelligence), as well as analytical and IT competencies such as programming in Python scripting language and R language. It is also an opportunity to acquire skills in using specialized programming tools in the areas of - as stated by the founders of the major - reasoning automation, knowledge representation, machine learning and natural language processing. "When trying to define what artificial intelligence is, or rather what it is supposed to be, it is necessary to point to a completely new entity in our reality. And it is not about an entity known in mass culture, which would prove dangerous to humans, but about artificial intelligence related to its practical application" - Prof. Kulicki stressed, reminding that artificial intelligence is supposed to help people solve very specific problems. "Let me illustrate this with the example of very useful medical diagnostics. Even today, on the basis of collected information about the patient, a computer program is able to make a diagnosis, which in most cases turns out to be better than what a specialist physician - who has the same information as the computer - will predict. Currently, it works in such a way that the doctor uses a computer program, which gives him a specific suggestion for consideration, and this is still verified by a human - but we see that statistically this computer suggestion many times turns out to be better than the human suggestion" - explained the researcher. "What is interesting about this understanding of artificial intelligence, the mechanism which the students of KUL will explore, is the kind of program which is capable of learning on its own. So it's not that the experts put their knowledge into the computer and that makes it better than each individual expert. No, there is learning going on here. And this learning can take place, for example, through reinforcement, that is, the system has to perform certain tasks and when it performs worse it receives information about it and improves itself - it receives similar feedback when it does something better. It can be illustrated by, for example, two computer programs playing chess against each other and after playing a million games they are able to play so well that they can beat any human being, even a chess grandmaster" - added Prof. Kulicki. The scientist also reminded that the concept of artificial intelligence present in science fiction literature for many years, including in films of this genre, is often combined with the fear that it will prove dangerous to humans. "That's because our experience shows that if machines get down to something, sooner or later they win over humans. This is, for example, the game of chess, more recently the go game - we see that these programs can definitely process the information faster, they can also remember more information and are better at picking up correlations in large amounts of data that a human would not notice. However, this kind of concern is over the top because the current advantage of these computer programs is only episodic. Certainly, today there is no threat coming from machines that would be able to function like a human being" - he reassured. However, graduates of KUL with a major in artificial intelligence are not only expected to have practical programming skills, but are to be prepared to shape policy in this area, e.g. in companies or in government administration. "What is important, these studies will certainly be very interesting as they will combine knowledge not only from computer science, but also from philosophy, psychology or the recently popular cognitive science". - concluded Prof. Kulicki. To a large extent, an AI degree will be similar to a more traditional computer science degree. Speaking of the differences, Prof. Kulicki pointed out that the emphasis in practical programming skills will be put on intelligent applications. "Programming at our university is more focused on using tools like neural networks in, for example, natural language processing, image recognition, machine learning. In addition, artificial intelligence studies will devote less time to hardware or networking issues and more time to the socio-humanistic aspects of creating and implementing advanced technologies and the predictability of computer program operation," - he added. More information about the new major, including admission criteria, is available on the KUL website dedicated for college applicants. -https://kandydat.kul.pl/strona-glowna/studia-i-stopnia/sztuczna-inteligencja We also recommend our website dedicated to the major: ai.kul.pl. It is also worth listening to the lectures from a two-day conference broadcast on the Tv KUL channel on You Tube entitled "Czas na umysł 4.0. Sztuczna inteligentigencja"; on Thursday, Robert Trypuz, PhD, professor of the Catholic University of Lublin, talked about what kind of artificial intelligence we can be afraid of, whereas the topic of the emotional face of artificial intelligence was presented by Professor Krystyna Rymarczyk of the Social-Humanist University SWPS in Warsaw. https://www.kul.pl/kul-for-ukraine,art_98204.html The academic community of the Catholic University of Lublin is not indifferent to the Russian attack on Ukraine. The University is preparing for the possible admission of refugees. The KUL Development Foundation has opened a bank account to which funds can be paid to help victims of Russian aggression. Bank account number in euros:95 1050 1953 1000 0090 8066 3355 Bank account number in PLN: 83 1050 1953 1000 0090 8154 7532 IBAN: PL83 1050 1953 1000 0090 8154 7532 SWIFT: INGBPLPW Fundacja Rozwoju KUL Jana Pawła II // The KUL Development Foundation of John Paul II Al. Racławickie 14, 20-950 Lublin We offer help in the following forms: – hotline (8.00 - 21.00); number: +48 515 852 632; available in Ukrainian, Russian and Polish language. During the conversation, you can receive information such as: where to go for help, how to continue your studies in Poland, what are the forms of help and aid actions carried out by the Catholic University of Lublin etc. You can also get information by writing to the e-mail: ukraina@kul.pl – legal assistance – information on what to do after moving to Poland; how to proceed in the maze of legal acts to make your stay not breaking the law; just to help you function as calmly as possible in the new difficult reality – psychological help – assistance for people with disabilities (e.g. transport) – spiritual help, such as: religious services in Ukrainian and meetings with the priest from the Catholic University of Lublin – helping families, especially mothers with children to take care of them – collection of necessary goods https://www.kul.pl/join-the-kul-aid-bank-for-ukraine,art_98165.html We are opening a "Bank of help of KUL for Ukraine!" You can contribute to our "bank" with: time, ideas, enthusiasm, hands ready to help, childcare, translation, perhaps transport, a place where a person in need can stay. Each of us can help! You can also support our bank financially - any way you can! Any help is needed! If you want to get actively involved in helping our friends from Ukraine - join us! Join the "KUL Bank of Aid for Ukraine"! (link) Please fill in a short form and tell us how you can help! All assistance is needed! We are waiting for you! https://www.kul.pl/god-s-action-in-the-world-was-nominated-and-has-been-accepted-for-consideration-in-the-international-society-for-science-and-rel,art_98510.html We are pleased to inform that the recent book of Rev. Prof. Marek Słomka KUL, God's Action in the World, was nominated and has been accepted for consideration in the International Society for Science and Religion's (ISSR) 2022 Book Prize, an annual award funded by the Templeton World Charity Foundation. Congratulations on this prestigious achievement! You can find more about the prize:https://www.issr.org.uk/projects/issr-annual-book-prize/ https://www.kul.pl/kul-is-preparing-to-accept-refugees-from-ukraine,art_98164.html The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin in consultation with Ministry of Education and Science is preparing for the possible admission of students-refugees. If there is a need to evacuate Ukrainian universities, students and employees will find shelter and a place where they will be able to work and study at the Catholic University of Lublin - assures the spokesman of the Catholic University of Lublin, Dr. Michał Wyrostkiewicz, prof. KUL. As reported by the spokesman of the Catholic University of Lublin, students-refugees will be able to use the scientific, didactic and social infrastructure (dormitories). Details are currently being agreed between the authorities of the Catholic University of Lublin and the Ministry. Currently, the University Students’ Council of the Catholic University of Lublin actively participates in supporting Ukrainian students. Not only for those who study at our university - this has been happening for several days as a result of the appeal of the Rector's Collegium, but also in real support for those who study at universities in Ukraine. The members of the Council operate in cooperation with the Students' Parliament of the Republic of Poland, which is in constant and close contact with its Ukrainian counterpart. On Thursday, the 24th February, the Russian Federation launched a military invasion of Ukraine, and Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the commencement of an armed operation. In Ukraine, all major cities are under attack. There are first casualties among soldiers and civilians. The Ukrainian authorities appeal to the international community for immediate sanctions against Russia and to stop its assault on the country. https://www.kul.pl/the-rector-s-college-of-the-catholic-university-of-lublin-we-sympathize-with-ukrainians-especially-with-our-students,art_98088.html In connection with the current situation on the Ukrainian-Russian border and the serious threats it presents, we express our solidarity with the Ukrainian people. A special expression of support is addressed to several hundred students of KUL from Ukraine - emphasizes the Rector's College of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. The Rector's College of KUL announced in a statement issued on Monday that the University, within the existing possibilities, is ready to provide any help to its students from Ukraine. "Details will be determined as possible adverse developments occur," was noted. "We strongly oppose any warfare, which in no case, as history teaches us, has solved any geopolitical problems, but has led to their deepening and millions of human tragedies. Neighbouring nations, even despite their various differences, can live in peace and dialogue, however difficult it may be. This is particularly evident in the world of science and culture. Researchers, doctoral students and students of KUL have been building positive relations with their colleagues from Ukraine and Russia for years. An example of this can be the Congress of Christian Culture, organized at our University," the statement reads. The authorities of KUL, responding to the call of Pope Francis, encourage people to pray for peace in Europe and the world. "We ask Almighty God with the words of the patron saint of our university, St. John Paul II: "No more war! It is peace, peace which must guide the destinies of peoples and of all mankind," the College points out. Statement of the Rector's College of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin In connection with the current situation on the Ukrainian-Russian border and the serious threats it presents, we express our solidarity with the Ukrainian people. A special expression of support is addressed to several hundred students of KUL from Ukraine. We assure you that our University is ready to provide you with all the help you need, within the existing possibilities. Details will be determined as possible adverse developments occur. We strongly oppose any warfare, which in no case, as history teaches us, has solved any geopolitical problems, but has led to their deepening and millions of human tragedies. Neighbouring nations, even despite their various differences, can live in peace and dialogue, however difficult it may be. This is particularly evident in the world of science and culture. Researchers, doctoral students and students of KUL have been building positive relations with their colleagues from Ukraine and Russia for years. An example of this can be the Congress of Christian Culture, organized at our University. Responding to the call of Pope Francis, we encourage you to pray for peace in Europe and the world. We ask Almighty God with the words of the patron saint of our university, St. John Paul II: "No more war! It is peace, peace which must guide the destinies of peoples and of all mankind." https://www.kul.pl/mr-konrad-konefal-people-organisation-director-visit-in-spain,art_98092.html During the month of February Mr. Konrad Konefal, visited the Faculty of Psychology under the E+ teaching mobility program and the support of the international office of the faculty. Mr. Konefal has a long experience as a senior consultant and project manager in supporting and managing changes in organizations, especially regarding creation and implementation remuneration systems, organizational structure, employee downsizing, ERP systems, and complex business transformation. On February11 and 16 he participated as a guest lecturer in the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in Work, Organizational, and Personnel Psychology with two seminars. One seminar was directed to first-year students:“How to increase value of your work”. Most of the employees in the organizations would like to earn more because salary provides our ability to be independent. Organizations are ready to pay more for more valuable work. The second seminar was directed to second-year students:“How to build a remuneration system based on the value of job”. This seminar highlightedthe three purposes of the remuneration system: hiring, retaining, and motivating employees who most support the strategic goals of the organization. Both overpaying and underpaying are disadvantageous for enterprises operating in the competitive market. During the seminar, the rules of constructing an efficient way of good enough remunerating were discussed. https://www.kul.pl/prof-henryk-podbielski-received-an-honorary-doctorate-from-adam-mickiewicz-university-in-poznan,art_98024.html Prof. Henryk Podbielski - a distinguished classical philologist, associated with the Catholic University of Lublin for several decades, the co-author of a remarkable synthesis of Greek literature - on the 7th of February received an honorary doctorate from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. - During the ceremony of handing the honourable distinction to Prof. Henryk Podbielski the immensity of his work was emphasised which includes the whole of ancient Greek literature. - The title of doctor honoris causa is for the scholar an expression of recognition of his achievements and position in the world of science. For the university that awards such a title accepting a new honorary doctorate is an honour and a point of pride," said during the ceremony the rector of Adam Mickiewicz University, Prof. Bogumiła Kaniewska. She described the professor of the Catholic University of Lublin as "an outstanding expert in classical literature and culture, a great Hellenist, a respected expert in rhetoric and philosophy". - It is impossible to overestimate the impact of the honorary doctorate on the shape of contemporary Polish humanities, as it is to him that the university owes the translation and interpretation of the works of Aristotle, the great founder of the European way of thinking, as well as many other ancient thinkers who exert a significant influence on the contemporary understanding of the world - added the rector of the Poznań university. The ceremony, was attended not only by the representatives of UAM and KUL, but also by the closest ones of Prof. Podbielski, Prof. Tomasz Mizerkiewicz - Dean of the