Lasma Latsone

Renewing Parish Education in the Roman Catholic Church of Latvia: Implementing the Reforms of the Second Vatican Council Lasma Latsone

Throughout history, many political, cultural and religious factors have influenced the lives of Latvian people, culture and society. This study, briefly emphasizing the main historical developments of Latvian Catholic Church and placing it in contemporary society, seeks to answer the following questions: why are Catholics of Latvia so poorly educated about the teachings of the Second Vatican Council? What has been the impact of Latvia?s particular historical circumstances on the social, political and religious imagination of its people? How does contemporary society influence people?s understanding of Church and their desire to belong to and participate in a particular parish community? In what ways can adult religious education improve the religious literacy of Latvian society, and how can it help people to appreciate the power and potential of community? Education can change the way people look at things and events, and varied forms of religious education can prepare people for change, thus giving them courage to create the Church to which they want to belong and in which they want to participate.