I am grateful to Fr. Richard Mjigwa of Radio Vatican (Idhaa ya Kiswahili) for broadcasting yesterday and posting online...
Posted by Divine Mercy Shrine - Kiabakari on Sunday, March 13, 2016
Showing posts with label Divine Mercy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Divine Mercy. Show all posts
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Radio Vatican - My Interview
Thursday, February 25, 2016
Monday, February 22, 2016
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Bitter Reality
The idea of wiriting this post came up after listening to opinions and beliefs of many people - including my relatives, friends, benefactors and volunteers - on how our health center in Kiabakari operates and survives.
The common presumption is that our facility operates financially on Tanzanian government / Church / NGOs donations and support. That is why people think that the medical service we provide in Kiabakari should be offered on free-of-charges basis.
Yes, I would love to see this happening. This is our dream and vision. But the bitter reality is far from this wonderful desire.
Not only we do not get any support from the above mentioned sources, yet still we are obliged by the Tanzanian law and Catholic Church practice in Tanzania to make various payments and contributions, apart from the regular expenditure as in any other facility of this type elsewhere in Tanzania and in the world.
Our income in the health center comes from these sources: firstly, out- and in-patients - from their payments for medical services and medicine they are administered or prescribed; secondly, National Health Insurance Fund payments for services and medicine we offer to the members of the insurance scheme (we treat them for free and the compensation comes a few months later in the form of a bank cheque - they deduct any discrepancies and mistakes the doctor-in-charge of the facility makes while filling them, thus causing losses for us); thirdly - any donations in kind (bandages, water for injections, gloves etc) in and outside of the country. Fourthly - volunteers work which helps to attract more patients and hopefully to generate much needed income for the struggling facility.
Last year alone, I personally had to find extra six million plus Tanzanian shillings to help see us through the end of the year. This year already more than two million went in for the same purpose - to help to make ends meet. This money I had to find somewhere somehow and this not comes easy, believe me.
Today, despite having three volunteering doctors in the health center, my manager came to me to ask for help so he can pay social security and income tax payments. He was short half a million shillings.
We are surrounded by bush private labs, pharmacies and medical mini-facilities run by local people, who in most cases do not bother to register their businesses, do not pay taxes and all required by law - payments and contributions. The same people wage war on us, spreading black PR to discourage people from using our services and to go to them. Obviously, all their smear campaing is entirely false and is a pure lie. But this is how the world goes and how people fight for income, not only here, but I believe - everywhere else.
Since the opening of the health center in January 2008, the administration of the facility went from hands to hands and since two and half years I was left alone with the help of my secretary - whom I made a manager of the facility - to run the show. Since its beginnings till this day noone came up with the valid and workable plan and vision - how to run the facility and keep it financially safe and stable in the long run and the foreseeable future. People came and went, struggling to run it, then walking out seeing it is extremely hard, stressful and frustrating. I am not an exception. This is not my job to run the medical facility. I see clearly that my good will and desire to see this important helth center survive financially and to be safe in the long term - is not sufficient. We need organizations, people, something to make it secure and working. Who and how? I do not know at this point of time. I feel most of times so much left alone. Occasional donations, development projects and volunteers are missing the point and may even fool the public to think that things are going well. The daily running of the facility and keeping its finances in black and succeeding in fulfilling the challenges of the payment list below is a daily nightmareish reality for Amon and myself.
I am dreading the moment when I will hit the wall and be forced to raise my hands up in defeat and close the health center due to a bancruptcy. This would be a disaster to everybody involved in the conception, construction and running of this facility - Polish government, Diocese of Musoma, NGOs and private benefactors, volunteers and donors. But most of all - it would be a death sentence for many Tanzanians whose lives might be saved here.
Below is the list of the payments, expenditure and contributions we do here in Kiabakari in our health center. I hope this will be an eye opener to many of you - what we are facing here and how hard it is to survive in this environment. And hopefully it will be a wake up call to all of you who think that in Kiabakari the health center is a neverending story of success and easy-peasy money-making machine.
