Dialogue continues

“By uniting our forces we have provided a clear indication of the path of reconciliation not only for Christians but for all men of good will who wish to promote good neighbor relations”. The statement was pronounced by the Polish diocesan bishops gathered in plenary meeting in Jasna Gora, who lauded the common Message addressed to the Polish and Russian peoples, co-signed in Warsaw on August 17 by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill and by the President of the Polish Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Metropolitan Jozef Michalik. For common Gospel witness. The message – write Polish bishops in the final statement released at the end of their plenary meeting – “highlights a path that shows that rediscovering the truth of a difficult past, with openness to mutual forgiveness – thus not via spectacular political gestures – encourages joint Gospel witness ” which is most important “to address the demanding challenges of contemporary society”. The president of the Bishops’ Conference, Msgr. Jozef Michalik made known that the document he co-signed with the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church will be read in all parishes “so that it may be implemented in everyday life in the light of Christian faith”. Msgr. Michalik underlined in an interview with KAI Polish news agency “the need to promote the dialogue with Moscow’s patriarchate”, and called for “the formalization of relations in the form of a permanent steering group for dialogue with the Patriarchate”. As regards concrete facts, the prelate added, “the Polish party is awaiting the reactions of the Russian party”. Once the message is signed Patriarch Kirill will forward it to the Orthodox Bishops’ synod for evaluation, while the Polish bishops have unanimously adopted the text of the document prior to its solemn formalization. The “bridge” uniting the East and the West. On August 26, on the occasion of the festivity of the Holy Virgin of Jasna Gora, Polish bishops participated in a solemn liturgy celebrated by the Polish Primate, Msgr. Jozef Kowalczyk, in the shrine of Czestochowa. In the homily delivered for the occasion, the ordinary of Czestochowa, Msgr. Waclaw Depo, welcomed the signature of the Message and underlined that “Mary unites the East and the West”. “Mary is the living memory of the Church in Poland”, he said, since “Marian memory isn’t merely the account of a historical past but also, along with will and reason, it constitutes the third spiritual force of the human person”. Upon the conclusion of the prayer Msgr. Kowalczyk renewed the solemn vow of the Polish people to the Holy Virgin of Jasna Gora dated August 26 1956 by Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski, who was kept in isolation by Communist authorities. The Primate of Poland prayed that the people “may read the signs of the times and understand the realities of the new historical, social and political circumstances”. The Polish Primate conveyed his hope that “the love that makes possible solidarity for the common good may be present in Poland today”. From the Pacific to the Atlantic. Over the past days the image of the Holy Virgin of Czestochowa continues the pilgrimage “from the Pacific to the Atlantic coasts”, through 24 countries, begun on June 14 in Vladivostok, located in far East Russia. Uniting in prayer Orthodox and Catholic faithful, the icon, a copy of the image of the Black Virgin of Jasna Gora, crossed Siberia, Kazakistan, Belarus, Ukraine, Latvia and Lithuania. The pilgrimage organized by the association ‘Human Life International’ was undertaken for the defense of “life and civilization”. The icon arrived in Poland on August 12 and in fifteen days it was displayed to allow its veneration by the faithful in 14 Marian shrines and 9 cathedrals spread across 22 cities. The liturgical celebrations organized along the pilgimage of the holy image were accompanied by moments of recollection and reflection dedicated to the values of human life and the family. The image of the Holy Virgin left Poland on August 26 and was brought to the Czech Republic for the Slovakian people. The pilgrimage will continue across Hungary, Italy, France, Ireland and Great Britain. For next Christmas the image will be brought to Fatima on the shores of the Atlantic, its final destination.Ukrainian Greek-Catholics in Poland. The Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church in Poland, following the example of the Catholic Church wishes to be reconciled with the Patriarchate of Moscow, said Metropolitan archbishop of Przemysl and Warsaw Msgr. Jan Martyniak. The Metropolitan bishop said: “In Ukraine the two Churches live side by side”, and pointed out that the problems and difficulties in mutual relations “could be solved around a table”.