As previously announced, the first in a series of lectures on parenting was held through the joint organization of the Missionary Department and the Religious Education Board of the Archdiocese of Belgrade–Karlovci. The lecture, titled “How to Raise an Authentic, Not a Copy-Paste Child,” took place on October 21, 2025, at “Oslobodioci Beograda” Primary School.
The keynote speaker was Vlajko Panović, clinical psychologist and permanent expert associate of the Section for Apologetic Mission of the Missionary Department of AEM. He emphasized the significance of the parental role for society as a whole, offering numerous insights and practical recommendations in the field of parenting—fully applicable in daily life and vital for the child’s healthy psychological development. Panović explained the concept of the copy-paste child and the distinction between an authentic personality and one shaped according to such a pattern. Drawing from his extensive clinical experience, he presented a number of real-life cases where professional intervention became necessary—though many of those situations could have been avoided had parents followed certain fundamental principles.
The second speaker was Presbyter Dr. Oliver Subotić, Head of the Missionary Department of AEM, who, drawing upon his educational background and expertise, addressed the influence of modern technologies on children—from the advent of home computers to the present era marked by artificial intelligence. In the concluding part of his lecture, he offered a set of concrete recommendations concerning the phenomenon of screenocracy and ways to mitigate its effects, underlining the importance of motivating parents to be actively engaged with their children. He particularly highlighted the fact that conscientious and attentive parental involvement is essential for the progress and well-being of society as a whole.
Following the introductory lectures, a dialogical session took place, during which parents posed a variety of questions to the speakers.
The “Oslobodioci Beograda” Primary School provided full technical support for the event. The lecture was recorded and will be published on our YouTube channel as soon as it becomes available. We extend our sincere gratitude to the school administration for their outstanding support and for the photographs they kindly provided, which are featured in this report.
