Monsignor František Rábek, Ordinary of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic, visited the Penitentiary Department of Sabinov to consecrate the newly built chapel dedicated to Blessed Ján Havlík.
He presided over the consecration ceremony in the presence of numerous clergymen, including the vicar of the Slovak Catholic Church, Peter Nižník, the dean of prisons of Košice, Slavomír Molnár, the titular dean of prisons, Štefan Blanár, and the prison chaplain, Radoslav Záhorský. The director of the Prešov Prison and Prison Therapy Unit, Norbert Kundrák, also attended the event.
The chapel, which previously served as a pastoral room, is the bearer of an important spiritual legacy. Thanks to the efforts of the prison director, a new space was acquired, where a dignified spiritual space was created dedicated to the memory of Blessed Jan Havlik. This religious brother, persecuted and imprisoned for his faith, is a symbol of courage and fidelity to Christ.
The uniqueness of the chapel is emphasised by the long-awaited relic of Blessed Havlik, which will soon become a permanent feature. The idea of dedicating the chapel to this martyr was consulted with the Society of St Vincent de Paul, to which Jan Havlík belonged. This initiative is a message of spiritual support and hope for all those imprisoned.
The new chapel offers a spiritual retreat not only to the prisoners, but also to the centre’s staff. It is an important resource for pastoral care, fostering spiritual growth and providing a space for prayer and reflection. The dedication of the chapel is an important step in the development of spiritual care in the prison and a message of the power of faith and forgiveness.
At the end of the ceremony, the prison chaplain, Rastislav Zápach, expressed his sincere gratitude to all those who had contributed to the construction of the chapel. The creation of this space is not only an expression of respect for Jan Havlik, but also a clear sign of faith, hope and the possibility of spiritual renewal.