Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Krakow (Agenzia Fides) – On June 6-7, the city of Kraków-Łagiewniki (Krakow) became the missionary heart of Poland, with the celebration of the 7th National Missionary Congress in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Holy Childhood Association’s establishment in Poland. A report of the event was sent to Agenzia Fides by Poland’s National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies, Monsignor Jan Piotrowski. The Congress was attended by the National Directors of the PMS from Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia, as well as some of Poland’s diocesan directors, representatives from the Bishops’ Committee for the Missions, and many other Polish missionaries who are now in the country. The Congress began with songs and dances performed by children from five different groups: “Tysiąclatki” of Katowice, the Folk Group “Krakowiacy” of Szczurowa, the Dance Troupe “Kociewie” of Starogard Gadański, the Group “Mala Ziemia Suska” of Sucha Beskidzka, and the Wola Radziszowska Choir. After each performance, a Hail Mary was prayed for the children of each one of the five (main) continents. A group of children from Zambia also joined the event, accompanied by two Salesian sisters. Later the theater group, “Krach,” from the Diocese of Tarnow offered a theatrical piece on the history of the Holy Childhood Association, since its beginnings in 1843 until modern-day Poland and its children today. This part of the Congress concluded with a prayer of thanksgiving presided by Monsignor Jan Piotrowski and a greeting from Fr. Patricio Byrne, SVD, Secretary General of the Holy Childhood Association.
The second day, June 7, began at the Divine Mercy Shrine and was attended by nearly 8,000 Polish children who had come from all over the country, dressed in the colors of the five continents. At 9:30am, there was a brief presentation and inauguration of the Congress. Later, there were meetings held in five groups (one for each continent), led by men and women religious from various orders: the Salesians, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, the “Verbitas,” Combonians, Canossian Sisters, and a youth group “Missio” from the Archdiocese of Częstochowa. Each one of the meetings held a catechesis on the Holy Childhood Association and an activity according to the continent represented by the group. Later, a “Lottery” was held to raise funds for children in Mongolia.
The central act of the Congress was the Mass presided by Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, Archbishop of Krakow, concelebrated by Auxiliary Bishops Jan Szkodoń and Jan Zając, as well as Bishop Antoni Dlugosz of Częstochowa. In his homily, Bishop Dlugosz encouraged the children in their missionary commitment, so as to change the world with Jesus’ love. At the end of the Mass, Monsignor Jan Piotrowski read the letter sent by Cardinal Ivan Dias, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, which was received with great enthusiasm by the children present. Afterwards, Fr. Patricio Byrne once again addressed the assembly and congratulated them for this anniversary of the Holy Childhood Association.
After the Mass, the national competition “Mój szkolny kolega z misji” – “My Mission Pal,” dedicated to the history of the Holy Childhood Association – “Children Helping Children,” came to a close. The Congress concluded with a prayer to the Divine Mercy at 3:00pm, during which the children prayed for all those children who suffer in the world and who do not yet know Jesus and His merciful love. “We hope that the Jubilee Congress will yield many spiritual fruits in the lives of children, as “a miracle of love” and will also be a catalyst in bringing about a more dynamic missionary collaboration in every area of the Church in Poland,” the PMS National Director in Poland concluded. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 11/6/2008)
