Every year the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia, the Agency for School education, the National Catechetical Office of the Croatian Bishops Conference, the catholic weekly ‘Voice of the Council’ and the Catholic monthly for children and youth ‘The Little Council’ organise a series of theme-based competitions from Catholic catechesis – Catechetical Olympics – for students from elementary and high schools across the country. This year’s theme -‘Saint Dominic and Order of the Preachers’ - was selected following the proposal made by the Croatian Dominican Province.
In order to prepare for this competition that has started in September 2012, the Dominican publishing foundation ‘Truth’ has issued an appropriate and rich in content booklet ‘Saint Dominic and Order of the Preachers’. This booklet contains comprehensive subject matter regarding the life of St. Dominic and the lives of some Dominican saints and blessed, also it talks about the history of the Order and the Croatian Dominican province in particular. An appropriate logo for this event has been designed - it depicts St. Dominic standing on the Olympic rings with the Order’s crest above. This booklet has also been posted online as a PDF document and can be found on the websites of the Croatian Dominican province, the Agency of School education, the National Catechetical Office and that of ‘The Little Council’ monthly.
Around four thousand students participated in this year’s competitions. The first instance of the competition – qualifications – were held in every school at the end of January. After that, in February, the second instance of the competition was held on the diocesan level. The Catechetical Olympics finals will take place in Dubrovnik, in the week after Easter. Thirty teams, who have qualified, each consisting of four members, hailing from fifteen dioceses and archdioceses, will participate in these finals.
Some students along with their mentors have visited Dominican convents all over Croatia as a part of their preparation for the coming competition. A number of our own student brothers participated as guests during the second instance of this competition in order to embody the spirit of St. Dominic and his Order among the students. Also the national television has shown an appropriate programme on the subject. Dominican novices and brother students will also perform an especially prepared programme at the finals of the Catechetical Olympics. As a special treat, all the contestants will get a tour of the first and oldest Dominican convent in Croatia founded in Dubrovnik only couple of years after the Order was founded.
Finalists of the Catechetical Olympics the three best teams from elementary school and high school levels will be rewarded with a trip in June. They will visit all the important places associated to Dominic’s life across Spain, France and Italy. This trip, primarily a reward, is also meant to be an opportunity to further advance the student’s knowledge about St. Dominic and Order of the Preachers.
This year’s Catechetical Olympics are a part of preparations for the 800-year Jubilee of our Order in Croatia. This competition is an excellent opportunity to introduce St. Dominic, his life and his Order to young people in Croatia. We hope their desire to get to know Saint Dominic will spark with attraction and love towards him and his Order that will then result hopefully with fruitful connections in future.
March 11, 2013