Faculty of Polish and Classical Philology of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań who commented that the whole philological path of Prof. Podbielski was born out of "love for what is great". - After all, he was always interested in masterpieces, he wrote about minor authors, but again and again he dealt with Homer, Hesiod, Aristotle, Hermogenes and many others. Impressive was also the enormous scope of his works, he covered the entirety of the literature of ancient Greece, as evidenced by the epoch-making collective monograph edited by him, "The Literature of Ancient Greece". He researched the enchanting philosophical diversity of that culture, from the "rational" Aristotle to neo-Platonists like Plotinus, and in addition, he explored the whole range of quality of the works of those times - from masterful Homeric hymns to utilitarian rhetorical handbooks - said Prof. Mizerkiewicz. The laudation in honour of the Honorary Doctor was delivered by his friend, classical philologist and literary scholar of Hellenism, Prof. Jerzy Danielewicz from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, who with emotion stressed that Prof. Henryk Podbielski is "one of the most outstanding and meritorious Polish classical philologists of the last half-century". - Whoever in Poland, starting from the 1980s, was interested in Aristotle's "Poetics" and "Rhetoric", even if he had foreign-language commentaries and translations at his disposal, always ended up asking himself: "And how did Podbielski translate, explain and interpret it?". Today's Honorandus has become an authority resolving all doubts - said Prof. Danielewicz. After the presentation of the honorary doctorate, Prof. Henryk Podbielski, whom the Senate of Adam Mickiewicz University called "one of the most eminent Hellenists, a scholar of recognised standing in the world community of classical philologists and historians of philosophy", thanked, among others, the authorities and scientists of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań for the honourable distinction. A letter of congratulations was also sent by the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, who emphasised that the honorary doctorate for Prof. Podbielski is a "wonderful event" and "honouring of the most admirable activity and merits in scientific and research work" of the scholar from the Catholic University of Lublin - one of the most famous and respected Hellenists and classical philologists in Poland. In a special brochure, the participants of the ceremony could also read Prof. Podbielski's commentary on Plotinus' treatise "On Beauty", as well as the philosophical text of this eminent neoplatonist itself. Recently, Prof. Podbielski and his team undertook the task of translating and commenting on Plotinus' Complete Works. - There is no doubt that the professor's extraordinary acumen, experience and knowledge will lead to the creation of another great and valuable work - said Prof. Jerzy Danielewicz. Prof. Henryk Podbielski - a distinguished classical philologist, associated with the Catholic University of Lublin for several decades, the co-author of a remarkable synthesis of Greek literature - on the 7th of February received an honorary doctorate from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. - During the ceremony of handing the honourable distinction to Prof. Henryk Podbielski the immensity of his work was emphasised which includes the whole of ancient Greek literature. - The title of doctor honoris causa is for the scholar an expression of recognition of his achievements and position in the world of science. For the university that awards such a title accepting a new honorary doctorate is an honour and a point of pride," said during the ceremony the rector of Adam Mickiewicz University, Prof. Bogumiła Kaniewska. She described the professor of the Catholic University of Lublin as "an outstanding expert in classical literature and culture, a great Hellenist, a respected expert in rhetoric and philosophy". - It is impossible to overestimate the impact of the honorary doctorate on the shape of contemporary Polish humanities, as it is to him that the university owes the translation and interpretation of the works of Aristotle, the great founder of the European way of thinking, as well as many other ancient thinkers who exert a significant influence on the contemporary understanding of the world - added the rector of the Poznań university. The ceremony, was attended not only by the representatives of UAM and KUL, but also by the closest ones of Prof. Podbielski, Prof. Tomasz Mizerkiewicz - Dean of the Faculty of Polish and Classical Philology of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań who commented that the whole philological path of Prof. Podbielski was born out of "love for what is great". - After all, he was always interested in masterpieces, he wrote about minor authors, but again and again he dealt with Homer, Hesiod, Aristotle, Hermogenes and many others. Impressive was also the enormous scope of his works, he covered the entirety of the literature of ancient Greece, as evidenced by the epoch-making collective monograph edited by him, "The Literature of Ancient Greece". He researched the enchanting philosophical diversity of that culture, from the "rational" Aristotle to neo-Platonists like Plotinus, and in addition, he explored the whole range of quality of the works of those times - from masterful Homeric hymns to utilitarian rhetorical handbooks - said Prof. Mizerkiewicz. The laudation in honour of the Honorary Doctor was delivered by his friend, classical philologist and literary scholar of Hellenism, Prof. Jerzy Danielewicz from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, who with emotion stressed that Prof. Henryk Podbielski is "one of the most outstanding and meritorious Polish classical philologists of the last half-century". - Whoever in Poland, starting from the 1980s, was interested in Aristotle's "Poetics" and "Rhetoric", even if he had foreign-language commentaries and translations at his disposal, always ended up asking himself: "And how did Podbielski translate, explain and interpret it?". Today's Honorandus has become an authority resolving all doubts - said Prof. Danielewicz. After the presentation of the honorary doctorate, Prof. Henryk Podbielski, whom the Senate of Adam Mickiewicz University called "one of the most eminent Hellenists, a scholar of recognised standing in the world community of classical philologists and historians of philosophy", thanked, among others, the authorities and scientists of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań for the honourable distinction. A letter of congratulations was also sent by the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, who emphasised that the honorary doctorate for Prof. Podbielski is a "wonderful event" and "honouring of the most admirable activity and merits in scientific and research work" of the scholar from the Catholic University of Lublin - one of the most famous and respected Hellenists and classical philologists in Poland. In a special brochure, the participants of the ceremony could also read Prof. Podbielski's commentary on Plotinus' treatise "On Beauty", as well as the philosophical text of this eminent neoplatonist itself. Recently, Prof. Podbielski and his team undertook the task of translating and commenting on Plotinus' Complete Works. - There is no doubt that the professor's extraordinary acumen, experience and knowledge will lead to the creation of another great and valuable work - said Prof. Jerzy Danielewicz. Prof. Henryk Podbielski - a distinguished classical philologist, associated with the Catholic University of Lublin for several decades, the co-author of a remarkable synthesis of Greek literature - on the 7th of February received an honorary doctorate from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. - During the ceremony of handing the honourable distinction to Prof. Henryk Podbielski the immensity of his work was emphasised which includes the whole of ancient Greek literature. - The title of doctor honoris causa is for the scholar an expression of recognition of his achievements and position in the world of science. For the university that awards such a title accepting a new honorary doctorate is an honour and a point of pride," said during the ceremony the rector of Adam Mickiewicz University, Prof. Bogumiła Kaniewska. She described the professor of the Catholic University of Lublin as "an outstanding expert in classical literature and culture, a great Hellenist, a respected expert in rhetoric and philosophy". - It is impossible to overestimate the impact of the honorary doctorate on the shape of contemporary Polish humanities, as it is to him that the university owes the translation and interpretation of the works of Aristotle, the great founder of the European way of thinking, as well as many other ancient thinkers who exert a significant influence on the contemporary understanding of the world - added the rector of the Poznań university. The ceremony, was attended not only by the representatives of UAM and KUL, but also by the closest ones of Prof. Podbielski, Prof. Tomasz Mizerkiewicz - Dean of the Faculty of Polish and Classical Philology of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań who commented that the whole philological path of Prof. Podbielski was born out of "love for what is great". - After all, he was always interested in masterpieces, he wrote about minor authors, but again and again he dealt with Homer, Hesiod, Aristotle, Hermogenes and many others. Impressive was also the enormous scope of his works, he covered the entirety of the literature of ancient Greece, as evidenced by the epoch-making collective monograph edited by him, "The Literature of Ancient Greece". He researched the enchanting philosophical diversity of that culture, from the "rational" Aristotle to neo-Platonists like Plotinus, and in addition, he explored the whole range of quality of the works of those times - from masterful Homeric hymns to utilitarian rhetorical handbooks - said Prof. Mizerkiewicz. The laudation in honour of the Honorary Doctor was delivered by his friend, classical philologist and literary scholar of Hellenism, Prof. Jerzy Danielewicz from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, who with emotion stressed that Prof. Henryk Podbielski is "one of the most outstanding and meritorious Polish classical philologists of the last half-century". - Whoever in Poland, starting from the 1980s, was interested in Aristotle's "Poetics" and "Rhetoric", even if he had foreign-language commentaries and translations at his disposal, always ended up asking himself: "And how did Podbielski translate, explain and interpret it?". Today's Honorandus has become an authority resolving all doubts - said Prof. Danielewicz. After the presentation of the honorary doctorate, Prof. Henryk Podbielski, whom the Senate of Adam Mickiewicz University called "one of the most eminent Hellenists, a scholar of recognised standing in the world community of classical philologists and historians of philosophy", thanked, among others, the authorities and scientists of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań for the honourable distinction. A letter of congratulations was also sent by the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, who emphasised that the honorary doctorate for Prof. Podbielski is a "wonderful event" and "honouring of the most admirable activity and merits in scientific and research work" of the scholar from the Catholic University of Lublin - one of the most famous and respected Hellenists and classical philologists in Poland. In a special brochure, the participants of the ceremony could also read Prof. Podbielski's commentary on Plotinus' treatise "On Beauty", as well as the philosophical text of this eminent neoplatonist itself. Recently, Prof. Podbielski and his team undertook the task of translating and commenting on Plotinus' Complete Works. - There is no doubt that the professor's extraordinary acumen, experience and knowledge will lead to the creation of another great and valuable work - said Prof. Jerzy Danielewicz. Henryk Podbielski was born on 27 May 1939 in Szumów (Podlasie). As a full-time scientific and didactic employee, he worked at KUL from 1963 to 2011. He obtained his doctoral degree, and then his habilitation at the University of Warsaw. He lectured at foreign universities, including the Universities of Leuven and Louvain-la-Neuve, Amsterdam, the Catholic University of Nijmegen, Eichstätt, Heidelberg, Paris, Milan and Rome. An exceptional achievement of the scholar is directing in the years 1999-2001 the research project "Literature of Ancient Greece", in which 26 Polish Hellenists participated. Its result is a huge synthesis of Greek literature (published by the Catholic University of Lublin in 2005), covering its entire history from Homer (8th century BC) to Nonnos (5th century BC). In the years 1975-2010, Professor was a member of the Committee for the Study of Ancient Culture of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and since 2004 he has been a corresponding member of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2005 he was awarded the Golden Cross of Merit by the President of the Republic of Poland; in 2006 he received the Award of the Minister of Science and Higher Education for editing and co-authoring the monograph Ancient Greek Literature, and in 2011 he was awarded the Rector's Prize of the Catholic University of Lublin for his entire scientific and didactic achievements. Henryk Podbielski was born on 27 May 1939 in Szumów (Podlasie). As a full-time scientific and didactic employee, he worked at KUL from 1963 to 2011. He obtained his doctoral degree, and then his habilitation at the University of Warsaw. He lectured at foreign universities, including the Universities of Leuven and Louvain-la-Neuve, Amsterdam, the Catholic University of Nijmegen, Eichstätt, Heidelberg, Paris, Milan and Rome. An exceptional achievement of the scholar is directing in the years 1999-2001 the research project "Literature of Ancient Greece", in which 26 Polish Hellenists participated. Its result is a huge synthesis of Greek literature (published by the Catholic University of Lublin in 2005), covering its entire history from Homer (8th century BC) to Nonnos (5th century BC). In the years 1975-2010, Professor was a member of the Committee for the Study of Ancient Culture of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and since 2004 he has been a corresponding member of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2005 he was awarded the Golden Cross of Merit by the President of the Republic of Poland; in 2006 he received the Award of the Minister of Science and Higher Education for editing and co-authoring the monograph Ancient Greek Literature, and in 2011 he was awarded the Rector's Prize of the Catholic University of Lublin for his entire scientific and didactic achievements. Henryk Podbielski was born on 27 May 1939 in Szumów (Podlasie). As a full-time scientific and didactic employee, he worked at KUL from 1963 to 2011. He obtained his doctoral degree, and then his habilitation at the University of Warsaw. He lectured at foreign universities, including the Universities of Leuven and Louvain-la-Neuve, Amsterdam, the Catholic University of Nijmegen, Eichstätt, Heidelberg, Paris, Milan and Rome. An exceptional achievement of the scholar is directing in the years 1999-2001 the research project "Literature of Ancient Greece", in which 26 Polish Hellenists participated. Its result is a huge synthesis of Greek literature (published by the Catholic University of Lublin in 2005), covering its entire history from Homer (8th century BC) to Nonnos (5th century BC). In the years 1975-2010, Professor was a member of the Committee for the Study of Ancient Culture of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and since 2004 he has been a corresponding member of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2005 