Inauguration of the Institute European Research Institute for Chaplains (ERICH)

Inauguration of the Institute European Research Institute for Chaplains (ERICH)

Inauguration of the Institute European Research Institute for Chaplains (ERICH)

With the blessings of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Fr. Stavros Kofinas, Coordinator of the Patriarchal Network, and Fr. Paulo Perletti of the Metropolis of Belgium and member of the Network Committee, attended the inauguration of the new Institute European Research Institute for Chaplains (ERICH). The opening of the program took place at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. ERICH is a research effort of the European Network for Health Care Chaplaincy. (Note that the Patriarchate coordinated the European Network between 2000-2010.) During the opening, the speakers presented studies that showed the “spiritual needs” of the sick and pastoral methods which are widely implemented today throughout Europe. It is striking how the “spiritual needs” noted  are not related to traditional liturgical practices and to prayer and how the pastoral methods lack ecclesiastical basis.