Within the School of Parenting project, jointly organized by the Missionary Department of the Archdiocese of Belgrade-Karlovci and the Committee for Religious Education, two thematic lectures of significance for parents, students, and teaching staff were held at the Eighth Belgrade Gymnasium on 22 and 23 April 2026.
The first lecture, delivered on 22 April, was entitled “The Most Common Mistakes in Parenting,” and the speaker was Vlajko Panović, a specialist in medical psychology, founder of the School of Parenting project, and permanent expert associate of the Apologetics Section of the Missionary Department of the Archdiocese of Belgrade-Karlovci.
The second lecture, held the following day under the title “Online Recruitment of Youth into Cults,” was delivered by Andrej Protić, permanent expert associate of the Apologetics Section of the Archdiocese of Belgrade-Karlovci, and Zoran Luković, Coordinator of the Apologetics Section. This lecture focused on identifying the mechanisms through which digital platforms are misused for the recruitment of young people into destructive groups. Particular emphasis was placed on methods of manipulation, psychological techniques of persuasion, and the importance of a timely response on the part of both the family and the educational system.
Approximately 60 attendees were present at the two lectures, including parents, students, and teachers. The active participation of the audience, reflected in numerous questions and discussions during and after the presentations, testifies to the considerable interest in the topics addressed.
Both lectures lasted longer than two school lessons, which further confirms their relevance and importance. The quality of the presentations and the interaction with those present indicate that the project has fully justified its purpose and that there is a clear need for its continued implementation and development.
In view of the positive reception and the audience’s evident interest, the continuation of similar activities is planned in the forthcoming period, with the aim of further strengthening the family, the school, and the wider social community in confronting the challenges of the contemporary age.
PHOTOS: Photo archive of the VIII Belgrade Gymnasium
