Poland

Epiphany, for the first time after 60 yearsOn January 6th, for the first time after 60 years, Polish Catholics celebrated the Epiphany as a festive date. In fact, in 1960 the Communist regime had erased from the calendar January 6 (the day of the Epiphany) and August 15 (the Feast of the Assumption of Mary). As affirmed by Jan Zaryn, an expert in that historical period, one of the pillars of the domestic policy of Polish governments in the years 1947-1989, consisted in banning the Church from public life: “The intention was to reform the calendar, so as to replace traditional religious holidays with others, such as the anniversary of the October Revolution or Labour Day, celebrated on May 1st”. A few days ago, in a pastoral letter, the Polish episcopate welcomed the Parliament’s decision to reintroduce the feast of the Epiphany and invited the faithful to attend Eucharistic celebrations across the Country. “The feast of the Epiphany – the prelates recalled – strongly underlines the universality of the Church and her missionary trait”. The bishops remembered all those “who have not yet known the Gospel and the infinite love of the Saviour”, the bishops conveyed their “solidarity with those persecuted for their faith in Christ”. Looking forward to the missionary vocation of all Catholics the Polish episcopacy invited the faithful to offer their prayers for the commitment of evangelization, recalling that on prayer “depends the success of the Church’s mission”.Church, dwelling-place and school of communionIn 2011 the Polish Church will carry out the project “In communion with God”, the first phase of the three-year pastoral program “The Church as dwelling-place and school of communion” providing for the biblical and spiritual formation of the faithful and highlighting the ways to approach the sacraments. The first year, religious formation is based on the Holy Scriptures, focusing on the spiritual growth of adult faithful. The program, drawn up at national level, will be implemented in different areas of pastoral care by delegates and assistants of the Polish Bishops’ Conference and by national coordinators of pastoral care. The adaptation of the national program to the specific needs of the various dioceses is entrusted to diocesan bishops. Concrete proposals for parishes include the introduction of liturgical catechesis before the religious celebrations, the celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours and community penitential services. Special importance is ascribed to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, from January 18-25, introduced by the Day of Judaism celebrated at national level on January 15 and 16 in Przemysl (South-East Poland), and followed by the Day of Islam on January 26. The purpose of the pastoral program, explained Msgr. Stanislaw Gadecki, President of the Commission for the pastoral care of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, is the discovery and the development of the spirituality of communion and the strengthening of its structures within the Church. “Furthermore, we intend to promote the defense of the family and extend our commitment to highlight the true meaning of Sunday as a day of rest and prayer”. The year of Saint Maximilian KolbeWith a special deliberation the Polish Senate declared the year 2011 to be the Year of Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe. Motivated by the intention to “honour the life and moral stature of the distinguished Polish priest” the Upper Chamber underlined “his thought and his sacrifice, which have a special relevance for the rebirth of civil Polish society”. Next August 14 recurs the 70th anniversary of the death of Saint Maximilian in Auschwitz. In the Year of Saint Maximilian, the general provosts of the three Franciscan provinces in Poland in a special letter describe the figure and the commitment of the Saint, underlining that “today he is known as the apostle of Christianity, as the promoter of the renewal of the entire Franciscan movement of the Twentieth century, as the one who united poverty and a simple life to sacrifice in the name of high beliefs; as the founder of the largest male religious community of the 20th century; as the manager and founder of the largest publishing house in Poland devoted to the Immaculate, in which flowed the most perfect example of human beings, and as the intermediate between men and God, as the founder of the Marian movement the Militia Immaculata, active in many world countries; as the defender of the dignity and the life of man, and, finally, as the man who triggered the reconciliation of the Polish people and the Germans”. On October 17th 1971 Paul VI beatified father Maximilian while on October 10 1982 John Paul II nominated him a Martyr Saint of the Church.