16th International Architecture Exhibition, one of the greatest architecture exhibitions in the world, starts on May 26th 2018 with two  DCG alumni actively taking part in it. These are Tadej Bolta and Klara Bohinc, both working for Arrea Architecture, one of the most prominent architectural bureaus in Slovenia under the leadership of Maruša Zorec. In the 16-year long history of the biennale Arrea is the first Slovene bureau to be invited to partake.

The leading theme of the Biennale 2018 is freespace  – a word which describes a generosity of spirit and a sense of humanity at the core of architecture’s agenda. Architecture opens up space in new ways, offering it to people, who may discover the essence of their existence through its use. The Biennale is divided in two sections. In the first one different countries participate with various installations, presentations and pavilions – all based on the biennale’s common theme. In the second section the invited architects or architectural bureaus from all over the world take part. This year 71 of them were invited by the curators of exhibition Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara, both from Ireland. The exhibition will remain open until November 25th 2018.

For more deatailed information please see: https://www.arrea.si/biennale

We congratulate the young architects for the outstanding opportunity and feel very proud of them both! /Lily Schweiger Kotar/

The 25th annual jubilee concert with nine choirs, string orchestra of St. Stanislav’s Institution and and the hosting orchestra of Frederic Chopin Conservatory in Krakow, Poland included more than 500 musicians who fired the full house in Cankarjev Dom with enthusiasm on 13th May 2018. The majestic music event, rounded off by Anton Bruckner’s Te Deum, celebrated the 25th Anniversary of Diocesan Classical Gymnasium and Jeglič Student Home and 10th Anniversary of Alojzij Šuštar Primary School.

This year individual choirs joined into four meaningful groups depending on songs performed, which ranged in various style. The concert opened with a medley of Slovene folk songs, entitled Alba/Dawn, a novelty by Damijan Močnik, dedicated to the long-serving director of St. Stanislav’s Institution Roman Globokar. Two more mixtures of folk songs Joyous Heart and Vigred/Springtime were presented by both Primary School choirs; the latter being accompanied by an improvisation on folk instruments. Both first year choirs of the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium continued with a mix of evergreen Slovene pop songs, a novelty compiled by Tine Bec, conductor of the First-Year Boys’ Choir. The audience attention of the first part went to The Beatles Best of Songs in the interpretation of the (Re)Mixed Choir of the DCG and St. Stanislav Student Choir. Impeccable choreography (by Mojca Sečkar) of more than 150 singers underpinned by singers’ 1960’s outfits brought to life the Beatles’ greatest hits of all times. It was an explosion of Beatlemania in its broadest sense of the word, which fuelled big cheers. The grand finale united almost 600 performers from nine choirs, both orchestras and four accompanying voices in the interpretation of Bruckner’s Te Deum. The following singers features as soloists: Marta Močnik Pirc, soprano; Sabina Gruden, alto; Martin Sušnik, tenor and Marcos Fink, bass. All five sections of this majestic work put new life into the words We praise you, God – the life of sincere praise for numerous gifts gratefully received in the last 25 years in St. Stanisalv’s Institution. The piece drew on full resources of the choirs and orchestras, concluding in a joyous fugue of In Te, Domine, speravi/In you, Lord, have I trusted. That was the second time this evening that the audience gave a standing ovation.

Apart from music, there were two meaningful speeches given on the solemn occasion. The first one by Anton Česen, M.A.,  director of St. Stanislav’s Institution, who explained the guiding lines of the jubilee motto Youth Woven from Sparks of Sun. It combines fruitfully the search for opportunity growth,various challenges and personal endeavours of the young. He concluded by words of thanks to the conductors and the singers for their commitment to the cause. The honourable speaker was Tomaž Faganel, M.A., Slovene musicologist, who pointed at the role of music throughout the 25 years since the reestablishment of St. Stanislav’s Institution. “Music is a way of life, liberated from everyday routine, invariably originating from curious silence. All this is presented to the young in St. Stanislav’s Institution by charismatic leaders – conductors, who create “little songs” that the audience and performers gratefully take home. They represent a significant part of our dreams and encourage curiosity.”

