07 Sep Rijeka: The Archdiocese of Rijeka has launched the project “Science and Faith in Healthcare: Towards a Holistic Approach”
At the beginning of September, the Archdiocese of Rijeka began the implementation of an 18-month project Science and Faith in Healthcare: Advancing Holistic Approaches, which aims to open space for a deeper dialogue and cooperation between the scientific community and the Church in the field of health and social welfare. By combining professional knowledge and Christian care for man, the Archdiocese of Rijeka wants to encourage the creation of a model of care that equally respects the physical, psychological and spiritual needs of every person.
The project is led by the vicar general of the Archdiocese of Rijeka, dr. sc. Mario Tomljanović and Assoc. Prof. Prof. Dr. Sc. Saša Horvat (University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Health Studies), and the focus is on three thematic areas related to the activities of charitable and health institutions founded by the archdiocese.
- palliative care and human dignity in the last moments of life (Hospice Marija K. Kozulić)
- care for people with dementia (Home for People with Dementia), with an emphasis on the need to connect medical, psychological and pastoral approaches
- accommodation and assistance to women and children victims of domestic violence in the Home of St. (Caritas Home for Women and Children – Victims of Domestic Violence), which is a unique institution in the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County and an example of the archdiocese’s long-standing commitment to social sensitivity and protection of the most vulnerable
The project received financial support from the prestigious international program Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science (ECLAS), which represents a significant recognition of the value and quality of Rijeka’s initiatives.
The planned activities are designed to involve not only experts in the project, but also the wider community. In the next year and a half, the following will be held:
- A round table on palliative care, which will bring together health professionals, representatives of institutions and civil society, in order to openly discuss the importance of ending life with dignity,
- A two-day international scientific conference on palliative care and dementia, which will be attended by prominent domestic and foreign experts, and special emphasis will be placed on the cooperation of medical and theological disciplines,
- Public lecture on the House of St. Through which it will be emphasized that faith and professional help can together contribute to the safety and recovery of women and children victims of violence,
- Competition for student posters on the topic of the relationship between science and religion, which will encourage elementary and high school students to think creatively about important social issues. The best works will be awarded and publicly exhibited in the premises of the Archdiocese.
In addition to the organization of public events, the project also envisages international dissemination of results: members of the project team will participate in scientific conferences abroad, and summaries and results of all activities will be published in Croatian and English. This will enable the example of Rijeka to be recognized in the international academic and ecclesiastical community. This project confirms that science and faith are not in conflict, but can complement each other and build a more humane and just world together.
For more information on ECLAS initiatives and projects, see: https://scire.umk.pl/eclas-grants-competition-results
Selected by: R. Č.