he was awarded the Golden Cross of Merit by the President of the Republic of Poland; in 2006 he received the Award of the Minister of Science and Higher Education for editing and co-authoring the monograph Ancient Greek Literature, and in 2011 he was awarded the Rector's Prize of the Catholic University of Lublin for his entire scientific and didactic achievements. https://www.kul.pl/munnich-d-sc-us-engages-middle-east-in-connection-with-russia-s-threats-against-ukraine,art_98035.html The United States is able to engage Middle Eastern countries in order to push Western Europe, including mainly Germany, to adopt more decisive policy towards Russia - emphasizes the expert on the Middle East, Prof. Maciej Münnich, D.Sc. of the Catholic University of Lublin. Possible gas supplies from Qatar, among others, may be crucial for European politics in the context of Russia's threats to invade Ukraine - adds the researcher. In the analysis "The Middle East and the Ukrainian-Russian conflict", which is available on the website of the Catholic University of Lublin, Prof. Münnich recalls the meeting of US President Joe Biden with the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim, which took place at the White House at the end of January this year. One of the topics discussed by the two leaders was the increase of gas supplies to Europe - Qatar is alongside the U.S. and Australia the world's largest supplier of LNG (liquefied natural gas). The KUL expert reminds that the increase of gas supply from Middle Eastern countries would strengthen Europe's resistance to Russian gas blackmail. In fact, Moscow has already announced that gas supplies to Europe will be halted in the event of tougher sanctions for a possible invasion of Ukraine. Hence, a substantial number of Western European countries, with Germany at the forefront, which depend on Russian gas imports, are reluctant to impose sanctions on Russia. "Unfortunately, comments that 'European homes depend on Putin for heat' are by no means exaggerated. As much as 43.9 percent of the gas used in the European Union in 2020 came from Russia. According to data from the first half of 2021, this share has risen to 46.8 percent. And these numbers are still without Nord Stream 2. So about half of the gas we use in the EU comes from Russia" - Prof. Münnich reported. "Russia's threat to turn off the gas tap if sanctions are imposed on it (such as cutting off SWIFT) is really dangerous," - he added. The KUL expert also points out that cutting off supplies would hit hardest the countries which are intermediaries (mainly Germany) in selling Russian gas, because not only will they run out of blue fuel for themselves, but also the source of income, which is the re-export to other countries, will dry up. "It should be noted that Germany is more dependent than the EU average on gas supplies from Russia (in 2020 it was 53 percent). The latest Eurostat data for the first half of 2021 specify only in general terms that supplies from Russia account for between 50 and 75 percent of gas imported by the neighbors across the Oder, as in the case of Poland. The difference lies, however, in the fact that Poland is completing the construction of Baltic Pipe, which this year will make us independent from Russian gas imports, while Germany is waiting for Nord Stream 2, which will deepen its gas alliance with Russia" wrote Prof. Münnich. He added that in the current situation of crisis and threat to supplies "EU diplomats should urgently look for other possible sources of gas imports." "And if not EU ones, at least German ones. But instead we hear from the German government that the energy sphere should be exempted from possible sanctions.The problem is that sanctions on this sphere can be imposed by Russia, not by the European Union" wrote the expert, at the same time pointing out that in practice this means that if Europe wants to preserve gas supplies from Russia, it cannot impose any harsh sanctions on Russia. In this context, according to the researcher, the U.S. president is keen to divert not only from America but also from the Middle East as much gas as possible to Europe, which will allow for a firmer policy towards Russia. "There were probably discussions at the White House to rapidly increase the extraction based on the resources already in extraction. Paradoxically, it turns out that instead of Brussels or German officials, talks about gas supplies to Europe are conducted by the US president. Unfortunately, it shows the dependence of the EU foreign policy and the mercantilistically motivated submissiveness of the German policy towards Russia" the KUL expert assessed. However, he added that in case of a chain of events: Russian invasion of Ukraine - sanctions by the West - suspension of gas supplies by Russia, even increased supplies from the U.S., Qatar and possibly Iran will not cover the entire demand of Europe and we will have to reckon with restrictions in gas supplies and a new increase in its prices. "Therefore, it is best to deter an opponent and not only react when he attacks" - Prof. Münnich concluded. In his analysis, Prof. KUL also discussed other important topics of Biden's talks with Tamim, including U.S.-Iranian relations (Qatar is, after all, an intermediary between the two countries in the Middle East). This is especially important in the context of the ongoing talks in Vienna regarding a return to the JCPOA agreement, which allows for control of Iran's nuclear program and the possible removal of sanctions, including those on Iranian oil and gas exports. Iranian gas could be crucial in securing supplies to Europe. In addition, the leaders also discussed issues concerning Afghanistan, where, as Prof. Münnich reminds us, Qatar informally represents the U.S. and is the intermediary in talks with the Taliban. https://www.kul.pl/the-year-of-romanticism-but-what-kind,art_97675.html I was astonished to find that announcing 2022 the Year of Polish Romanticism had been accepted with a great deal of reluctance by many of my friends. For as we know, Romanticism in our national issue means godly patriotic gestures, the fiery flame of numerous outbursts, and above all - the lack of any critical self-reflection, because eventually we are the "Christ of nations", ‘what’s wrong it’s not us’ ... If that were the case, if there await us a series of commemorative celebrations, grand gestures in the media for taxpayers' money and spells about our greatness and uniqueness repeated like a mantra - it would be better if there was not such a Year. I would prefer the Year of the Polish Renaissance as there would be a chance to recall the gallery of forgotten, but great figures, because not only Kochanowski and Rej were creating the Renaissance here. But this Year may be different. Romanticism in our country is the epoch that is both well-known and ill-conceived. When we talk about successive uprisings caused by the "romantic fever", perhaps it is worth recalling the words of Słowacki: "...But I implore: let the living do not lose hope / and bring their torch of education to the people …", and only later: "...when necessary, to death they go one by one...", but only later, not - instead! Our Romanticism is a reservoir of national myths, and myths are essential to the nation's spiritual life, as long as we remember that they are myths. The Year of Polish Romanticism can be, and it should be, an invitation to the nationwide discussion on what kind of Poland we want to be our common home. And even more trivially: I am quietly dreaming that there will be a place, especially good intentions and funds, for good productions and publications devoted to our romantic writers. I am not able to comprehend how it was possible to make a film biography (apparently rather hagiography) about a star of the "pavement" music, and also a pop music star straight from the People's Republic of Poland will have it made, but still, for example, we can not wait for a decent film about Mickiewicz although we have a ready material for a pretty nice drama-sensational film. https://www.kul.pl/the-day-of-judaism-in-the-archdiocese-of-lublin,art_97583.html The life story of Rev. Inf. Grzegorz Pawłowski, who, as a Jewish boy - Jakub Hersz Griner - was saved by Poles during the Holocaust, will be one of the topics of a meeting organised by the Archdiocese of Lublin, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, and The Archdiocesan Centre for Catholic-Jewish Dialogue in Lublin, on the Day of Judaism in the Catholic Church - January 17th. The event, during which a lecture on Jewish-Catholic dialogue will be given by Prof. Abraham Skórka - the rabbi of the Benei Tikva Jewish community in Buenos Aires, will be broadcast on the Internet. Grzegorz Pawłowski (Jakub Hersz Griner) was born on August 23rd, 1931 in Zamość to a Jewish family. During World War II, his closest relatives - his father, mother, and two sisters - were murdered by the Germans. He himself hid from the occupiers thanks to the help of Polish families. After the war, he stayed in the orphanage of the Benedictine sisters. After graduating from high school, he entered the Major Seminary in Lublin, and on April 20th, 1958 he was ordained a priest. Rev. Inf. Grzegorz Pawłowski died last year in Israel where, from the year 1970, he was the chaplain of the Polish community. During the meeting, an excerpt from a new book by Rev. Inf. Grzegorz Pawłowski entitled "The Messiah and His Followers" will be read out. The book, which is a biblical and archaeological commentary on the texts of the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, will be published by the "Gaudium" Publishing House. It describes the life of Jesus, his disciples, and the community of the early Church, but it is also a testimony of the faith of a Jew who believed in the Gospel and became a Catholic priest. "The publication contains valuable archaeological, historical and geographical comments and explanations, perceived from both a Jewish and a Christian point of view" - Gaudium encourages people to read the book, adding that it is also a kind of spiritual will of Rev. Inf. Pawłowski. The meeting, which will be introduced by Rev. Tomasz Adamczyk, Ph.D. - director of the Archdiocesan Centre for Catholic-Jewish Dialogue in Lublin, will be attended by the metropolitan of Lublin, Rev. Stanisław Budzik D.Sc., and the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski. Prof. Abraham Skórka, whose lecture is entitled "The Jewish-Catholic dialogue 56 years after Nostra Aetate", together with Bp. Mieczysław Cisło - senior auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Lublin - will also lead a prayer for peace. At the end of the Lublin celebrations of the Day of Judaism, the prayer of John Paul II for the intention of the Jewish nation will also be delivered. The Day of Judaism in the Catholic Church in Poland was established in 1997 by the Polish Episcopal Conference. It is celebrated the eve of the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - January 17th. Its aim is to develop Christian-Jewish dialogue, as well as to pray and reflect on the relationship between the two religions. https://www.kul.pl/is-religiosity-helpful-in-protecting-the-natural-environment,art_97635.html Recently, we decided to conduct a study showing the connection between religiosity, the quality of environment, and the wealth of a society. For this purpose, we created an econometric model referring to the two previous streams of research in this area: the first stream indicated the presence of a connection between religiosity and the wealth of a society, while the second stream focuses on the environmental hypothesis of the Kuznets curve which describes the connection between income and the quality of environment. The research sample adopted in our study includes 53 countries located in North and South America, Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia. The history of the formation of their economies is varied and complex. However, on the basis of data from 1960 to 2018, we can conclude that poorer countries are characterized by higher religiosity and worse environmental pollution. The countries that are defind by the highest religiosity are Christian and Christian-Muslim located primarily in Africa, such as Ghana, Kenya, Niger and Nigeria. Environmental degradation in these economies is mainly due to economies of scale, i.e., increased production, which also increment pollution. It should be noted that such a phenomenon may be caused by, inter alia, the internationalization of their economies with growing exports and energy consumption, as well as the type of industry and the production technologies used. In comparison, in richer and also less religious countries, the reduction in environmental degradation occurs as a result of two effects: the technology effect and the composition effect. The technological effect involves replacing old production methods that are unfriendly to the Earth's ecosystems with new methods that do not devastate the environment or do it to a much lower extent. The composition effect, in contrast, results from increasing the share of production in those sectors of the economy, such as services, that contribute less to environmental degradation than, for example, heavy industry. The simplest recommendations for policies in developing (poorer) countries are, of course, the introduction of appropriate legal regulations and effective support of investment in technologies that are environmentally friendly. In our research, we additionally highlight religious institutions that can play a significant role in the processes of protecting and improving the quality of the environment by shaping pro-environmental attitudes. An example of such religious influence is undoubtedly the current work of Pope Francis, whose encyclical Laudato si. "On Care for Our Common Home" is an eloquest voice that the restorative potential of a devastated environment can be found in religion. ** Research funded under the "Regional Excellence Initiative" by the Ministry of Education and Science. https://www.kul.pl/internal-audit-a-new-major-of-postgraduate-studies,art_97678.html Internal audit in units of the public finance sector is a new major of postgraduate studies at KUL. - This is our response to the ever-growing demand for specialists in this field - says Monika Münnich, D.Sc. Associate Professor of KUL, the head of the studies. The studies will be conducted under the substantive patronage of the Institute of Internal Auditors IIA Poland - the largest organization of the field in the country. Recruitment will last until February 15, 2022. Internal audit is a relatively new solution in the public finance sector in our country. It was introduced almost 20 years ago as a result of adjusting Polish law to the requirements of the European Union. - Internal audit is an element of modern management not only in business but also in public administration - emphasizes Prof. Monika Münnich. While initially it mainly examined the compliance of the performance of the public finance sector unit with legal regulations and verified the correctness of performance of its tasks, today it is evolving into an efficiency audit which aims not only at ensuring that objectives and tasks are achieved in accordance with the law, but also at supporting the unit's management in achieving its goals and tasks through systematic assessment of this system and advisory activities. As a result, audit becomes the basis for good management of entities belonging to the public finance sector. There are many job offers for internal auditors on the job market. However, in order to perform such a function in a unit of the public finance sector, specific requirements must be fulfilled. In accordance with the law on public finance, an internal auditor may be, inter alia, a person who completes postgraduate studies and has two years of experience in the field of internal audit. - We invite employees of, inter alia, various public administration offices, courts, schools, universities and cultural institutions to take part