How it all began

How it all began

In 1991, I became ill with multiple sclerosis. At that time, my younger cousin was already losing her battle with this disease. A shock. A shock to me, my husband, and my parents. Our four young children did not understand what was going on. Years later, the eldest son stated that at that time he thought I was going to die, but that he found out that I was indestructible.

The neurologists said I should forget about oncology, for which I already had certification. You will never go back to medicine. And a steep fall into full disability pension followed.

Despite the prognosis, I decided to study at the Catholic Theological Faculty, Charles University, Prague. Surprisingly, my health began to improve and not worsen, it stabilized, and suddenly in 1997 I was holding a master's degree in my hand and wondering what to do next.

The vicar general at the time, bishop Škarvada, who had returned from exile, offered me to try what is common in the West. At that time, the Catholic Church in Western countries sent not only priests but also theologically educated women to hospitals to accompany the seriously ill and their loved ones.

I could choose the hospital – the General University Hospital in Prague doors opened before me like in a fairy tale. However, even then there were critical voices from higher church circles regarding the opinion of bishop Škarvada and the unsuitability of my person. The first sticks under my feet have been thrown.

However, other Christian churches were also interested in working in hospitals, and beautiful ecumenical meetings began, mainly thanks to the then secretary of the Ecumenical Council of Churches, Mrs. Naděje Mandysová. In addition, a form of education was also sought for persons who had already started to work in hospitals in the field of pastoral care or wanted to work.

Since 2005, I have started preparing annual ecumenical formation-educational meetings, later named after Velehrad.[1]
I organized everything in my spare time and the meetings were held under the auspices of the Department of Oncology of the First Faculty of Medicine and General Teaching Hospital. Prof. Anne Vandenhoeck visited one of our meetings.

In 2009, the 5th meeting was held, and it drew a lot of interest. But that was already too much for the Church management of the Prague Archdiocese at the time. As a reward, I received the 1st dismissal from my employment. In the following years, there were 4 more dismissals. I probably hold the world record for the number of dismissals from one employer.

[1] https://www.velehradinfo.cz/en/