Indeed, the listeners took home many new songs from tonight’s concert that featured music which was a feast for the soul and the senses. You can listen to it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpPkL1rRgK8

/Lily Schweiger Kotar/

St Stanislav’s Institution in joint cooperation with The Institute for Education Research and Development organised an International Symposium entitled Critical Thinking in the Digital Age took place from 10th – 12th May 2018 in St. Stanislav’s Institution. The event was one of the many to celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Diocesan Classical Gymnasium and The Jeglič Student Home and 10th anniversary of The Alojzij Šuštar Primary School. The topic of the symposium combined two major focuses the school community had recognised as crucial elements that decidedly shaped the mindset of the young today, namely critical thinking and the influence of digital media upon students’ perception of life. The programme placed special emphasis on school environment in the digital age and the challenges it offers. For more detailed information, please see www.stanislav.si/simpozij2018.   /Lily Schweiger Kotar/

Cordially invited to the traditional, jubilee concert, which will take place on Sunday, 13th May 2018 at 6.00 p.m. in Gallus Hall in Cankarjev dom (Ljubljana). The choir pyramid of St. Stanislav’s Institution, which is well known in Slovenia and abroad, will perform a variety of songs and compositions ranging from Slovene folk songs to ever green pop songs in new adaptations by T. Bec and D. Močnik. The magnificent Anton Bruckner’s Te Deum performed by 350 singers and the string orchestra, will round up the solemn concert.

Tickets are available in St. Stanislav’s Institution (call ++386 31 708 313), or on the concert day, an hour before the beginning of the concert in the first foyer in Cankarjev dom. Welcome!

The Turkish writer participated in the panel discussion on her book Exile on 18th April 2018. It has been recently translated also in Slovene, amongst 27 other languages. Having been a guest at the international PEN meeting in Bled, Slovenia, she gladly shared her views and motives for writing with some 60 third years.

As a writer, İlhan has been active since her youth. She won several international awards, of which the EU Prize for Literature in 2011 and Prix Du Livre Lorientales 2017 are the most prominent. Exile, the new book of short stories, has been written as the author puts it “with the hope that all those exiled from their homes, countries, bodies, souls may return to their homes within.”

The students eagerly listened to her powerful message. Çiler İlhan is a woman of vision – especially for the young. She urged them to speak up, not to be silenced and discouraged by the thought that nothing can be done. “On the contrary,” she said. “You have the duty and strength to start changing the injustices of the world step by step, starting with people around you and slowly reaching out into the big world.” With her energy and commitment to serve the underprivileged of today’s world, especially women, she touched the audience’ hearts and showed a path into a better and more just world. /Lily Schweiger Kotar/

This Erasmus+ Project took place from 10th – 16th April 2018, uniting 37 young astronomy enthusiasts from Bulgaria, Germany, Macedonia, France, Portugal, Scotland, Romania and Slovenia. Together with their teachers, they participated in some amazing workshops, star gazing, discussions and other astronomy related challenges. You can see the programme and read the students’ blog at http://schule.mallinckrodt-gymnasium.de/erasmus+/eurostronomia/index.html. /Alenka Battelino, project coordinator/

The visit took place from 4th – 7th March 2018 and included thirty students and Andrej Černigoj, one of the consultants of Lojze Peterle, Member of the European Parliament. The purpose of the excursion was to get acquainted  with the functioning of the European Union.  Every participant of the excursion had to present one part of Belgium or Brussels, which gave us a good insight of the country and city of our visit.

The first day was dedicated to the visit of the European quarter, which proved to be one of the highlights.  Firstly, we visited a special memorial with the Slovene national anthem written on it in all the languages of the European Union. We were proud to sing the Slovene anthem. Afterwards we were given a speech by Jurij Mesec, who works in the representative body of Slovenia. Because we were right before the building of the European Council, our guide Andrej told us a bit about the council and its activities.  The visit to the European Commission followed, where we were guided by the members of Violeta Bulc’ Cabinet, who is the European Commissioner for Mobility and Transport. We looked at the big hall, where we received answers to all of our questions concerning the internship and other job related enquiries. For the  visit to the European Parliament we were greeted by members of Franc Bogovič’ office. He explained all about the daily routine in the Parliament and we also met Lojze Peterle, who gave a very inspiring speech. He talked about directing Slovenia onto the right path, that it seems not to be foun yet. Afterwards we also helped him choose the school that will visit Brussels next year under the sponsorship of his Cabinet. After that we visited two interactive museums, the first one being the House of European History. We very much liked this museum and only wished we had had more time to look through it thoroughly. The visit to Parlamentarium was even shorter, however, we managed to watch a very interesting interactive movie. For the end we visited Atomium, which is one of the symbols of Brussels. It charmed us with its size. In the evening we enjoyed a common dinner. On Tuesday morning we visited a beautiful medieval city called Brugge. It has a hint of Englishness, which we liked as much as its amazing chocolatiers. Afterwards we went to of the Northern Sea coast. We spent the afternoon in the center of Brussels. There we took a look at the main square and the peeing boy. Some of us spent some time tasting Belgian fries and famous waffles. But nothing compares to the Museum of cocoa and chocolate, where we indulged in all possible Belgian chocolates. To round up our excursion we also visited Waterloo. /Katarina Brezovar, year 3/

