From 1 January 2018, CCEE will have a new Deputy General Secretary for the five-year period 2018-2023 in the person of Fr Martin Michalíček. Born in 1974, priest of the ancient diocese of Nitra (Slovakia), Fr Martin Michalíček is coming to St. Gallen (Switzerland) – the location of the offices of the CCEE Secretariat – to work alongside the current General Secretary, Mgr Duarte da Cunha.
Fr Martin Michalíček succeeds Fr Michel Remery, Deputy General Secretary from 2012-2017.
Commenting on his appointment, Fr Martin said: “This appointment comes to me as a call from the Lord to which I have said ‘Yes’. I would like to thank the CCEE Presidency for the trust it has shown me and I ask the Lord to guide my steps in this new service for the Church in Europe. I am conscious that Europe presents many challenges, but it is also the cradle of Christian civilisation. In its history, in its cultures, in its values, Europe already possesses the remedies it needs. And so it is with passion for all the European peoples that I take on this role. Calling to mind the words of the Psalm “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain” (Psalm 126), I aim to carry forward this ministry on behalf of the men and women of Europe to proclaim to them God’s mercy through His Good News which is the person of Jesus Christ”.
The appointment of the Deputy General Secretary falls to the Presidency in accordance with the CCEE Statutes. It is a renewable five-year appointment.
Biographical Information
Fr Martin Michalíček (born on 18 August 1974) was ordained priest for the Diocese of Nitra (Slovak Republic) in 1999. The same year, he completed his studies of Philosophy and Theology at the Comenius University in Nitra; he also studied at the University of Salzburg from 1993 to 1995.
In 2005, he gained a Ecclesiastical Licence in Catechetics at the Salesian Pontifical University of Rome and a Doctorate in Cathechetics at Comenius University in Bratislava (2008).
Since 2007 he is teaching at the Diocesan Seminary of Nitra (Slovak Republic); during 2008-2017 he was Director of the Diocesan Cathechetical Office of Nitra (Slovak Republic) and since 2015 he is Moderator of the Bishop Curia of Nitra (Slovak Republic).
Since January 2018 he is serving as Vice-Secretary General at CCEE.
He speaks German, Italian, English and Slovak (mother tongue).
Photography
A photography is available here. (Credits: CCEE/2017)
The news release is available in English, Italian and Slovak.