LIST OF PAYMENTS AND EXPENDITURE
BLESSED PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI HEALTH CENTER - KIABAKARI
The common presumption is that our facility operates financially on Tanzanian government / Church / NGOs donations and support. That is why people think that the medical service we provide in Kiabakari should be offered on free-of-charges basis.
Yes, I would love to see this happening. This is our dream and vision. But the bitter reality is far from this wonderful desire.
Not only we do not get any support from the above mentioned sources, yet still we are obliged by the Tanzanian law and Catholic Church practice in Tanzania to make various payments and contributions, apart from the regular expenditure as in any other facility of this type elsewhere in Tanzania and in the world.
Our income in the health center comes from these sources: firstly, out- and in-patients - from their payments for medical services and medicine they are administered or prescribed; secondly, National Health Insurance Fund payments for services and medicine we offer to the members of the insurance scheme (we treat them for free and the compensation comes a few months later in the form of a bank cheque - they deduct any discrepancies and mistakes the doctor-in-charge of the facility makes while filling them, thus causing losses for us); thirdly - any donations in kind (bandages, water for injections, gloves etc) in and outside of the country. Fourthly - volunteers work which helps to attract more patients and hopefully to generate much needed income for the struggling facility.
Last year alone, I personally had to find extra six million plus Tanzanian shillings to help see us through the end of the year. This year already more than two million went in for the same purpose - to help to make ends meet. This money I had to find somewhere somehow and this not comes easy, believe me.
Today, despite having three volunteering doctors in the health center, my manager came to me to ask for help so he can pay social security and income tax payments. He was short half a million shillings.
We are surrounded by bush private labs, pharmacies and medical mini-facilities run by local people, who in most cases do not bother to register their businesses, do not pay taxes and all required by law - payments and contributions. The same people wage war on us, spreading black PR to discourage people from using our services and to go to them. Obviously, all their smear campaing is entirely false and is a pure lie. But this is how the world goes and how people fight for income, not only here, but I believe - everywhere else.
Since the opening of the health center in January 2008, the administration of the facility went from hands to hands and since two and half years I was left alone with the help of my secretary - whom I made a manager of the facility - to run the show. Since its beginnings till this day noone came up with the valid and workable plan and vision - how to run the facility and keep it financially safe and stable in the long run and the foreseeable future. People came and went, struggling to run it, then walking out seeing it is extremely hard, stressful and frustrating. I am not an exception. This is not my job to run the medical facility. I see clearly that my good will and desire to see this important helth center survive financially and to be safe in the long term - is not sufficient. We need organizations, people, something to make it secure and working. Who and how? I do not know at this point of time. I feel most of times so much left alone. Occasional donations, development projects and volunteers are missing the point and may even fool the public to think that things are going well. The daily running of the facility and keeping its finances in black and succeeding in fulfilling the challenges of the payment list below is a daily nightmareish reality for Amon and myself.
I am dreading the moment when I will hit the wall and be forced to raise my hands up in defeat and close the health center due to a bancruptcy. This would be a disaster to everybody involved in the conception, construction and running of this facility - Polish government, Diocese of Musoma, NGOs and private benefactors, volunteers and donors. But most of all - it would be a death sentence for many Tanzanians whose lives might be saved here.
Below is the list of the payments, expenditure and contributions we do here in Kiabakari in our health center. I hope this will be an eye opener to many of you - what we are facing here and how hard it is to survive in this environment. And hopefully it will be a wake up call to all of you who think that in Kiabakari the health center is a neverending story of success and easy-peasy money-making machine.
