At the beginning of September, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Rijeka launched an 18-month project entitled “Science and Faith in Healthcare: Advancing Holistic Approaches” , aimed at deepening dialogue and cooperation between the scientific community and the Church in the field of healthcare and social welfare.
The project, led by Vicar General Archbishop Mario Tomljanovic, PhD, and Prof. Saša Horvat, PhD, from the University of Rijeka, covers three main areas of activity:
- palliative care and human dignity in the final moments of life (Marija Kozulić Hospice),
- care for people with dementia, with an emphasis on integrating medical, psychological, and pastoral approaches (Home for People with Dementia),
- assistance to women and children who are victims of domestic violence at St. Anne’s Home (Caritas), a unique example of social sensitivity and support for the poorest in the Primosko-Gornogorski region.
The project has received financial support from the prestigious international program ECLAS (Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science), which is an important confirmation of its value and quality.
Over the next eighteen months, many initiatives are planned, aimed not only at experts but also at the wider community:
- a round table discussion on palliative care and dignified end-of-life care,
- an international scientific conference (two days) on palliative care and dementia, emphasizing the cooperation between medicine and theology,
- public lectures on the activities of St. Anne’s House—how faith and professional help together support the safety and recovery of women and children after violence,
- a student poster competition entitled “Science and Faith”—aimed at primary and secondary school students, with prizes and an exhibition of the best works in the Archdiocese.
The project also provides for international promotion of the results: team members will present their findings at international conferences, and summaries and results will be published in Croatian and English, enabling wider recognition of this initiative in academic and church circles. Through this initiative, the Archdiocese of Rijeka shows how science and faith can complement each other in building a more humane and just society.
