That idea in Nowa Huta

It’s an occasion "to learn more about the condition" of the universal Church, "all the more important as it constitutes an encouragement for a greater commitment in the diocese. The President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference (KEP), Msgr. Jozef Michalik, thus acknowledged the significance of the Synod of Bishops dedicated to the new evangelization, ongoing at the Vatican.From communism to secularism. The KEP President, just before the Synod in Rome, published a volume in Poland dedicated to the Year of the Faith. According to card. Stanislaw Nagy, the volume sets the papal letter "Porta Fidei" within the ecclesial Polish realm, which, "free from the oppression of the communist rule, is now closer to another regime, that of secularism". Reflecting on the situation of the Polish Church, Msgr. Michalik responded to various allegations made ​​ by the media, denouncing the "intention to see in the Church more harm than there is in reality", while slanderous statements "are not published for the sake of the Church, but for far different interests". But there is also another current, said the bishop, made up of those who are fascinated by the Church and evaluate her role properly, as evidenced in the figures of British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Polish-born philosopher Leszek Kolakowski, who converted to Catholicism.John Paul II and the new evangelization. "The Synod will define the geography of the new evangelization", said the archbishop of Warsaw, Cardinal. Kazimierz Nycz, pointing out that the meeting with close to four hundred bishops from world countries is an opportunity to share the problems of the new evangelization in all continents, although the question, in his view, "is above all a European question". For this reason, the cardinal said, "it is necessary to know how the Church in various countries contributes to the new evangelization". The archbishop of the capital of Poland pointed out that the idea of the new evangelization was launched in 1979 by Pope John Paul II during his visit in the town of Nowa Huta, seat of a large steel factory not far from Krakow. "At the time – he recalled – the idea of a new evangelization may have seemed a paradox, as the pope was addressing a huge crowd of Polish believers". "The Pope, however, was well aware of the ongoing processes throughout all of Europe, including Poland". The cardinal also noted that "Benedict XVI warns everyone that the new evangelization should not be confined to the strengthening of the Church as an institution, because the main problem is that the fountainhead of the living faith in Christ is withering". From October 9-21, day and night will be recited special prayers for the new evangelization, The prayers will conclude with a solemn liturgy celebrated at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Lagiewniki, during which the participants will be given the message for evangelization in the workplace, in the study and living environments.The "Pope of the family. On Sunday, October 14, in Poland, will be honored for the 12th time the figure of John Paul II. This year, as agreed by the Polish bishops gathered in Warsaw on 2 and 3 October, celebrations will be dedicated to the "Pope of the family". "The reflection on the family – the bishops wrote in a message for the occasion – is the most important thing within the ongoing economic and ideological transformations of the modern world, which often lead to deny the value of marriage and the family, marginalizing or even deriding the indissoluble bond between man and woman". Concerned about the present cultural and ideological crisis, the bishops highlighted the unrest due to the attacks on the family and the attempts to redefine its character. With deep sadness the Polish episcopate has heard the news that Poland ranks at the 209th place among the 222 world countries with regard to the demographic growth (or more precisely, decline). In response to the bishops, who stressed the need for a defense of the traditional family, a group of volunteers created a special Internet portal dedicated to the "family as a remedy to the crisis", which recalls how the various initiatives of civil society in Poland are always a great success". Noting that, by its very nature it is precisely the family that provides the greatest support in times of crisis, the portal hopes that Polish families will put pressure on powerful elites to meet their expectations and trigger further growth. "There is no other way to overcome the crisis – the authors of a reflection that tackles the problem using statistical data from CBOS (Public Opinion Study Centre) wrote on the website – than the one that takes into account the family. And families, reacting to the crisis, will change the socio-political reality in Poland".