LIST OF PAYMENTS AND EXPENDITURE
BLESSED PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI HEALTH CENTER - KIABAKARI
- Salaries and allowances of the employees
- Holidays and other benefits of the employees
- End / Termination of contracts - financial packages
- Medicine and drugs procurement
- Social security of the employees - NSSF
- Income tax of salaries - PAYE
- Tanzania Revenue Authority tax (SDL)
- Health Insurance of the employees
- House allowances for the employees
- Land rent annual payment
- Fire safety inspection annual fee
- Fire extinguishers inspection fee (2-3 times a year)
- Goverment licence fee and income tax of the facility
- 5% of annual income - contribution to the Diocese of Musoma
- Annual contribution to the Health Department of Diocese of Musoma
- Annual contribution to the Health Department of the Tanzanian Episcopal Conference
- Hospitality (guests, inspections, visitations - food and drinks)
- Health center board members meeting allowance (quarterly)
- Servicing and maintenance of the medical equipment (batteries, paper, gel, needles, gloves, perishables for lab tests and lab samples etc.)
- Uniforms and boots for security guards and uniforms for employees
- Staff canteen costs (breakfast and lunch)
- Electricity bills
- Water consumption bills
- Office stationaries
- Printing of health center perishables - files and various forms for departments of the facility (reception, pharmacy, lab, doctor etc.)
- Minor repairs (infrastructure, pump house, furniture etc.)
- Service of the generator
- Fuel for the generator
- Official travels of staff members for meetings, workshops, seminars etc.
- Transportation costs
- Communication (post office box, mail, internet, phone credit etc.)
- Cleaning and laundry department equipment and cleaning agents
- General cleaning of the premises and garden caretaking allowance
- Dogs’ food
- Dogs’ caretaking (drugs, vaccinations, bathing and allowance for the person in charge of dog care)
- Gifts and funeral donations and contributions
- Other occassional payments, donations and contributions.
Please, pray to Almighty God, to Whom nothing is impossible, to make possible a dream of so many people of good will, mainly our people in Kiabakari and the area, that our health center survives, is in good professional and capable hands. May Divine Mercy uses this facility as its favorite channel to touch lives and bodies of God's children and to heal them.
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
New Year 2015
The last day of the 'old year', December 31, has been always to me a special and opportune time to recapitulate the proceedings of the past twelve months in the eyes of faith and in a quadruple ambiance of prevailing feelings of:
1. Adoration and praise of God,
2. Gratitude to God and people I was blessed to meet, work and interact with,
3. Repentance for what was lacking in me and my service and asking for pardon from God and people I offended, even if not purposefully,
4. Hope and consecration to God's Mercy and Providence for the year to come.
It is no different today. This is exactly how I feel, meditate upon, think about, recollect and pray.
I will not dare to attempt to commit to this post what has happened in the past twelve months of this year. Instead, I will celebrate a special Thanksgiving Mass this evening immersing in Divine Mercy Ocean this year, all people I met, everything that has happened, all that we and I were able to achieve, everyone and everything, with all my hopes, dreams, passions, plans for the next year.
Thank you, Lord! Thank you, all my loved ones, friends, benefactors, readers of my blog and all I met this year! At the same time I ask God and all of you for pardon and absolution for my mistakes, failures and shortcomings.
I wish us all a wonderful New 2015 Year full of God's Love, Light, Power, Joy and Peace. A year full of personal accomplishments and genuine satisfaction.
1. Adoration and praise of God,
2. Gratitude to God and people I was blessed to meet, work and interact with,
3. Repentance for what was lacking in me and my service and asking for pardon from God and people I offended, even if not purposefully,
4. Hope and consecration to God's Mercy and Providence for the year to come.
It is no different today. This is exactly how I feel, meditate upon, think about, recollect and pray.
I will not dare to attempt to commit to this post what has happened in the past twelve months of this year. Instead, I will celebrate a special Thanksgiving Mass this evening immersing in Divine Mercy Ocean this year, all people I met, everything that has happened, all that we and I were able to achieve, everyone and everything, with all my hopes, dreams, passions, plans for the next year.
Thank you, Lord! Thank you, all my loved ones, friends, benefactors, readers of my blog and all I met this year! At the same time I ask God and all of you for pardon and absolution for my mistakes, failures and shortcomings.