in our studies - says the head of the studies. The law also specifies that the studies should be conducted by a university that is authorized to confer the degree of doctor of economics or legal sciences. The Faculty of Law, Canon Law and Administration of the Catholic University of Lublin fulfills this condition. The studies will last two semesters. Their program includes, inter alia, issues related to: the essence and standards of control, methods and techniques of conducting an audit, planning in the audit, public procurement law, as well as matters such as the skills and psychophysical competence of the auditor. Classes will be conducted by experts in the field of internal control and audit, law and economics. - Among the lecturers there will be academic teachers from the Faculty of Law, Canon Law and Administration of the Catholic University of Lublin and other universities, but also practitioners dealing on a daily basis with internal control and audit in various types of units of the public finance sector, including experts from the Institute of Internal Auditors IIA Poland - adds Prof. Monika Münnich. The high professional level of the studies is also confirmed by the above mentioned patronage of the Institute. The Institute of Internal Auditors IIA Poland, which currently associates over 1500 audit practitioners from all over Poland and represents in our country The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) - the oldest and largest organization in the world which associates internal auditors and is the world leader in the field of standardization, certification, research, education and preparation for the practical performance of the internal audit profession. https://www.kul.pl/professorial-nomination-for-rev-dr-piotr-stanisz,art_97640.html By the decision of the President of the Republic of Poland of 4 January 2022, Rev. Dr. Piotr Stanisz, Professor at the Catholic University of Lublin, received the title of professor of social sciences in the discipline of legal sciences. Ourheartfeltcongratulations! https://www.kul.pl/the-areopagus-of-universities-debates-will-continue-in-2022,art_97563.html The Areopagus of Universities will be continued in a wider format, with the participation of additional universities - announced the rectors of the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL), the University of Warsaw (UW), the Jagiellonian University (UJ) and the Adam Mickiewicz University (UAM) during the debate devoted to economy, finance and management in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic - a meeting summarizing the first edition of the Areopagus. "Our meetings show that there is a need for a high-level dialogue" - emphasized the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski. The event, under the patronage of CRASP - the Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland, was held on January 10 this year at the Kazimierzowski Palace at the University of Warsaw. “Most of us saw the need for these meetings and most of us also realized that we represent communities that can discuss with each other at a high level. However, everyday life makes us tired of ordinary problems and we do not always see the value of the scientific community in Poland” - emphasized Rev. Prof. Kalinowski while thanking the authorities of other universities for taking up and supporting The Areopagus of Universities, debates of which help to better understand the challenges of the present day. He added that the expectation of organizing such debates was expressed not only by the scientific community, but also by the Polish society. The topic of the fourth meeting of the Areopagus of Universities were the economic problems that the whole world, including Poland, has been struggling with since the beginning of the pandemic. Its participants - scientists from the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, the University of Warsaw, the Jagiellonian University and the University of Adam Mickiewicz in Poznań, agreed that the coronavirus epidemic became one of the most important factors that change socio-economic life in the first decades of the 21st century. Macroeconomic consequences of the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic were presented by Prof. Marian Żukowski who heads the Department of Economic Policy and Banking at the Institute of Economics and Finance of the Catholic University of Lublin. "This crisis is a war in which the pandemic attacked both the society and the economy at the same time," said Prof. Żukowski and reminded that because of this, GDP in 2020 dropped by 2.7 percent in Poland, in addition, among other things, investments were reduced by 5 percent in general, although they increased in health care. The KUL expert pointed out that the economic difficulties occur mainly in the tourism, hotel, catering and transport sectors, while not in the sector related to e.g. new technologies. "Some economic sectors are growing, especially e-business. We are also witnessing a certain revolution in the provision of work. Today, about five percent of the population works online, which was unimaginable just two years ago" said Prof. Żukowski. He considered the shifting of the effects of fighting the pandemic onto the next generations as a disturbing phenomenon. "We finance current needs with debt" - he explained, reporting that the public debt currently amounts to approximately PLN 1.4 trillion, which is 55 percent of annual GDP (with a constitutional limit of 60 percent). Some countries, although they have higher debt, at the same time - as the economist from the Catholic University of Lublin pointed out - have higher GDP. Prof. Żukowski also reminded that the recovery from the crisis could be much easier with the support of the European Union. Under the Reconstruction Fund, Poland will receive PLN 650 billion in subsidies and PLN 150 billion in loans. He added that the issue of Poland adopting the euro currency remains an open question. In July 2021, 51 percent of Poles (based on a Eurobarometer poll) were in favor of adopting the euro. It is worth emphasizing that as many as 79 percent of the euro area inhabitants are satisfied with the European currency. The debate, which is available in its entirety on the University of Warsaw YouTube channel, was also attended by Grzegorz Tchorek, PhD, from the University of Warsaw, who presented, inter alia, the situation on the financial markets during the pandemic, Prof. Lucyna Błażejczyk-Majka from the University of Adam Mickiewicz in Poznań, who discussed, inter alia, the processes of globalization and deglobalization, and Prof. Wojciech Czakon from Jagiellonian University, who touched upon, inter alia, the impact of the crisis on organizational management and social attitudes. The main idea of the Areopagus of Universities is to conduct a public debate on the challenges of the present day in the university environment. During the meeting, the rectors (apart from the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, were present: the Rector of the University of Warsaw, Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak, the Rector of the Jagiellonian University, Prof. Jacek Popiel and the Rector of the Adam Mickiewicz University, Prof. Bogumiła Kaniewska), experts, scientists and students have the opportunity to discuss the changing world during a pandemic. The series of debates is an initiative of the academic community of four universities - John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Warsaw University, Jagiellonian University and Adam Mickiewicz University. So far, experts have discussed issues related to the system of values during the pandemic (October 18, 2021 at the Catholic University of Lublin), ethical limits of medicine (November 8 at the Jagiellonian University) and social relations (December 6 at the Adam Mickiewicz University). https://www.kul.pl/katarzyna-kolakowska-phd-is-a-member-of-the-advisory-panel-for-the-gt-gt-social-responsibility-of-science-lt-lt-program,art_97564.html The Minister of Education and Science, Przemysław Czarnek, appointed Katarzyna Kołakowska, PhD, the Director of the KUL University Library, a member of the advisory panel for the program »Social Responsibility of Science« and for activities promoting science. The purpose of the "Social Responsibility of Science" program is to support entities of the system of higher education and science as well as other organizational units acting in the interest of popularization of science in implementing projects aimed at popularization of science or promotion of academic sports as well as projects related to the maintenance of library resources of significant importance to science or its heritage. https://www.kul.pl/professorial-nomination-for-piotr-kopiec-d-sc,art_97565.html By the decision of the President of the Republic of Poland of December 20, 2021, Piotr Kopiec, D.Sc. Associate Professor of KUL of the Department of Protestant Theology at KUL, received the title of Professor of theological sciences. Congratulations! https://www.kul.pl/medals-for-norwid-s-researchers,art_97524.html The year 2021 marked the 200th anniversary of the birth of Cyprian Kamil Norwid, and the year was proclaimed the year of this poet. At its end, the Medal of the Centenary of Regaining Independence was awarded to scholars from several centres dealing with the life and works of the fourth national bard. Among the honorees were retired lecturers of the Catholic University of Lublin, Prof. Stefan Sawicki and Prof. Józef Fert, as well as employees of the Centre for Research on Cyprian Norwid’s Artistic Heritage, Prof. Piotr Chlebowski and Edyta Chlebowska, PhD. They received the awards from Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on December 29th, 2021 during a gala summarising the competitions concerning the life and work of Cyprian Kamil Norwid, which took place at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister. The Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) is an important centre of norwidological research in Poland. Norwidological research at KUL began in the early 1980s. Since 1983, the year of the hundredth anniversary of the poet’s death, the university has been publishing a scientific journal "Studia Norwidiana" [“Norwidian Studies”], around which the research community was established. Two years later, a research and development unit was established, currently known as the Centre for Research on Cyprian Norwid’s Artistic Heritage. Its initiator was Prof. Sawicki, who managed its activities for many years and defined the most important directions of research. One of the most important tasks of the Centre, carried out jointly with the Scientific Society of the Catholic University of Lublin, is the preparation of a scientific edition of Norwid's writings, which will comprise 17 volumes of the poet's “Dzieła wszystkie” [“Complete Works”]. https://www.kul.pl/who-were-the-three-kings-the-biblical-message-of-the-feast-of-the-epiphany,art_97523.html An account of the arrival of the “wise men from the East” in Bethlehem after the birth of Jesus is found only in the Gospel According to Saint Matthew (Matt. 2:1-12). A more careful reading of this text allows us to see that the Evangelist does not reveal their identity as kings. Unknown is also their number, or the exact place of their origin. Matthew the Evangelist uses the Greek noun "magoi" to describe them, which means wise men or priests, proficient in the interpretation of dreams, in various secret doctrines, especially in astrology. Therefore, many translations do not use the title "kings from the East", but "wise men from the East" or "magi from the East". Only from the end of the 10th century, they began to be depicted as kings wearing crowns on their heads. The text of Matthew's Gospel does not strictly specify their number: “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, where is he that is born King of the Jews?” (Matt. 2:1-2). Based on the number of gifts offered, it is assumed that there were three of them, although in the apocrypha and in ancient iconography we also find the number of six, seven or even twelve. The medieval author Bede the Venerable, in his commentary on the Gospel According to St. Matthew, presents them as kings of the three then-known continents - Africa, Asia, and Europe. The names Casper, Melchior, and Balthazar only appear in later apocrypha and in medieval iconography. In the narrative of St. Matthew's Gospel, there is a reference to a star that shows the wise men from the East the way to Bethlehem: “We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him” (Matt. 2:2). In ancient commentaries, the star is interpreted as a sign of Christ, the King of Glory, who is worshipped by pagan nations represented by the wise men. By using the symbolism of the star, Matthew the Evangelist, who wrote his work to Jesus' followers of Jewish origin, may have been referring to the prophecy of Balaam known to them from the Torah of Moses which identifies the star with the future Messiah. The prophecy is included in the Book of Numbers: “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel” (Num. 24:17). It is very likely that St. Matthew portrayed the text in his Gospel about the arrival of the wise men from the East led by the light of a star (Matt. 2:1-12) as the fulfillment of Balaam's prophecy. A clear reference in the narrative of the first Gospel to the Old Testament texts is demonstrated by the answer concerning the place of birth of the Messiah given by the chief priests and scholars to the terrified King Herod: “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” (Mt 2,5-6). There is a clear reference to the text of the prophet Micah, who lived in the 8th century BC. (cf. Mic. 5:1) The infancy narrative of Jesus (Matt. 1-2) in terms of literary genre can be classified as Midrash, in which the author used ideas, symbols, and images from the Old Testament to convey a message of salvation to his audience. Balaam was a pagan prophet from the Euphrates River, or, from the Jewish perspective, from the East. Centuries later, wise men from the East saw the rising star as a symbol of the birth of the King of the Jews. In other parts of the New Testament - in the Gospel According to Saint Luke - Jesus is referred to as “the Sunrise from on high” (Luke 1:78) and in Revelation, "the bright Morning Star" (Rev. 22:16). The rising star is a light shining in the darkness. This star heralds a new day, the advent of morning, liberation from the power of darkness. The star is a sign of hope for all those who live in the darkness and shadow of death. The star announces to every person that the true Light, which is Jesus Christ, has appeared. He himself strongly emphasizes his identity as "the light of the world" (John 8:12; 9:5). This truth is exposed in the messianic poem of the Four Nights found in Targum Neofiti 1 to Exodus. The text shows God's work of salvation in the history of the chosen people in the image of the four nights. During the first night described as the night of creation, the Word of the Lord (Memra Adonai) is presented as Light: “The first night: when the Lord was revealed over the world to create it. The world was without form and void, and darkness was spread over the face of the abyss, and the Word (Memra) of the Lord was the Light, and it shone. And He called it the First Night” (TgN Ex. 12:42). This text allows us to understand better the Prologue in the Gospel According to Saint John, in which the creative and saving Logos appears as Light: “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it… The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world” (John 1:4-5,9). In this context, the most important message of the Feast of the Epiphany is that Jesus Christ is revealed as the shining Star whose light overcomes all darkness and evil. It is the salvific work of Jesus, Light that is not limited to the Jewish world but is for all the nations. Like the wise men of the East, we are invited to a grateful and joyful worship of the Lord who is able to illuminate all the dark