The second level course of the Theological Summer School for Central Asia for lay catholics, organized by the Society of Jesus in Kyrgyzstan, took place at the Christian Spirituality Center on the southern and picturesque shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, in Kyrgyzstan, July 9-15.

The course included the following disciplines:

• "Introduction to the Bible. Jewish Mysticism and the New Testament" (Prof. Fr. Thomas Garcia SJ, Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome);
• "Fundamental Theology" (Fr. Rector of St. Thomas Institute in Moscow, Fr. Stefan Lipke SJ);
• "Introduction to Philosophy" (Fr. Remigiusz Kalski SJ, a graduate student at the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University);
• "Introduction to the Sacraments" (Fr. Raphael Bulowski SJ, a graduate of the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome, a graduate student at the Catholic Academy in Warsaw).

The three level course of the Theological Summer School is a unique opportunity for lay catholic leaders from Central Asia and other countries to acquire systematic knowledge of the basic theology, history, and doctrines of the Catholic Church, as well as philosophy, and Christian anthropology. In spite of a tight schedule, 18 participants from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan also had time for recreation and for visiting hot springs surrounded by the majestic Tien Shan Mountains.

Rafał Bulowski SJ