I wish us all a wonderful New 2015 Year full of God's Love, Light, Power, Joy and Peace. A year full of personal accomplishments and genuine satisfaction.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Invitation To The Philippines
The National Coordinator of The Divine Mercy in the Philippines invites us all to take part in the upcoming Fourth World Apostolic Congress on Mercy in his country in 2017. Check the info on the national shrine of Divine Mercy in Marilao, Bulacan here.
Thank you, Father Bruce! We are coming, but first - our Continental African Congress on Mercy in Rwanda in September/October 2016.
Monday, August 18, 2014
The Presentation
Tonight I had an opportunity to share some insights into the personal and missionary experience of Divine Mercy in Tanzania during the meeting of Cardinals and Bishops with the continental and national coordinators of World Apostolic Congress on Mercy.
Speakers who wanted to share similar insights were many thus we were allocated just a few minutes. This forced me to cut short what I prepared on behalf of Divine Mercy followers in Tanzania. Here I present the full text of my presentation.
Speakers who wanted to share similar insights were many thus we were allocated just a few minutes. This forced me to cut short what I prepared on behalf of Divine Mercy followers in Tanzania. Here I present the full text of my presentation.
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Laguna De Guatavita
Yesterday, instead of going up the mountain to the Shrine of Monserrate, we decided to go first out of town. It took some time to buy and activate the local simcard with data plan, but thanks to my two angels Adriana and Stella who were my guides in the trip, things went rather smoothly. I can't imagine how I would get in terms with the salesmen who knows only Spanish and my Spanish is close to zero.
The weather yesterday was not apparently at its best, nevertheless we had a nice drive up the Andes towards Guatavita town on the lake Tomine, some 70 km from Bogota. It was drizzling so we were unable to see much there. I asked my guides to go up the mountains to Laguna de Guatavita, a sacred place for Muisca ancient people. That place was and still is the powerhouse of spirituality. I wanted to go there to pray for the success of the upcoming Congress on Mercy and for all intentions - mine and of my friends. This trip included quite significant physical effort on my part. It was the day after arrival to Colombia, so jet lag was still there and the altitude of the Laguna - above 3,000 meters a.s.l. meant an extra difficulty. These two factors and the fact that due to my weight and health issues I am not a good climber, all added up to the flavor.
The weather yesterday was not apparently at its best, nevertheless we had a nice drive up the Andes towards Guatavita town on the lake Tomine, some 70 km from Bogota. It was drizzling so we were unable to see much there. I asked my guides to go up the mountains to Laguna de Guatavita, a sacred place for Muisca ancient people. That place was and still is the powerhouse of spirituality. I wanted to go there to pray for the success of the upcoming Congress on Mercy and for all intentions - mine and of my friends. This trip included quite significant physical effort on my part. It was the day after arrival to Colombia, so jet lag was still there and the altitude of the Laguna - above 3,000 meters a.s.l. meant an extra difficulty. These two factors and the fact that due to my weight and health issues I am not a good climber, all added up to the flavor.
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Kiabakari 1991-2014 - Polish Language Version
Proudly presenting a concerted effort of Prosonica Studio to prepare a Polish language version of the original Kiabakari 1991-2014 documentary movie of the history of Kiabakari mission and its planned future I made with my friend Mr. Aldimilablis Novatus in April this year.
The work of recording the Polish narration was done very nicely in my humble opinion and synchronizing with the movie scenes and English narration in the background is done well as well.
Here it is for the first time published publicly in my channel on YouTube:
The work of recording the Polish narration was done very nicely in my humble opinion and synchronizing with the movie scenes and English narration in the background is done well as well.