corners of our existence: “When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him” (Matt. 2:10-11). Their worship is combined with the offering of the gifts: “Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh“ (Matt. 2:11). The gifts offered by them have a symbolic meaning. A certain intertextual connection can be seen with the prophet Isaiah's description of the bright and glorious Jerusalem, to which nations and kings are heading, bringing gifts and praising the Lord: “See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn… Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah. And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the Lord” (Isa. 60:2-3,6). The gold offered to the infant Jesus may refer to his royal status. The frankincense used in the Jerusalem temple may symbolize His priestly rank, and the myrrh used to embalm dead bodies may have foreshadowed Jesus' redemptive death, which opened the gates of eternity. The gifts given to Jesus by the wise men from the East are an encouragement to each person to offer the King of human hearts everything that is most precious in life. Only such an attitude brings true peace and joy of heart. https://www.kul.pl/mlegitymacja-for-kul-students,art_97493.html Students of the Catholic University of Lublin can now use 'mLegitymacja'. It is an electronic version of the traditional student ID card, i.e. an ID card on a smartphone, which is part of the 'mObywatel' application. To use it, you need an Android or iOS smartphone, you have to be a student and have a valid student ID card. https://www.kul.pl/the-rector-of-the-catholic-university-of-lublin-concerning-the-year-2022-the-educational-offer-tailored-to-needs-research-develo,art_97489.html Pursuing the establishment of a medical faculty, developing scientific research, adapting the educational offer to social needs, but also technological and infrastructural investments, and challenges related to the pandemic are the main issues to be addressed in 2022 - informed the Rector of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski. The Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin stressed that in the past year the main challenge for the functioning of the university was the Covid-19 pandemic and the related restrictions, including the need to conduct remote classes. “There were no technical problems, but the absence of students and lecturers within the walls of the university is always a kind of loss for academic life and development. The epidemiologists' forecasts indicate that this will also be a challenge in the new year”, he added. Rev. Prof. Kalinowski recalled that in 2021, KUL was the initiator of the Areopagus of Universities, a series of debates with the participation of rectors and experts: KUL, UW, UJ, AMU. The inauguration of this event took place in October in Lublin, and the concluding debate will be held on January 10th at the University of Warsaw. “In the just-ending year, we expanded our cooperation with Polish and foreign universities, as well as scientific and cultural institutions. We have started work on establishing a medical faculty, which will continue, so as to launch these studies in 2023. We have been adapting our offer to the needs of the labour market and the interests of candidates, hence, among others, the launch of a criminology degree course. The Academia for Modern Media and Communications was established. Thanks to the cooperation with the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and the Specialized Agencies in Vienna, our students can do internships there”, said the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin. Among the important initiatives carried out, he also mentioned the opening of the Erasmus+ Hub Youth Center at KUL. "In 2022, we will continue work on the establishment of a medical faculty, and in January we plan to submit documentation on this matter to the State Accreditation Committee. Work is also underway for KUL to establish a Research Centre on Poles Saving Jews and Jews Saving Poles, at the beginning of the year. We will continue the process of implementing new technologies, including communication technologies, but also expanding and modernizing the university's infrastructure. We will start recruiting for courses and studies dedicated to the Polish diaspora and Poles abroad. We are planning to organise a congress on the challenges of the Church in Poland. The University will be open to projects and initiatives of academic staff and students; we want to create the best possible conditions for their development" emphasised Rev. Prof. Kalinowski. He added that full-time studies for inmates at the Remand Centre in Lublin will be continued. “We plan to present schools of Christian spirituality, Catholic communities and movements. There is a growing number of members of the Fraternity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and people adoring the Blessed Sacrament and participating in all-night adoration on the first Thursdays of the month”, informed the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin. https://www.kul.pl/university-christmas-wafer,art_97391.html God through his coming into the world has divinized human nature - emphasized the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski during the wafer meeting and wished that Christmas would make us all aware of this special choice of God. He wished the employees, students and friends of the University that the way of truth, love and goodness of others would prevail in the New Year. He also reminded that good never dies, but always comes back to the one who does it. Archbishop Stanislaw Budzik referred to the Christmas carol " In Night’s Still Silence” which was performed by the Choir of KUL at the beginning of the Christmas wafer meeting. He drew attention to its deep content, taken from the Gospel about the Nativity of the Lord. Its words are a perfect introduction to the Eucharist during which Christ is born on the altar, the same Christ who was born in Bethlehem centuries ago. The Grand Chancellor of KUL wished that Christ's peace, which has the power to dispel our fears, would reign in human hearts. During the wafer the representatives of the Choir of KUL, which celebrates its centenary this year, were honored. Papal medals "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice" were awarded to Dr Grzegorz Pecka, the conductor of the Choir and Zdzisław Cieszkowski, the President of the choir for many years. Traditionally, the awards were also received by outstanding students and PhD students. Photos https://www.kul.pl/kul-is-a-beneficiary-of-the-visiting-professors-in-lublin-competition,art_97360.html In May 2022, Andrew Rothwell, Ph.D., from Loughborough University School of Business Economics will conduct classes at the Catholic University of Lublin. The scholar from Great Britain is a specialist in human resource management. His visit to the Catholic University of Lublin will be made possible thanks to the financial support of the city of Lublin as part of the pilot project of the "Visiting Professors in Lublin" Competition. Andrew Rothwell, Ph.D., is a specialist in the field of work and organisational psychology, entrepreneurship, and human resource management. Currently, he is the director of the MSc Human Resource Management Programmes at Loughborough University School of Business Economics. His research interests lie in employability and sustainable work, especially in the international context. He is the author of over 50 peer-reviewed scientific articles, books, editorial chapters, conference papers, and articles in trade journals. As part of his stay at the Catholic University of Lublin, the British scholar will host workshops for students, conduct scientific research, as well as deliver lectures. The "Visiting Professors in Lublin" Competition aims to support the development and internationalisation of the academic centre in Lublin. The Competition allows for the universities of Lublin, as well as the scientific and research institutes to apply for the funding of visits of recognised and outstanding scholars, artists, and business people, as well as representatives of leading scientific and research institutions and organisations. KUL was among the beneficiaries of the 1st edition of the Competition. The proposal for the visit of Andrew Rothwell, Ph.D. (Great Britain), prepared by Piotr Mamcarz, Ph.D., Assistant Professor at the KUL Institute of Psychology, will receive financial support in the amount of PLN 13,125.00. https://www.kul.pl/a-gift-for-students-at-the-remand-centre,art_97301.html Thanks to donors, KUL donated computer equipment to the Remand Centre in Lublin. The laptops - as they are the equipment in question - are intended for inmates, who are students of the university. The computers are to help in the educational process and to facilitate the writing of theses. The laptops have been adjusted to the security requirements of the Prison Service and have special software installed. This is a symbolic act on the part of the academic community, arising from the need to ensure proper and respectable conditions for inmates to pursue their studies. The Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) is one of few universities in Poland that enable inmates to gain a higher education. The inmates follow the full programme of university classes, with the exception that they are conducted in the Remand Centre. The offered courses are in the field of family studies, specialising in assisting dependent people. The university has been cooperating with the Remand Centre in Lublin since 2013. Currently, there are thirty students. https://www.kul.pl/kul-lecturers-appointed-to-the-scientific-council-of-the-educational-research-institute-ibe,art_97348.html The Minister of Education and Science, Przemysław Czarnek, appointed a new Scientific Council of The Educational Research Institute (IBE) for the years 2021 - 2025. Among the newly appointed were three academics from the Catholic University of Lublin - Barbara Kiereś DSc, Artur Mamcarz-Plisiecki DSc, and Prof. Arkadiusz Jabłoński, who also entered the Presidium of the Council as its President. The Educational Research Institute (IBE) is a unit subordinate to the Ministry of Education and Science that conducts interdisciplinary scientific research on the functioning and effectiveness of the education system in Poland. It performs advisory functions, conducts research and implementation projects, and prepares expert opinions and reports. It is also responsible for conducting the Integrated Qualifications Register. https://www.kul.pl/dr-robert-derewenda-is-the-new-director-of-the-lublin-branch-of-the-institute-of-national-remembrance-ipn,art_97300.html Dr. Robert Derewenda of the KUL Institute of History was appointed Director of the Lublin Branch of The Institute of National Remembrance (IPN). He will take up this position on January 10th, 2022. Dr. Derewenda is an alumnus of the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL), and since 2017 he has been an assistant in the Department of Sources, Archival Studies, and History Didactics. From 2004 to 2012 he was the Director of the Main Archive of the Light-Life Movement (Ruch Światło-Życie), and since 2012 he has been the Director of the Fr. Franciszek Blachnicki Institute. In the years 2008 - 2021 he was a history and social studies (WOS) teacher at the Queen Jadwiga Private Lower Secondary and Upper Secondary School in Lublin. From 2017 to 2019, he was a history teacher at the Stanisław Staszic 1st Secondary School in Lublin. He is an expert in the Ministry of Education and Science, and is involved in the work of teams developing core curricula in history and social studies. His main areas of research include issues connected with the recent history of the Church, the history of the Oasis Movement, and the activities of Fr. Franciszek Blachnicki, as well as aspects related to history didactics in contemporary schools. He is an active populariser of history, both in the media and during meetings with youth and adults. He also holds the function of councillor for the 8th term of the Lublin City Council (2018 - 2023). Congratulations! https://www.kul.pl/promotion-of-the-quot-polish-jewish-remembrance-quot-monograph,art_97284.html (From the left: Katarzyna Dzierżawska (Director of the Polish Institute in Tel Aviv), Prof. Sławomir Jacek Żurek, Elżbieta Żurek, Ryszard Loew (editor of “Kontury. Almanach Autorów Piszących po Polsku w Izraelu” [“Contours. Almanac of Polish Authors in Israel”]), photo: Agata Krizewsky) On December 10th, 2021, Prof. Sławomir Jacek Żurek, Director of KUL’s International Centre for Research on the History and Cultural Heritage of Jews in East-Central Europe gave a lecture at the Polish Institute in Tel Aviv. A large audience attended a lecture entitled “Polish-Jewish Remembrance” about the Professor’s new scientific monograph, being an attempt to describe the relations between Poles and Jews depicted in literature from 1918 to the present day. This was one of the elements of Prof. Żurek’s research visit to Israel. “The two-month visit to Israel was extremely successful. In addition to the research carried out at the National Library of Israel at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, I gave three lectures: at the Polish Institute in Tel Aviv, at the Custody of the Holy Land in Jerusalem (during the session devoted to Hanukkah and Christmas) and at the Polish Studies Centre at Haifa University,” says Prof. Żurek. “I also took part in an international seminar at the Bar-Ilan University in Ramat Gan as part of the work of a research consortium of three universities (KUL, Bar-Ilan University, and the University of Antwerp),” he adds. All of the above-mentioned meetings also featured the promotion of a book entitled “Odpamiętywania polsko-żydowskie” [“Polish-Jewish Remembrance”], devoted to the roles of Jews in the development of Polish culture. The title of the monograph can be regarded as a description of the entire process which has been going on for over thirty years (since 1989) in historical, cultural, and literary research covering the contribution of Polish Jews to the development of Polish culture, their participation in social life, and relations between them and other Poles. This exploration was preceded by a silence, which, following the extermination of Jews unleashed by the Nazis fell around their centuries-long presence in the Republic. The scholarly research conducted between 1945 and 1989 – both on this presence and on the annihilation of the Jewish world during the Holocaust – was very limited in scope. The communist authorities saw no need either to recall the historical existence of Polish citizens of Jewish origin, or to reflect on their “disappearance” during the war. As a result of this approach, for the majority of Poles, both the pre-World War II Jewish world and the Holocaust itself have become mere artefacts created on the basis of post-memory processes taking place in culture. Prof. Sławomir Jacek Żurek is a literary scholar, the head of the Unit for Polish-Jewish Literature and Director of KUL’s International Centre for Research on the History and Cultural Heritage of Jews in East-Central Europe. He leads an international Belgian-Israeli-Polish research consortium, currently carrying out the project: “21st Century Literature and the Holocaust. Comparative and Multilanguage Perspective” (2020 – 2023). https://www.kul.pl/the-catholic-university-of-lublin-commemorated-rev-prof-tadeusz-styczen-a-friend-of-john-paul-ii,art_97250.html “He is an important figure to us and this is also a sign for the entire community that we would like to commemorate significant figures of our university,” said Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin during the ceremony of naming one of the university lecture halls after Rev. Prof. Tadeusz Styczeń. A commemorative plaque by lecture hall 220 of the Collegium Joannis Pauli II building was unveiled on December 10th, 2021. The Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, while thanking The