Dear friends,

We tread on different paths through life, encountering different experiences. Our own and those of our loved ones.
Experiences that are pleasant, fulfilling but sometimes also difficult and trying. We are searching for truth and seeking meaning.

May the celebration of Easter holidays open our eyes to the light of the Risen, so that our lives may reflect the hope that he bestows upon us! We wish you a Happy Easter!

Anton Česen, MA, Director of St. Stanislav’s Institution

As customary the graduates spend the week before Palm Sunday in Rome discovering the beauties of the eternal city. Especially from the perspective of Ancient Rome – its hisotry, arts, life and language – it is a perfect place for study.

Every year one of the highlights is the holy mass in St. Peter’s Square on Palm Sunday celebrated by the Pope. This year, on the 33rd World Youth Day, Pope Francis encouraged the young not to be silenced. He explained: »Dear young people, you have it in you to shout.  It is up to you to opt for Sunday’s “Hosanna!”, so as not to fall into Friday’s “Crucify him!”…  It is up to you not to keep quiet.  Even if others keep quiet, if we older people and leaders – so often corrupt – keep quiet, if the whole world keeps quiet and loses its joy, I ask you: Will you cry out? Please, make that choice /…/.«

Hopefully the young of the world will gather the strengh with Jesus to be able to unite themselves with God, thus joining light and darkness, joy and suffering in their everyday tasks. /Lily Schweiger Kotar/

In February 2018 the community of St. Stanislav’s Institution bid farewell to the long serving director Roman Globokar and welcomed the new leadership of Anton Česen. At the farewell mass Mr. Globokar accentuated that »he is actually leaving home, not only changing jobs«, which adequately summarizes how he felt about his life and work at St. Stanislav’s Institution. Since 2001 Roman Globokar served the institution as a teacher of Religion and culture, school chaplain, taking over the directorship in November 2005. At the same time, he taught also at the Faculty of Theology at the University of Ljubljana, where he continues his teaching position and research work.

He will be remembered for many achievements and qualities, but he feels in particular strong about three features of his work. Firstly, there was the coordination of tasks in all six constituent parts of the institution, especially in terms of common educational and spiritual direction as well as effective interaction among the priests’ work. This was closely connected with the second goal, namely with building of community. The number of employed has almost doubled in the last 12 years, so underpinning of common traits in reflection and action was of utmost importance. Comprehensive growth of every individual in the physical, intellectual, relational, social and spiritual sense has always been at the heart of the interest of governing body of St. Stanislav’s Institution. The third point is the aspect of creativity, which is more important than knowledge itself. This includes thinking out of the box, being open for challenges, accepting a different world and daring to search for innovative solutions.

Mr. Globokar is grateful to God for having brought him to St. Stanislavs’ Institution. “I have never been in search for my personal benefits, tough I received them in great abundance.  From the very first day, the institution felt like home. I am proud to see the Alojzij Šuštar Primary School and Good Shepherd Kindergarten to prosper. But most importantly it fills my heart with joy realizing that the beauty of newly devised buildings positively influence the employees, pupils, parents and visitors.”

Roman Globokar feels confident about the future of St. Stanislav’s Institution. “Nothing is ideal in this world”, he reflects, “but the fundamental atmosphere is inspiring and productive. Mostly I shall miss teaching in The Diocesan Classical Gymnasium. I believe it is imperative to discus with the young ethical and social questions.”

Luckily, there will be plenty of opportunities for Mr. Globokar to work with the young in the future. He will work in the field of the university ministry, offering extra knowledge on Christian humanism, thus enabling a development of the Christian view of man and the world we live in. This brings about the understanding of no confrontation between faith and intellect.

On behalf of the entire community of St. Stanislav’s Institution, I would like to express our sincere thanks to Mr. Globokar for his dedicated work and commitment. May God continue to bless him! /Lily Schweiger Kotar; partially adapted from the interview by Z. Candellari/