The pastoral department

The pastoral department maintains contacts with former members the UGCC underground, among which are older priests and priests’ widows who under present circumstances are in need of moral and financial support.

Priorities

to provide modest financial help for veterans of the underground
to facilitate the preparation of documents necessary for papal awards for older priests
to organize meetings for LTA students with former members of the underground

The pastoral department provides pensions and organizes regular meetings and cultural activities for the former members of the Underground Church.
The project gives different generations an opportunity to meet in a spiritual atmosphere and encourages youth, especially seminarians and students, to discover the personal histories of these people.

Another priority of the pastoral department is to facilitate the preparation of documents necessary for papal awards for older priests who are commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of their priesthood. These priests spent years in jails, labor camps or in exile, and underwent terrible ordeals for their fidelity to the Roman Apostolic See.

In January 1998, members of the Underground Church were awarded papal medals, which was an incredibly touching moment for grateful members of the former "catacomb community."