From Slovakia to Rome: Godzone’s youth outreach faces mixed reactions

 

Rome, Italy, Sep 4, 2025 / 06:05 am (CNA).

A Catholic evangelization movement in Slovakia has grown from its local parish roots to international recognition, employing 30 full-time ministers and drawing thousands of people to worship concerts across Central Europe. But the effort faces opposition from some clergy and Catholic faithful who question its Protestant-influenced methods.

The Godzone Project, launched in 2009 by the SP community (which stands for “Silné Posolstvo” in Slovak, meaning “strong/powerful message”) together with bishops in Slovakia’s Banská Bystrica diocese, combines rock music, multimedia effects, and contemporary worship styles to engage young Catholics in a country where church attendance has declined since the fall of communism in 1989.

From a small Slovak town to the world stage in Rome

In 2023, approximately 25,000 people participated in the Godzone Project’s flagship project — a series of worship concerts which were held in cities across the Slovak and the Czech Republic. A few bishops spoke at the events, including Apostolic Nuncio to Slovakia, Archbishop Nicola Girasoli.

CNA spoke to Godzone after their concert at the Festival of Unity and Hope during the Jubilee of Youth held July 28- Aug 3 in Rome.

“We offer a hand especially in evangelization and strive to ensure that young people find a community where they can receive a deeper formation and be more grounded. We also work on the spiritual and personal formation of the young so that they can help their parish by leading a group,” a Godzone representative said.

The Godzone Project is also part of the Global 33 ecumenical campaign that is bringing together more than 200 leaders from across the globe and to prepare for Jubilee 2033, which will mark 2000 years since the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Navigating tensions and misunderstandings

Slovakia remains a predominantly Catholic country in Central Europe, boasting a significant number of young priests. Following the fall of communism in 1989, modern trends such as secularization and a decline in church attendance became apparent.

Two decades ago, a group of friends with a passion for Christ founded the SP community. Bishop Marián Chovanec of the Diocese of Banská Bystrica, where the SP community resides, wrote that “it respects the spiritual authority of the pastors of the Church, and submits to it, thus the Church and our office protect it.”

In 2009, their “Projekt Godzone” was created within the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Slovakia under the Section for Youth and Universities.

Yet Godzone did not win the hearts and minds of all. Traditional ways of living one’s faith still matter to many of the faithful, some of whom are suspect of new styles and methods of evangelization. The new evangelization efforts has been criticized for its “big, flashy, perfunctory” shows, as well as the use of what some consider “Protestant evangelizing elements and slogans.” A few dioceses do not permit the project to operate within their territory.

It’s hard to say whether more resistance comes from within the Church or outside of it, Július Slovák, the leader of Godzone, said in an earlier interview with the author of this article.

“We never said that we are the only way, that we are the chosen. We offer this path and live it as honestly as we can,” Slovák said. Therefore, “if God or a higher authority tells us to end this service and take up another means, we will do it, since the project is not our identity.”

Slovák invited those who are seekers, or who do not like them, to visit their headquarters and not to believe “alarmist news or fake interpretations.”

New offerings for kids, young families

Over time, the project has diversified its offers, collaborating with various artists and combining classical music, rock, rap, and dance; employing audiovisual effects, merchandising, social media, and podcasts. It launched Godzone Kids for young families and the Godzone Conference, featuring lectures and talks. It boasts of having hundreds of local leaders and small prayer groups.

The project has moved into neighboring country Czech Republic due to the similarity of language and culture, although Czech society is traditionally skeptical of Catholicism. Several Czech dioceses have invited the faithful to participate in the concerts.

“It is known for high quality performances,” reads the website of the Archdiocese of Olomouc, and “besides excellent Slovak and Czech artists, a large team of volunteers helps the Godzone tour every year, whereas the tour is mostly financed by donations.”

Slovák told CNA how, in his experience, youth can be draw to the faith:

“We ourselves should have the desire to proclaim Christ’s good news and not keep it for us. The more firmly we decide to walk with Christ and in the community of believers, the more we allow God to transform us with his love, the more the desire burns to be shared with others.”