John Paul II Institute for the initiative to honour the memory of Rev. Prof. Tadeusz Styczeń, emphasised his undisputable belonging to the catalogue of great masters. Professor Styczeń was a teacher and tutor of youth, but also an advisor to the university authorities; he influenced the reputation of KUL not only in Poland, but also abroad. The Rector also recalled meetings in the university’s lecture hall during which Rev. Prof. Styczeń shared his reflections on his numerous meetings with Pope John Paul II. Rev. Prof. Andrzej Derdziuk brought closer the figure of Prof. Styczeń during theHoly Mass in the Academic Church of the Catholic University of Lublin. He emphasised the personal qualities of the Reverend Professor: modesty, a child’s openness, simplicity, wisdom, and courage. “As a faithful friend, disciple, and collaborator of Karol Wojtyła, even when he was already a professor, he always wanted to feel like a student; he knew how to hang back, although he himself had huge achievements and outstanding authority,” he pointed out. Such an attitude can be a model for the contemporary generation that does not recognise authority, convinced of them limiting independence, freedom, and creativity. “His life teaches us how to be a descendant and draw copiously from the achievements of our predecessors in order to creatively develop and pass them on,” he said. Rev. Prof. Derdziuk also reminded us that Prof. Styczeń was a stout-hearted defender of life and his saying – the unborn are the measure of democracy – is still valid. Prof. Tadeusz Styczeń SDS (Societas Divini Salvatoris – Society of the Divine Saviour) (1931 – 2010) was a disciple and successor of Karol Wojtyła at the KUL Department of Ethics, founder of The John Paul II Institute and creator of the quarterly journal Ethos. From 1963 he was a lecturer at the Catholic University of Lublin, between the years 1978 and 2002 he was the head of the Department of Ethics. At the same time, for several years, he regularly lectured at the Pontifical Lateran University of Rome. His main areas of study included ethics, meta-ethics, philosophical and theological anthropology, and the ideas of John Paul II. He was also one of the founders of the International Academy of Philosophy, initially based in Dallas, and later in the Principality of Liechtenstein. He was a full member of the Pontifical Academy for Life (in the years 1994 – 2004 he was a member of the Governing Council). During the pontificate of John Paul II, he served as an unofficial link between the pope and his university, as one of the pope’s close friends he was a regular guest in the Vatican City and Castel Gandolfo; he was also a witness of the last moments of the pope’s life. https://www.kul.pl/prof-gutowski-covid-may-become-an-opportunity-for-polish-universities,art_97252.html “COVID has intensified many negative processes in the world of Anglo-Saxon higher education,” argued Prof. Piotr Gutowski during another debate of the Areopagus of Universities series. “This could be an opportunity for Polish universities. This is an opportunity for some students and young academics to truly consider coming to our country,” he said. The third debate in the Areopagus of Universities series, which took place on December 6th, 2021 at the University of Adam Mickiewicz in Poznań, was devoted to various aspects of relations in the time of COVID. Philosopher and historian of philosophy representing the Catholic University of Lublin - Prof. Piotr Gutowski - devoted his speech to the changes that have taken place in the world of Anglo-Saxon higher education under the influence of the coronavirus. “Some of these phenomena will probably also appear in Poland, so it is worth countering them in advance,” noted the panellist. Universities in the United States, Great Britain or Australia, among others, had to face financial difficulties. A significant part of their income comes from tuition fees, and many students have suspended their studies or abandoned them altogether. This, in turn, has necessitated austerity measures, which has increased tensions between academic and didactic staff - especially the junior staff - and the university authorities. Opinions could be heard that the coronavirus crisis was used to hasten neoliberal reforms in the world of higher education. Administrative decisions were made, favouring some faculties and restricting others, including those with a long tradition of study. “Research has also suffered at the expense of teaching,” Gutowski noted. Another effect of the pandemic was tensions between the humanities and the sciences, which, according to the Professor, will also affect the Polish environment. The pandemic has also caused the so-called St. Matthew effect, i.e. the poor have become even more poor, and the rich even more rich. This has primarily affected students, including those in Poland. “An increase in the cost of living forced many of them to take up employment,” emphasised the representative of KUL. In conclusion, he stated that the pandemic situation could also be an opportunity for Polish universities to attract students or academics from abroad. The next, fourth debate of the series will be held on January 10th, 2022 at the University of Warsaw and will be devoted to issues related to economics, the economy, finance, and management in the pandemic situation. The Catholic University of Lublin will be represented by Prof. Marian Żukowski. https://www.kul.pl/a-meeting-of-the-board-of-the-innovation-laboratory-of-kul-and-bank-pekao-s-a,art_97253.html On December 9th, 2021, under the leadership of Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, another meeting of the Board of the Innovation Laboratory of KUL and Bank Pekao S.A. was held. The aim of the meeting was to discuss the past activities of the Innovation Laboratory in education, training, and design. It was attended by: Dr. Grzegorz Czelej, Senator of the Republic of Poland, presidents and representatives of the following companies: Bank Pekao S.A., Asseco Business Solution, Nowy Styl Group, Modern-Expo S.A., and the President of the Lublin Business Club. KUL was represented by: Prof. Dr Hab. Marian Żukowski, Prof. Dr Hab. Antoni Magdoń, and President Tomasz Małecki, mentor of the Innovation Laboratory of KUL and Bank Pekao S.A. The Innovation Laboratory of KUL and Bank Pekao S.A. is a unit of KUL, supporting creativity and increasing competences in the field of entrepreneurship. https://www.kul.pl/a-medical-faculty-will-be-established-at-the-catholic-university-of-lublin,art_97231.html The Catholic University of Lublin will begin educating future doctors in the autumn of 2023. On December 8th, the anniversary of the founding of the university, a Convention was established for the founding and development of a medical faculty at KUL. "We want to be concerned not only with man's soul but also with his body," said the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski. The declaration to join the Convention was signed by representatives ofgovernmental and local government administration, Prof. Wojciech Załuski - the Rector of the Medical University of Lublin, as well as hospital Chief Executives. The aim of the Convention is to support the development of a medical faculty at the KUL. A letter of intent for the establishment and development of a medical faculty was also signed. Its signatories expressed their will to provide practical and organisational support, for example through working towards creating a proper clinical base and through organising student internships. Support, including that of the financial nature, for the founding of the new faculty was expressed by Piotr Bomber, the Deputy Health Minister. "The increase in the number of available places in medical faculties over the past several years is an important step in ensuring the health of Poles" said the Deputy Minister. The will to cooperate was also expressed by Prof. Wojciech Załuski, the Rector of the Medical University of Lublin. "The establishment of a medical faculty is the completion of the history of the university," stressed Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski. It is no coincidence that the letter of intent was signed on December 8th, another anniversary of the university's inauguration. It is the realisation, after over 100 years, of the intentions of the university's founder, Rev. Idzi Radziszewski, who wanted KUL to provide education in the widest possible scope. As emphasized by Archbishop Stanisław Budzik, the Grand Chancellor of the Catholic University of Lublin, the establishment of a Catholic university in the autumn of 1918 was a bold decision that bore beautiful fruit in the course of time. Rev. Radziszewski's idea was taken up several years following his death, but advanced arrangements for the establishment of a medical faculty were interrupted by the Second World War. Rev. Prof. Kalinowski stated that the work on the establishment of a medical faculty at KUL started again a few years ago; in the initial stage, education in nursing and midwifery was launched. As stressed by the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, the establishment of amedical faculty is also a reference to the classic university model. "The classical university consisted of four fields of study: theology, philosophy, law, and medicine" recalls Rev. Prof. Kalinowski. A medical faculty naturally fits in with the vision of a Catholic university. The Church's concern extends to the whole person, not only to the sphere of his or her soul; for example, through extensive charitable activities or the running of medical units. Educating future doctors is offered by many Catholic universities; the Gemelli Polyclinic is the clinical hospital of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan, which also provides medical care to popes. It is this holistic view of the human being as a spiritual and corporal unity that underlies the establishment of medical studies at the Catholic University of Lublin. "We want future graduates of our medical faculty to be able to look at people holistically, taking into account both their physical and spiritual nature, as well as the dignity of the human being," explains Prof. Dr. Hab. Michał Wyrostkiewicz spokesperson of KUL. Future doctors are to be educated in terms of personalising medical activities, i.e. the application of modern diagnostics and therapy for a particular patient. This is simultaneously a response to social needs. According to the estimates of the Supreme Medical Chamber, there is a shortage of tens of thousands of doctors in Poland. "I experience these shortages every day," confirms Prof. Elżbieta Starosławska, director of the St. John of Dukla Oncology Centre of Lublin, one of the hospitals that will cooperate with the Catholic University of Lublin in conducting medical studies. The medical faculty will be run at the Poczekajka campus, based on the existing infrastructure - including modern laboratories - which is gradually being supplemented. Educating is due to commence in the autumn of 2023. Initially, 60 students will be able to study medicine at KUL, but the number is expected to increase each year. There are also plans to establish medical studies in English. LINK Convention Members LINK Signatories of the Letter of Intent https://www.kul.pl/the-rector-of-the-catholic-university-of-lublin-a-research-centre-on-poles-and-jews-saving-victims-of-totalitarianism-will-be-es,art_97117.html In the coming weeks, a Research Centre on Poles saving Jews and Jews saving Poles during the Second World War and communism will be established at the Catholic University of Lublin, informed Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, the Rector of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. The Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin emphasised that the Centre will be an independent research unit operating within the structure of the university. He added that consultations with various communities are currently being carried out and operation plans for the coming years are being drawn up. "There have already been publications on the mutual help between Poles and Jews in the times of totalitarianism, but there is a need for a comprehensive approach to this matter, for scientific methodology, and for in-depth research. These are fundamental matters in the 20th-century history of both nations. Our university will take up these issues, also in response to the requests that reach us", said Rev. Prof. Kalinowski. He stressed that the Research Centre on Poles saving Jews and Jews saving Poles will cooperate with external entities, including foreign ones. The released publications will be translated into English and Hebrew. "We want the results of the Centre's research to reach young people as well, hence new communication technologies will be used so that the manner of communication is consistent with contemporary trends. One of the first projects will be a multimedia Encyclopaedia of Poles saving Jews and Jews saving Poles, published in both traditional and online versions", informed the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin. He also stated that there will be a science and policy council at the Centre, to which representatives of the Jewish community will be invited. Rev. Prof. Kalinowski noted that the initiative of the Catholic University of Lublin is supported by the chairman of ThePolish Episcopal Committeefor the Dialogue withJudaism, Bishop Rafał Markowski. https://www.kul.pl/the-rector-of-the-catholic-university-of-lublin-the-advent-brings-hope-even-in-the-most-difficult-time,art_97090.html The ongoing pandemic, the situation on the eastern border, and everyday problems can cause anxiety and doubt in many of us. All the more precious is the time of the Advent, which brings true hope - highlights the Rector of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Rev. