EUROPE/POLAND - “For me, my life is Christ” was the theme of the pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Jasna Gora, organized by the Catholic magazine “Niedzela” for the Year of St. Paul

Czestochowa (Agenzia Fides) – “For me, my life is Christ” (Phil. 1:21): these words of Saint Paul served as the main theme for the pilgrimage to Jasna Gora, home of the National Shrine to the Black Madonna of Czestochowa, which was sponsored by the Polish Catholic magazine “Niedzela” and brought together collaborators, journalists, friends, and readers of the magazine.
The 12th Pilgrimage to Jasna Gora took place on September 20, and was organized in honor of the Year of Saint Paul. The Mass held at the Shrine was presided by Monsignor Ireneusz Skubis, Editor-in-Chief of the magazine. “We should proclaim the truth, proclaim Christ throughout all of Europe,” he said in the homily. “Saint Paul teaches us all how we have to change our lives, change our mentality. As Catholic journalists, we want to and should always try to serve the evangelization effort in the world.”
After the Mass, in the John Paul II Hall at Jasna Gora, the Editor-in-Chief conferred the “Niedzela Award,” the “Mater Verbi 2008” Medal, to those persons who, have contributed to the magazine, and thus, to the evangelization of Polish society. During the encounter, the journalists presented the various pastoral and cultural initiatives from the magazine, in honor of the Year of Saint Paul, as well as a film from the “Niedzela” Studio TV on the life and works of Saint Paul.
The Catholic Weekly “Niedzela” (which means “Sunday”) is the most widely-read Catholic magazine in Poland. The first issue was published in Czestochowa in 1926. It has 20 diocesan editions and has Polish subscribers living outside of Poland, as well. They have a website (www.niedzela.pl), a radio station, and a television studio. (MF/SL) (Agenzia Fides 25/9/2008)