Here it is for the first time published publicly in my channel on YouTube:
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
I Met An Angel
If there is one single God's creature that made my work of sowing a Word of God about Divine Mercy in Kiabakari in the hearts and souls of wonderful people of Puławy in Archdiocese of Lublin in Eastern Poland on last Sunday much easier and pleasant - it must have been the Angel of God in human form - Reverend Sister Irmina Syroka, the organist, cantor and choir master of Divine Mercy Parish in Puławy.
Sister Irmina in my humble opinion has the most sacred voice I have ever heard in my life. As if the Angel from heaven sang using her charisms and talents. I would easily placed her in the top spot in my personal ranking of all cantors and organ players in the whole world.
Bad enough, when I asked her about her recordings, Cds, DVDs - there were none. Such a humble and simple person full of Holy Spirit. I searched the internet and came up with few pictures and few YouTube videos with horrible quality which does not do justice to the purity and magnificence of Sister's voice.
Nevertheless, meet the Angel of God in the form of Sister Irmina Syroka of Benedictine Sisters congregation from Puławy Divine Mercy Parish.
If you happen to pass Puławy, make sure you participate in the Mass in that beautiful church.
Thank you, Holy Spirit, for your generous outpouring of Your special charisms in gifts in Christ's Church. Thank you for Sister Irmina and her humble apostolate of praising the Lord with her voice and organ playing.
I envy with holy envy parishioners of that parish who have such a gem on daily basis. What a different quality experience of Sacred Liturgy it is led by such a grand person.
Sister Irmina in my humble opinion has the most sacred voice I have ever heard in my life. As if the Angel from heaven sang using her charisms and talents. I would easily placed her in the top spot in my personal ranking of all cantors and organ players in the whole world.
Bad enough, when I asked her about her recordings, Cds, DVDs - there were none. Such a humble and simple person full of Holy Spirit. I searched the internet and came up with few pictures and few YouTube videos with horrible quality which does not do justice to the purity and magnificence of Sister's voice.
Nevertheless, meet the Angel of God in the form of Sister Irmina Syroka of Benedictine Sisters congregation from Puławy Divine Mercy Parish.
If you happen to pass Puławy, make sure you participate in the Mass in that beautiful church.
Thank you, Holy Spirit, for your generous outpouring of Your special charisms in gifts in Christ's Church. Thank you for Sister Irmina and her humble apostolate of praising the Lord with her voice and organ playing.
I envy with holy envy parishioners of that parish who have such a gem on daily basis. What a different quality experience of Sacred Liturgy it is led by such a grand person.
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| Sister Irmina in the middle sitting |
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| Sister Irmina sitting in the middle |
Thursday, May 8, 2014
The Short Documentary On Kiabakari Mission History 1991-2014
I am proud to present to all my friends and readers our newest effort to record the history of Kiabakari mission. This is a short documentary, 17 minutes long, highlighting the main events and milestones on our way as we journey along in quest of fulfilling the Lord's Will in Kiabakari, in particular - completing the Divine Mercy vision in Kiabakari, embracing the whole person - spiritually, physically and intellectually. The video presents the current state of affairs in Kiabakari as of April 2014. It pinpoints also the main challenges we are facing and the priorities which need immediate attention and solutions.
Gratitude to Mr. Aldimilablis Novatus Mchele, my friend and filmmaker, who put together all pieces in one video presentation. Thanks to Mr Mitchell also for voice narration.
Hope you enjoy the documentary. I do hope it will help you to understand better Lord's Ways in Kiabakari. And I really do hope this will make you say a prayer for us and even give us a hand by contributing towards the completion of our goal. God bless us all!
Gratitude to Mr. Aldimilablis Novatus Mchele, my friend and filmmaker, who put together all pieces in one video presentation. Thanks to Mr Mitchell also for voice narration.
Hope you enjoy the documentary. I do hope it will help you to understand better Lord's Ways in Kiabakari. And I really do hope this will make you say a prayer for us and even give us a hand by contributing towards the completion of our goal. God bless us all!
