8th-11th October 2015, Ludbreg, Croatia
From October 8th until October 11th 2015 all Kolping roads were leading to the „centrum mundi“, to Ludbreg, Croatia. Catholic apprentices society-Kolping from Zagreb Archdiocese, Kolping society of Varaždin diocese and Kolping Youth Europe were organizers and hosts of workshop meeting „Creative leader-motivated group“.
Young Croatian organisation team from Kolping family Saint Joseph (Zagreb) was preparing for half a year everything to make this meeting possible. For the first time in history of Croatian Kolping work one European Kolping youth meeting was held in Croatia. Thirty European young Kolping members gathered in Ludbreg. Twenty-two of them were from seven countries: Ukraine, Poland, Serbia, Romania, Hungary, The Czech Republic, Slovakia and eight of them from Croatia.After the arrival of participants and the greeting words from Ms. Anita Petri?evi?, the president of Catholic apprentices society-Kolping from Zagreb Archdiocese and Mr. Stjepan Vincek, president of the board of the same society, guests participated at the Croatian cultural evening. Video, photo, food and drink, dance and music „tour de Croatia“ welcomed all participants.
Second day of meeting was mostly workshop day. Petra Pervan, young psychologist and expert in working with young leaders, was leading participants through all workshops. Some workshop points were the main leaders characteristics, how to understand some group process etc. Petra gave to the participants also opportunities to experience some games and ways of working with youngsters and a lot more. Afternoon sightseeing in Varaždin, in a „town of baroque, music and flowers“ near Ludbreg, started with a visit to the cathedral of Varaždin. Priest of Kolping society of Varaždin diocese, Antun Per?i?, welcomed the group. Powerful organ masterpieces played by Mr. Višeslav Jaklin made this visit more interesting. After the free time in Varaždin, group ended the day with nice dinner in a restaurant called „Knegine?ka hiža“, in Kneginec near Varaždin. Third day was reserved for the continuation of workshop and for sightseeing of Ludbreg. Priest Silvijo Koš?ak was the tour guide through the town. After visiting parish church, „centrum mundi point“ and castle Battchany, a group had one special assignment. Organizers prepared a game through a part of the town for them. In five smaller groups they had to find five spots and papers with notes at each spot, which were leading to the final spot and to the „treasure“, of course. Seeing a group running throught the town centre, asking local people and laughing a lot, one local man commented: „A running and trying to find a „treasure“ like this was not present here in Ludbreg since Roman times J.“ Later that day was Holy Mass together with older Kolping members from Zagreb and Varaždin. It was served by Kolping priest Zdenko Perija. Youth choir „Agape“ was leading the singing during the Holy Mass. After the dinner, young guests presented their countries and Kolping work in their countries through singing, dancing, acting, showing the country beauties etc. Intercultural evening was very interesting to the older Kolping members but also to all participants. Second part of Intercultural evening was only with meeting participants where they presented their countries throughout brought food.
Last meeting day was reserved for information about Kolping Youth activities on European level, which were shared by Patrycja Kwapik. Also, evaluation and thanksgiving part made this last day special.
Idea of this meeting is very modern: to train and prepare young people for leadership so that they could be better leaders and so that they could lead other youngster to be responsable participants of their society, responsable participants of the Church.
Creativity and motivation are important in a life of every group. There is no unique answer how to become creative or motivated, everything we are and our characteristics lead us to the points where we can try to make something for our society. Every good step is right step and it makes a difference, it makes our surroundings better and more human. So the idea of the meeting was to awake some positive energy in the participants and motivate them so that they would like to become more active and more creative and motivated participants of their society, of their Kolping families and also to share with them a part of ideas how to make it.
According to the positive feedback and nice experience, this meeting is a beginning of nice friendships and who knows-maybe also of some future projects.
May the life and work od blessed Adolph Kolping help all to continue their motivated work in Kolping society.
