This year's Week of Prayer was exceptional not only for the worst weather in the 17 years of its duration but also for the rare visit from abroad. The blessing at Královka was attended by visitors from the German Neugablonz, who came to Jablonec on a trip organized for the 15th anniversary of the signing of the partnership agreement between our city and the city of Kaufbeuren. Before the signing of the agreement fifteen years ago, the blessing was officiated by Father Franz Römer; this year, the current spiritual leader of the parish of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Father Thomas Hagen (the host of our youth's trip to Lisbon last year), represented the parish. The ecumenical service was held for the first time this year not directly at the cross due to weather conditions, but in the pleasant basement of the Premier hotel (whose owner erected the cross in 2007). The Friday meeting was led by Father Štěpán Smolen, and to avoid a clash with the Friday mass at 5 PM (given that no more priests were available), the service was postponed to 7 PM. The preacher focused in his sermon on educating about the words hybris and kenosis, their non-obvious significance, and their relationship to spiritual life. Among the participants of the service was Manfred Heerdegen, a historian from Kempten and curator of the archive of post-war history in Neugablonz.
It is nice that chance brought representatives from our small prayer assembly to our German "mirror city" Neugablonz and its sister parish, just like fifteen years ago. However, coincidences need a little help.
The final Aaronic blessing took place from the basement overlooking Jablonec through the window. Despite the unfriendly weather, our city was visible from Královka.
In the opening photograph: from left: Karel Koláček (Old Catholics), Thomas Hagen (Catholics of Neugablonz), Štěpán Smolen, Jiří Koun (Seventh-day Adventists), Jakub Hauzner (Christian Church Good News).
Borek Tichý