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski. The Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin reminds us that the Latin word "adventus", from which the name of the liturgical period before Christmas in the Catholic Church is derived, means "coming" and "arrival". "At the beginning of another Advent, it is worth asking ourselves whose coming and arrival are we awaiting? Of course, this near time may be reduced only to external Christmas preparations and traditions. Then what will we get at Christmas, apart from the usual presents and Christmas wafer? The Church invites us to deeply experience the Advent, seek God, repent and turn to other people, especially to the sick, the lonely, the poor, and anyone who needs support" says Rev. Prof. Kalinowski. As the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin points out, the current pandemic situation and social problems, including those within the Church, can cause fear, a sense of confusion and discouragement in many people. "All the more precious at this time is the message of the Advent: the Lord is close to each of us, in our daily lives and struggles. That is why it is so important to take advantage of the Advent retreat and of the pre-Christmas confession, to open up to other people, and to seek dialogue and reconciliation," he adds. Rev. Prof. Kalinowski draws attention to the words of Pope Francis, addressed to Poles last Wednesday. "The Holy Father stated that the Advent reminds us that human life is constant anticipation. He pointed out that our life becomes beautiful and happy when we await someone dear and important, and the Advent ensures that the one we are waiting for - Jesus Christ - loves and never leaves us," he stresses. The Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin added that, as every year, in the academic church of the University, there will be an Advent retreat, which will begin on Sunday, November 28th and last until Wednesday, December 1st. It will be led by Paulite Fr. Marian Waligóra, the online broadcast of which is to be found on the website of the Academic Ministry of the Catholic University of Lublin. "In the academic church there is a possibility of an all-day benediction and confession from 6:00 p.m. On the night of the first Thursday of the month (02/12) to the first Friday of the month (03/12), there will be an all-night benediction. Weekly masses begin on the first Sunday of the Advent at 9:30 a.m. in Ukrainian, the first of which will be celebrated by the bishop of Kiev-Zhytomyr, Witalij Krywicki. Every Sunday at 5:00 p.m. Masses are celebrated in English" informed Rev. Prof. Kalinowski. https://www.kul.pl/the-project-quot-aramaic-bible-quot,art_97058.html The main goal of the project “Aramaic Bible” is introduction, translation and critical edition of the text of Targums. The final effect of this project will be the full text of Targums to Pentateuch (Targum Neofiti 1, Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, Targum Onkelosa), Prophets and Writings in Polish language. This text contains old Jewish traditions which have essential influence for understanding and interpretation of the biblical (Old Testament, New Testament) and extra-biblical texts (pseudoepigraphy literature, rabbinic and patristic texts). The translation of Targums from Aramaic into Polish language makes possible the access to Jewish literature containing old traditions which were used by the New Testament authors and rabbinic Judaism. The present project can be seen in larger context of the Church teaching after II Vatican Council about dialogue between Judaism and Christianity (declarationNostra aetate– 1965; Indications and suggestions regarding declarationNostra aetate– 1974; The attitude of the Church towards other religions -1984; Jews and Judaism in the preaching of the God’s Word and in catechesis of Catholic Church – 1985; document:We remember: Reflections on Shoah– 1998; document of Pontifical Biblical Commission,Jewish nation and its sacred Scriptures in the Christian Bible– 2001; the speech of pope Benedict XVI in the Synagogue in Rome – 2010; adhortation of Benedict XVI –Verbum Domini– 2010; document of Pontifical Biblical Commission,The Truth and Inspiration of Holy Scripture - 2014). The lack of the Polish translation of these Targums in our country is one of the main motives for the present project. It is necessity to provide these precious sources for further studies on the influence of targumic traditions on Christian writers (New Testament, patristic writings) and on rabbinic writings (Mishna, Tosefta, Gemara, Talmud). The access to the Targums to Pentateuch in Polish language enables better understanding of ancient Jewish traditions for many scholars. Thanks to that it will be possible to develop further studies on influence of these traditions for other ancient texts. In many cases targumic texts can be an interpretative key for better understanding of canonical and extra-canonical texts. The term “targum” is used to Aramaic translation of Hebrew Bible. After Babylonian exile the Aramaic language was very popular among the people who speak in it. It was need to translate Hebrew books of the Bible into Aramaic mainly for liturgical purpose. Rabbinic Judaism transmitted the Targums to almost all books of Hebrew Bible (except of Book of Daniel and Book of Ezra and Nehemiah which contain some fragments in Aramaic). At the beginning of XX century the scholars are interested to investigate targumic literature. https://www.kul.pl/religious-faith-and-practical-aspects-of-life,art_96628.html https://www.kul.pl/areopagus-of-universities-the-sustainability-of-values-is-proven-by-the-passion-constantly-present-in-the-life-of-the-academic-c,art_96524.html Has the COVID epidemic changed the world of our values? Are these changes permanent? These questions were discussed by rectors and experts from four universities: KUL, UW, UJ and UAM.The first debate in the Universities Areopagus series was held at the Catholic University of Lublin. Professor Mirosław Kalinowski, opened the debate by stressing the importance of dialogue. - We may not find answers to the questions that will arise, but we will find more elements that unite than divide us - he said. Areopag of universities is a series of debates on current, socially importanttopics. The initiative for a series of discussions devoted to the problems of the world in the age of COVID came from the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski. On 18 October experts from all four universities took up the topic of the system of values in the era of COVID. While opening the debate the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin emphasized the importance of dialogue. Following, the Rector of the University of Warsaw, Prof. Alojzy Nowak, noted that the one and a half year epidemic has significantly changed the conditions for the functioning of society, among others, thanks to the progress of robotization. - I am convinced that the place of man in the world in 10-15 years will be completely different than today. Rector of the Jagiellonian University, Professor Jacek Popiel, expressed his hope for concrete results of the debates. - We would like the dialogue among scientists to translate into dialogue in Polish society. Representing Adam Mickiewicz University, Vice-Chancellor Professor Tadeusz Wallas reminded that coronavirus is not the first pandemic in the history of mankind. - Each of them has led to significant changes and, generally, for the better. Prof. Jacek Wojtysiak of the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) in his introduction to the discussion, pointed out that changes in value preferences occur under the influence of strong life experiences, such as borderline situations. - Epidemics have often led to a situation of reevaluation - he stressed. He encouraged reflection on vital values (such as health), cultural, cognitive and religious values. In his opinion, in Western societies people's lives revolve around producing, buying and using purchased objects. He also drew attention to the growing processes of secularization and the high importance of science in Western societies. - Most people treat it as an effective way to master nature. In his opinion, the pandemic has shown that it is possible to live differently, however it failed to abandon consumptionism and change our lifestyle, nor did it arouse greater religiousness. He concluded that the pandemic shock was too weak for any permanent changes, and the pandemic showed that our civilization and science still face many limitations. Experts from other universities referred to Prof. Wojtysiak's words. - The pandemic revealed to us the value of love, under many different forms: compassion, understanding, help, brotherhood, patriotism, and the longing for closeness," said Father Cezary Smuniewski, Ph.D., from the University of Warsaw. According to the professor, thanks to the pandemic, values were revealed with a new clarity, just as it happened with the uniqueness of each person. This is a chance to reconsider personalism which has the power to protect us from the Scylla of individualism and the Charybdis of collectivism. It is also a chance to reflect on the importance of our ability to enter into relationships," he emphasized. - We are fed with mediocrity and as a result we slowly lose the taste of goodness - said Prof. Leszek Sosnowski from the Jagiellonian University. Our social reality is demolished not only by the coronavirus, but by a number of pandemics: hatred, post-truth and stupidity. The speaker paid particular attention to the pandemic of indifference and lack of solidarity. Solidarity is a value that has the power to bring people together, even when they are far from each other. - Solidarity is always with someone and for someone - he added. The professor noted that this value cannot be imposed on anyone, because it is always an expression of human goodwill. A disturbing symptom of its absence during the pandemic were voices calling for non-vaccination. Professor Zbyszko Melosik from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan noted that from the historical perspective, the pandemic is not an isolated fact. - The epidemic has shown that the human condition is very fragile and has struck at his arrogant belief that he has already conquered nature - he stressed. In his opinion the pandemic will not permanently change the world of values of modern man, it is possible only in the case of people who have experienced an individual tragedy, such as the death of loved ones. - Our system of values remained socially unchanged, and people returned to the consumerist lifestyle - he said. He added that humanity has never been and will never be oriented only towards lofty values, but we can’t say that today we are dealing with the bankruptcy of humanity and its ideals, and the lastingles of values is proven by the passion always present in the life of the academic community. The next debate in the series, dedicated to the issues of medicine and public health - "Ethical limits of medicine," will be held on November 8 at the Jagiellonian University. https://www.kul.pl/internships-at-the-permanent-representation-of-the-holy-see-to-the-united-nations-office-for-students-of-the-catholic-university,art_96483.html KUL students will be able to gain diplomatic experience during apprenticeships and internships at the Permanent Representation of the Holy See at the United Nations Office and Specialized Agencies in Vienna. This is the result of an agreement signed at the end of September in Vienna by the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Fr. prof. Mirosław Kalinowski and Fr. Janusz Urbanczyk. The Catholic Church in the global space is represented by the Holy See, which has long been recognised as a subject of international law and as an active participant in international relations through its representations in other countries and organizations. One of them is the Permanent Representation of the Holy See to the United Nations Office and the Specialized Agencies in Vienna (permanent observer since 1988), the International Atomic Energy Agency (permanent representative since 1988), the United Nations to on Industrial Development (permanent observer since 1988), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (permanent representative since 1994) and the Preparatory Commission for the Total Ban on Nuclear Weapons Testing (permanent representative since 2015). The activities of the Representative Office include, among others human rights, sustainable development, problems related to migration, nuclear energy, security and disarmament. Thanks to the signed agreement, a special scholarship program will be created, and students of the Catholic University of Lublin will be able to complete 6 to 11-month internships at the headquarters of the Representation. This is an amazing opportunity to get to know the specifics of working in a diplomatic mission from the inside and gain unique experience. One of the requirements for candidates include fluent knowledge of the English language, an additional advantage is the knowledge of German, as well as knowledge of the areas of activity that are of interest to the Permanent Representation. https://www.kul.pl/welcome-to-our-university,art_96288.html https://www.kul.pl/prof-joanna-misztal-konecka-president-of-the-civil-chamber-of-the-supreme-court,art_96330.html The President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, appointed Joanna Misztal-Konecka from the Dep. of Civil Procedure at the Faculty of Law, Canon Law Administration of as the President of the Supreme Court, managing the work of the Civil Chamber. The appointment was handed over during a meeting held at the Presidential Palace on September 30, 2021. https://www.kul.pl/arch-stanislaw-budzik-member-of-the-congregation-for-catholic-education,art_96268.html The Holy Father Francis appointed the metropolitan of Lublin and the grand chancellor of the Catholic University of Lublin, Archbishop. Stanisław Budzik, a member of the Congregation for Catholic Education for a 5-year term. The Congregation gives practical expression to the concern of the Apostolic See for the promotion and organization of Catholic education. The Dicastery is responsible for: - all Universities, Faculties, Institutes and Schools of ecclesiastical studies (which have a direct link with the Congregation and form the Holy See's Higher Education System) or civil (like Catholic Universities, colleges or institutions and associations established for academic purposes) that depend on physical or moral ecclesiastical persons (Bishop, Religious communities); - all schools and pre-university level educational institutions of any kind that depend on Ecclesiastical Authority, that from young people. https://www.kul.pl/library-preparation-course,art_96232.html Dear 1st year Students, on the Moodle platform you can find our ‘Library preparation’ course. It is available i 2 language versions, namely Polish and English. The course is obligatory and ends with a test. More details available after entering the course – in ‘News’ section. Feel welcome! https://www.kul.pl/compulsory-health-and-safety-training-for-ba-and-ma-course-students,art_96231.html Dear Students, Acting on the basis of the Regulation of the Minister of Science and Higher Education of October 30, 2018 concerning ways to ensure health and safety in education at universities, please be advised that students beginning their courses at our University are required to read and understand dedicated training materials available on the Moodle platform. The training concludes with a knowledge test, the passing of which will enable you to generate a relevant certificate. The certificate (scanned copy) should be delivered to the SOHS Department via e-mail at: bhp@kul.pl, or in hard copy by November 30, 2021. NOTE! You can also get your credit for the OHS training based on a previously complete training course (e.g. for your bachelors program or other department faculty), but only if the training was provided by our University. In such case you can get your credit by applying for exemption to the SOHS Department by November 30, 2021. Model application is available here https://www.kul.pl/covid-vaccinations,art_96025.html We would like to remind you that all persons over 18 years of age can sign up for the COVID-19 vaccination. The vaccination campaign may also be used by foreigners who have the right to permanent or temporary residence in Poland. The document authorizing the foreigner to qualify for vaccination is the document confirming the status of a student / doctoral student. An e-referral may be issued by a general practitioner on the basis of an identity document number (passport). The vaccinated person does not have to stay in quarantine after crossing the Polish border. It is also not included in the limit of people attending gatherings, social meetings and weddings. https://www.kul.pl/international-conference-biblical-anthropology-a-message-for-contemporary-people,art_96124.html The Pontifical Biblical Commission together with the Institute of Biblical Studies at the JohnPaulIICatholicUniversityofLublin arepleased toinvite to the conference “Biblical Anthropology - a Message forContemporary People”. Date October 20-21, 2021 Theme:TakingasapointofdeparturethelatestdocumentofthePontificalBiblical Commission What isman? AJourneythrough Biblical Anthropology we want to reflect on the topics related to biblical anthropology and their importance for modern culture. During the conference, the document of the Pontifical Biblical Commission will be discussed, considering its origins, character, purpose and reception in the Church. The conference will also focus on important topics of biblical anthropology such as: the meaning of God’s imagein a person, the biblical vision of family, love and sexuality, the bodily and spiritual dimension of human nature, humanity’s relationship to the created world, freedom and determinism, and the Christological model of human nature. We will be looking for answers to the question of how to communicate the message of biblical anthropology to contemporary people, entering into an interdisciplinary dialogue with modern science without losing thespecificity of the biblical message. A special session will be devoted to the anthropology of St. Paul. The form of the conference: Due to pandemic restrictions, the conference will be held on the Internet, via the Zoom platform. All persons interested in delivering a paper at the conferenceare kindly invited to submit their topics along with abstracts by June 30, 2021. Conference website, submissions and registration: http://ocs.academicon.pl/index.php/test/BibAnth2021 https://www.kul.pl/fr-prof-marek-jagodzinski-member-of-the-international-theological-commission,art_96269.html The Holy Father Francis appointed Fr. prof. dr hab. Marek Jagodziński from the Department of Orthodox Theology of the Catholic University of Lublin, a member of the International Theological Commission. It is composed of 30 members representing various countries and various currents of theology. The task of the Commission is to analyze the most important problems of contemporary theology for the needs of the Holy See. https://www.kul.pl/sign-up-for-the-one-year-polish-language-course,art_95787.html An ideal course for those who wish to acquire communicative language skills and broaden their knowledge of Polish history and culture. The classes are provided on basic, intermediate and advanced levels, depending on your choice. This option may best suit those who require the knowledge of Polish for academic or professional purposes. Our Participants should be able to master the Polish language sufficiently to begin university studies, undertake their own scientific research or work in Poland upon completion of the course. 