On Tuesday, 13 January 2026, we welcomed Fr. Dr. Karel Gržan—priest, writer, and humanist—to the packed premises of the Deafblind Association of Slovenia DLAN, where he delivered a public lecture entitled Satisfaction and Meaning in Life. In an exceptionally warm, insightful, and humorous way, he addressed one of the fundamental questions of human existence: how to attain happiness and inner satisfaction, especially when it seems impossible.
Fr. Dr. Karel Gržan spoke of happiness as a conscious decision and emphasized the individual’s responsibility for how we enter into relationships with other people. Using a simple yet meaningful metaphor of a sponge cake, drawn from everyday life, he outlined guidelines for co-creating high-quality and fulfilling interpersonal relationships. His approach did not offer easy or quick answers; instead, it invited participants to personal reflection on their own responsibility for inner peace, balance, and quality of life.
Through personal experiences, reflections, and stories, he addressed the realities of life interwoven with hope, highlighting fundamental human values such as compassion, connectedness, sincerity, forgiveness, and responsibility toward oneself and others. He emphasized that the meaning of human existence is realized precisely through relationships, connectedness, and a sense of belonging.
In a special way, he also addressed the deafblind community, stressing that the most vulnerable groups in society have a unique mission: through their presence, they humanize the community, open space for reflection on values, and encourage active commitment to all that is beautiful, good, and truly human.
We sincerely thank Fr. Dr. Karel Gržan for an inspiring gathering, rich content, and genuine human closeness.
Ljubljana, 13 January 2026