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Looking Forward To WACOM 2014
A very good morning indeed. I have just succeeded to register myself online for WACOM 2014 (World Apostolic Congress On Mercy) which will take place in Bogota, Colombia in August this year (check the news on Facebook and YouTube). I was blessed to attend the previous two Congresses - in Lateran Basilica in Rome and in Łagiewniki-Kraków. And I am very happy and grateful to Merciful Lord and people of good will who enabled me to get ready for the third Congress. I will participate in this important event as the national coordinator of WACOM in Tanzania.
I am deeply grateful to my friends who found a good connection and airfare at Swiss and those who helped me with partial payment for my air ticket to Europe and then to Colombia. I am deeply grateful to His Excellency Bishop Michael Msonganzila who supported the journey with remaining two thirds of the airfare and gave his blessing for the endeavor.
I am deeply grateful to Almighty and Merciful Lord for the chance to give testimony to the world about the Divine Mercy devotion and spirituality in this part of the universe. I am looking forward to reconnect with Divine Mercy Apostles from various countries whom I met in the previous two Congresses.
I commend the spiritual preparations for the Congress and the Congress itself to your kind and generous prayers, my dear readers. May Lord's Will be done in all of us and in everything we undertake in His name. God bless us all in this holy time of Lent!
I am deeply grateful to my friends who found a good connection and airfare at Swiss and those who helped me with partial payment for my air ticket to Europe and then to Colombia. I am deeply grateful to His Excellency Bishop Michael Msonganzila who supported the journey with remaining two thirds of the airfare and gave his blessing for the endeavor.
I am deeply grateful to Almighty and Merciful Lord for the chance to give testimony to the world about the Divine Mercy devotion and spirituality in this part of the universe. I am looking forward to reconnect with Divine Mercy Apostles from various countries whom I met in the previous two Congresses.
I commend the spiritual preparations for the Congress and the Congress itself to your kind and generous prayers, my dear readers. May Lord's Will be done in all of us and in everything we undertake in His name. God bless us all in this holy time of Lent!
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| Official website of WACOM Colombia - registration online |
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| Successful registration |
Friday, October 18, 2013
What Better?
When worries - about people one cares for and loves, about important issues and challenges in one's life - reach unbearable intensity and one feels helpless and deeply hurt by the one's inability to shelter them from harm, what better can one do than to immerse and hide all the people, all that matters and oneself in the Ocean of Divine Mercy and to whisper - Jesus, I trust in You...?
"Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will act"
(Psalm 37:5)
Friday, June 7, 2013
Visitation - Farewell Pictures
Here is the link to the pictures from the farewell Mass for visiting image of Divine Mercy and Holy Relics of Divine Mercy Apostles - St. Sister Faustina and Bl. John Paul II in our St. Kazimierz parish in Grzegórzki - Kraków. It was a blessed and intense time, full of prayer and spiritual power.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Visitation - Images
Here are images from the arrival of the Divine Mercy Image and Holy Relics of St. Sister Faustina and Bl. John Paul II in our parish of St. Kazimierz and the first Mass presided by His Excellency rt. Rev. Bishop Grzegorz Ryś, the auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Kraków and my classmate. Click here.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Doors Wide Open
In a few hours the doors of Divine Mercy will fly wide open for the community of the faithful of St. Kazimierz parish. My home parish. After the week-long parochial retreat and three days of communal prayers and preparations for the visitation of the Divine Mercy image along with the holy relics of the Divine Mercy Apostles - St. Faustina and Bl. John Paul II, we are ready to welcome the Merciful Lord at Grzegórzki. I look forward to this profound spiritual experience. Starting with 6pm Holy Mass and ending tomorrow with 4.30pm farewell Mass, this will be 24 hours period of intense presence of Divine Mercy in our parish. Merciful Lord comes to respond to our faith, hope and love. He comes to allow us to enter His Ocean of Divine Mercy to find consolation, light, power, resolve. A genuine Spring of the Holy Spirit in our parish. The new Pentecost. Rest assured, I will pray for you and all your needs in this exceptional time of grace.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Teaspoons Not Allowed!