23-25 hours* a week in groups of no more than 10 to facilitate individual attention and active participation; The course begins with a trip to 17thcentury city of Kazimierz Dolny, home to many Polish artists; in the mid-year break students go on a few days’ trip to an attractive town or region in Poland; at the end of the academic year there is a trip along the eastern border of Poland where Catholic, Byzantine and Jewish cultures create a unique mixture. We currently accept applications for the next academic year 2021/2022 - deadline for applications: September 30 Course details here https://www.kul.pl/bioanalytical-technologies-ma-programmes,art_95104.html A novelty in the offer of second-cycle studies at KUL - English-language studies in the field of Bioanalytical Technologies. http://bioanalytical.kul.pl/programme/ They prepare to work in the following professions: laboratory analyst, quality assurance specialist, drug registration specialist, microbiologist, biochemist, geneticist, biotechnologist, biologist, laboratory worker in industrial research centers, control and diagnostic laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, monitoring the state of the environment and offices dealing with the protection and management of natural resources. These are international studies conducted in cooperation with the International University of Sarajevo, prepared as part of the KATAMARAN project of the National Agency for Academic Exchange. More information: http://kandydat.kul.pl/studia-ii-stopnia/bioanalytical-technologies/ https://www.kul.pl/quot-art-is-a-lasting-power-quot-cardinal-stefan-wyszynski-and-art,art_94956.html “...art is a lasting power!” Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński and art Exhibition at the Museum of the Catholic University of Lublin July 2 - October 17, 2021 In the year of the beatification of the graduate and then the Grand Chancellor of the Catholic University of Lublin - Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, the Primate of the Millennium, the Museum of the Catholic University of Lublin, wants to become part of the celebration of this special event, by opening its new exhibition. Among the rich legacy of the thoughts and achievements of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, his approach to art, especially his native culture, deserves recognition. He had an extremely open, receptive mind and although he often emphasized that he is not an art expert, his writings or homilies reveal an image of a great admirer of all manifestations of culture. Conveying theological or spiritual thoughts, he frequently referred to the works of great masters, showing unprecedented sensitivity and knowledge of the subject. He emphasized the important role of understanding of the native culture in shaping the identity of the nation, especially of the young generation. Greate are the cardinal's merits in building and rebuilding churches, teaching about culture, supporting scientific research, including developing the Catalog of Art Monuments in Poland. Cardinal Wyszyński was extremely involved in the reconstruction of St. John in Warsaw, as well as smaller churches destroyed after World War II. He broadened his knowledge not only of the history of art, but also of the technical aspects of reconstruction. We also owe him the regothisation of the Gniezno cathedral (restoring the appearance of the cathedral from the times of Bishop Bogoria Skotnicki in the second half of the 14th century). At the exhibition, we present large-format photographs of the Primate of the Millennium, combined with selected statements about art and culture. Quotations taken mainly from homilies or speaches show a wide spectrum of interests and activities of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński as well as his deep perception and understanding of culture. The exposition is completed by valuable relics from the collections of the KUL Museum, incl. a gothic retable or sculptures of Madonnas that he could personally see within the walls of the university. Moreover, souvenirs related to Cardinal Wyszyński were presented, such as an artistically framed missal donated by him on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Catholic University of Lublin, or the monstrance he used during his function as the Grand Chancellor of the Catholic University of Lublin in 1946-48, specially borrowed for this event from the KUL academic church. The exhibition is open from Monday to Friday from 12.00-16.00 Muzeum Katolickiego Uniwersytetu Lubelskiego Jana Pawła II Al. Racławickie 14, 20-950 Lublin, Gmach Główny, sala 29 tel. 81 445 40 29 e-mail: muzeum@kul.pl https://www.kul.pl/honorary-title-of-kul-for-prof-zimmermann,art_94840.html Prof. Reinhard Zimmermann (born 1952) - an outstanding German lawyer and university teacher will be awarded the title of doctor honoris causa by the Rector and Senate of the Catholic University of Lublin. The ceremony will take place online on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, at 11.00. An honorary doctorate is the highest university distinction. The Catholic University of Lublin awarded them to over one hundred prominent personalities, incl. John Paul II, Czesław Miłosz and Władysław Tatarkiewicz. Main Fields of Research Law of obligations and law of succession in historical and comparative perspective; relationship between the English common law and continental civil law; mixed legal systems (in particular Scotland and South Africa); harmonization of European private law. Reinhard Zimmermann has been a Director of The Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law Hamburg since 2002. Additionally, he teaches as Affiliate Professor at Bucerius Law School, Hamburg. After completing his legal studies at the University of Hamburg Reinhard Zimmermann was appointed in 1981 as the W.P. Schreiner Professor of Roman and Comparative Law at the University of Cape Town; from 1986 he additionally served as the Dean of the Faculty of Law. In 1988 he relocated and assumed the Chair of Private Law, Roman Law and Comparative Legal History at the University of Regensburg, where he was Dean of the Faculty of Law from 1994 to 1996. From 2001 Reinhard Zimmermann served as a member of the board of the German Association of Professors of Private Law; from 2011 to 2015 he was Chairman of that Association. In 2014 he became Chairman of the Association of Comparative Law. He is a Founding Member of the Senate of the European Law Institute and since 2017 its Speaker. In 2006 he was elected Chairman of the Human Sciences Section of the Max Planck Society; between 2006 and 2010 he was Senator ex officio and since 2011 he is an Elected Senator of the Max Planck Society. Reinhard Zimmermann has been President of the German National Academic Foundation since 2011. He has been a Guest Professor at the Universities of Chicago (Max Rheinstein Visiting Professor), New Orleans, Edinburgh, Stellenbosch, Berkeley, Yale, Cornell, Auckland, Santiago de Chile, Cambridge (A.L. Goodhart Professor and Fellow at St. John’s College), and Oxford (Visiting Fellow, All Souls College). In 1996 Reinhard Zimmermann was awarded the Leibniz Prize of the German Research Association. He has been conferred honorary doctorates by the Universities of Chicago, Aberdeen, Maastricht, Lund, Cape Town, Edinburgh, Lleida, Stellenbosch, McGill and Lublin. He is Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy and of the Royal Society of Edinburgh as well as Ordinary or Corresponding Member of the Bavarian Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Academy of Arts and Sciences of Göttingen, the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Accademia delle Scienze di Torino, the Austrian Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Academia Europaea. Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Fr. prof. Mirosław Kalinowski recalled that the title of doctor honoris causa is awarded to people of particular merit in the field of science, culture and religion, and at the same time characterized by animpeccable moral approach. Catholic University of Lublin with great joy and pride distinguishes an outstanding lawyer whose significant contribution to the development of science has also been appreciated by other European universities, honoring prof. Zimmermann with an honorary doctorate. Prof. Reinhard Zimmermann not only changed the form of research on Roman law and its reception, but also put a lot of energy into searching for the sources of our cultural identity - said in the laudation the head of the Department of Roman Law, Dr. Maciej Jońca, prof. KUL. In his works he gives expression to the legitimate claim that our legal culture was created not only by jurists. Hence the references to Aristotle, Plato, Roman poets and rhetoricians, but also to the Bible and the Fathers and Doctors of the Church. - Works by prof. Zimmermann can without doubt be perceived as those which are already inspiring others and are mapping new trails. The example of Professor Zimmermann is an indisputable proof that a creative approach to Roman law, its history and tradition is still able to instigate changes in our perception of the world. Gallery https://www.kul.pl/the-rector-s-college-of-the-catholic-university-of-lublin-there-is-no-consent-to-any-forms-of-anti-semitism,art_93831.html “There can be no consent to any form of anti-Semitism in social and academic life,” stated the Rector's College of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (KUL). The Rector's College of the Catholic University of Lublin pointed out that numerous calls to create friendly and fraternal ties with Jews can be found both in the teaching of the Church and of the successive popes, including St. John Paul II. "The Catholic University of Lublin, following the example and attitude of its patron, St. John Paul II, wants to establish relations and close cooperation with the Jewish community in Poland, as well as with representatives of Israel," the University authorities emphasize. It has been reminded that in recent months the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, had a telephone conversation with the Chief Rabbi of Poland, Michael Schudrich, whom he had met a few weeks before in Warsaw while visiting the local synagogue. In February the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin was a guest of the Vice-ambassador of Israel in Poland, Tal Ben-Ari Yaalon. The Rector's College of the KUL informs that both talks touched upon the subject of cooperation, including, inter alia, youth exchange from Poland and Israel. https://www.kul.pl/the-rector-of-the-catholic-university-of-lublin-the-condition-for-dialogue-is-the-mutual-respect-of-both-parties,art_92023.html One of the conditions for dialogue is that both sides approach each other with respect and the willingness to seek the truth. They should calmly listen to each other’s arguments, and when criticizing or rejecting them, they must avoid hurting the interlocutor, emphasized the Rector of the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski in the opening speech of the VI Congress of Christian Culture. In this way, the topic of the Congress was presented: “Spaces of Dialogue. Christian Inspirations of the Culture of Encounter”. “It is hard to find a more appropriate topic in times marked by all kinds of social disputes, a lack of respect for interlocutors in public debate, and the inability to listen to the other side. This leads to the breakdown of interpersonal unity and the inability to present one’s arguments peacefully and, consequently, to searching for good solutions. Christianity as a religion of love, whose distinguishing feature is merciful reaching out to people so that they can recognize and preserve their human dignity, certainly has much to offer in this field,” said Fr. Prof. Kalinowski. He added that dialogue and meeting are special features of the mission with which the founder of Christianity came to earth. “Pope Francis, speaking about this during a congress at the Pontifical Faculty of Theology in Naples, said: “Jesus himself announced the kingdom of God in dialogue with all kinds and categories of people of the Judaism of his time: with the scribes, the Pharisees, the doctors of the law, the tax-collectors, the learned, the simple, sinners. […] We lose nothing by engaging in dialogue. We always gain something. In a monologue, we all lose, all of us,” pointed out the Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin. As Fr. Prof. Kalinowski said, Pope Francis’s words remind us that Christ, before helping the people he encountered, listened attentively to what they had to say to him and looked at them with love. “Only then did he convey a teaching that went deep into their inner problems, a certain proposal for life, expressed with the care and the power of God’s truth, with which he identified himself. His teaching was not always sweet but, at times, painful and demanding, because those who love know that they must sometimes admonish and even punish, for the benefit of the beloved and his proper development,” he emphasized. The Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin stressed that for a dialogue to take place, several conditions must be met. “First, both sides must be respectful and willing to seek the truth. Secondly, both sides should listen to their arguments calmly, and when criticizing or rejecting them, avoid hurting the interlocutor or violating his dignity. Thirdly, pointing out, criticizing, or proposing a difficult solution cannot be the result of prejudices or a hostile attitude on the part of the one admonishing, and the person being admonished must avoid taking this kind of remark as an attack on himself but instead treat it as a suggestion to reflect on his behavior,” he said. https://www.kul.pl/covid-19-information-for-foreigners-in-lublin,art_89980.html We would like to inform you that on the website of the Lublin City, information on the current epidemiological situation in the country is updated in English (https://lublin.eu/en/) and Ukrainian (https://lublin.eu/ua/). Moreover, a separate section entitled „Coronavirus Practical Information" in both languages (https://lublin.eu/en/lublin-4-all/coronavirus-info/and (https://lublin.eu/ua/lublin/coronavirus-practical-information/) has been created for this purpose, where i.a., information on new restrictions, medical assistance and necessary contacts are posted. We encourage you to follow these websites.