Ninth Sunday of the Ordinary Time is the opportune time for our parochial community at St. Kazimierz in Kraków's Grzegórzki to give thanks to the Lord for the wonderful spiritual journey of our parochial week-long retreat which ended last evening. In front of us three special days of preparations for the visitation of the Sacred Image of Divine Mercy accompanied by the holy relics of the greatest Apostles of Divine Mercy - Saint Sister Faustina and Blessed John Paul II. I spoke about the importance of these three days in my today's homily, asking people to open up completely in trust to Divine Mercy. Divine Mercy is not a syrup which we drink in teaspoons. Nope. If you want to please the Lord, come to Him with trust the size of largest bucket you can afford to carry. The text of the homily in Polish below. Use Google translator on top of the right sidebar to read in your language, please. Have a blessed Sunday!
Saturday, May 25, 2013
The Journey Within
Rainer Maria Rilke said once - "The only journey is the journey within." And this is precisely what we are about to do starting tomorrow when I begin a week-long parochial retreat as a preparation of the community of the faithful for the upcoming visitation of the sacred image of Divine Mercy in our parish. For the whole week I will try to guide the parochial community in prayer, meditations, spiritual talks and reflections along the main theme of the spiritual journey within ourselves for the sake of the renewal of our parish and our bonds as the family of God. The program of the retreat is here. I ask all of you humbly for your kind prayers and support so that the Almighty and Merciful God may use me as He pleases for the sake of His children in our parish. May the Holy Spirit guide and enlighten us along the spiritual path within and may God's will be done to the fullest. I promise you my sincere prayers for you and for all your needs. God bless us all!
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Upper Room
I am sitting in the upper room of the rectory of Ulmerfeld parish in diocese of St. Polten in Austria, in my best friend parish, focusing on the notes for the upcoming parochial week-long retreat in St. Kazimierz parish in Kraków, my home parish, as a preparation for the visitation of the picture of Jesus, the King of Mercy (4-5 June). The retreat will begin this Sunday and I am deeply grateful to Fr. Wiesiek for the opportunity of three calm days in his parish to work on final shapes of the spiritual talks. Please, pray for the parochial community at St. Kazimierz and myself - may the Holy Spirit guide and enlighten us. May the Holy Spirit enable me to speak only what God wants and may these words penetrate the deepest cores of the faithful hearts and consciences. As always, I will pray in a special way for all of you, my esteemed readers. God bless and protect and guide us all!
Monday, April 8, 2013
Divine Mercy Sunday
I woke up this morning at 5.30am. Surprised to say the least. It was 4pm yesterday when I went to bed to - as I told the housekeeper - to rest for a couple of hours after three days of celebrations. The all night vigil full of spiritual talks, liturgical services and few hours of confessions (five priests involved) was a great success and I managed to stay on my feet and fulfill my duties, but when everybody went home after the High Mass of the Solemnity, adrenaline dropped down - along with me.
I question myself today how the celebrations went and if we did what we were supposed to do and did we fulfill our duties and if what we did God was pleased with... I humbly reckon that we tried our best. We ask the Lord for forgiveness if what we did was not enough.
Today I feel totally tired but quietly happy in my heart. God was great to us and blessed us with a wonderful spiritual experience of the past three days. I continue to pray that His Will continues to to be done and fulfilled by all of us. He knows the way, the tempo, the outcome. Fiat voluntas Tua, Domine!
I question myself today how the celebrations went and if we did what we were supposed to do and did we fulfill our duties and if what we did God was pleased with... I humbly reckon that we tried our best. We ask the Lord for forgiveness if what we did was not enough.
Today I feel totally tired but quietly happy in my heart. God was great to us and blessed us with a wonderful spiritual experience of the past three days. I continue to pray that His Will continues to to be done and fulfilled by all of us. He knows the way, the tempo, the outcome. Fiat voluntas Tua, Domine!
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