What a wonderful day today...So grateful to God and people who surround me. It was all about celebrating love and friendship, as I am so much aware how much I owe to all of you, who God put on purpose, and by no means - by chance - on my path of life. You continue to teach me, formate me, shape me and make me so much more than I am. Thank you for being there with me when I needed you and always...I salute you! I embrace with love, affection and gratitude. May God reward you thousandfold for all you've been to me. Without you I would never be who I am now and would never be able to do what God was able to do through me in those past twenty years of priesthood...

This is a song we sang together as newly ordained priests on that day, May 22, 1988 in Kraków's cathedral church, right after the ordination rite. As I continue to rejoice in the Lord, immensely grateful for His love and mercy to us, who were ordained on that memrable day, please, join me in reliving that magic moment again, singing (in English or in Polish, your choice) along with the video clips of this song I found on internet...





English lyrics:

In the Lord I'll be ever thankful,
In the Lord I will rejoice!
Look to God, do not be afraid...
Lift up your voices, the Lord is near...
Lift up your voices, the Lord is near...

Polish lyrics:


Pan jest Mocą swojego Ludu, Pieśnią moją jest Pan!
Moja Tarcza i moja Moc,
On jest mym Bogiem, nie jestem sam...
W Nim moja siła, nie jestem sam...

TYCS

Just came back from the celebration of opening of a new branch of TYCS (Tanzania Young Christian Students which is a branch of International Young Christian Students) in Kiabakari Secondary School in my parish.

TYCS is an evangelical group of Students who are in the Secondary Schools and Colleges. TYCS gives the Students courage to investigate their surroundings as Students in their Schools, Colleges and in the  community. Also TYCS stimulates the Students to rise up their talents by the use of Spiritual studies, seminars, contemplation of the Word of God and common activities. TYCS joins Students starting from the simple group found in the school, and later in the deaneries, Diocese and Nationwide. TYCS brings forward the Students in their main task of evangelization of the Word of God wherever they are as Students. Also it encourages young boys and girls to join in the Priestly, Religious  and active Laity Vocation  and prepare them to be good leaders in any sector in the Church as well as in the country.

We have four government secondary school in the parish. In Kiabakari township there are two - Kukirango Secondary School and Kiabakari Secondary School (which has been recently constructed by the citizens themselves with some help from other donors).

TYCS Kukirango is well established branch with several years of experience already. The new branch has been initiatied last year and today we had an official recognition function, with Holy Mass in the Shrine at 10.00am first with me presiding and preaching, and thereafter the official part of presentation of the certificate of recognition to the chairman of the new branch, some speeches, artistic program and lunch.

I must say I was very proud of my youth as they tried their best to prepare a beautiful event, well organized and memorable.

My hopes are that with all four secondary schools having their respective TYCS branches we will be able to set up a network of cooperation within the parish, helping young students in their studies and Christian witness in their school environment and then reaching out to other parishes and the diocese at large.

Today's event has been a great highlight of my ordination anniversary which I celebrate today. Here are some pictures of the function that followed the Holy Mass. The venue was our school which is under construction.

Shortly before cutting the ribbon at the function hall in the school under construction - as a sign of official opening of the TYCS branch in Kiabakari secondary school

The Chairman  of TYCS Diocese of Musoma signing a certificate of recognition of the new branch

Brother Erasmus Marando (Montfort Brothers and Headmaster of Mwembeni Secondary School in Musoma) - diocesan formator of TYCS speaks during the function with parochial formators of TYCS - Sr. Jennipher Mutale and Sr. Angela Mushitu to his right

Some of the youth participating in the event

This event boosted my hope in the youth in my parish. Thank you, o Lord, for this gift.

The Rock

I've just finished our Friday recollection day in the Shrine. As we approach the Solemnity of Pentecost, I thought it would be most appropriate and timely to share with you one remarkable story.

In January 1994, as I was about to commence the construction of the new parochial church which was to be a shrine of Divine Mercy in Kiabakari, I was one day approached by a group of my parishioners, roughly thirty persons, mostly retirees and adults. They came up with the idea that - since we are about to build a House of God and this work will not find appreciation in the eyes of the Evil One, who will most probably cause a lot of problems on the way, trying to prevent us from completion of the project - we need to fast and pray so that, by doing that, we will protect the project and it will come to the completion.

I was left speechless by the audacity and courage full of faith of those Christians! They, without being pushed by anyone, decided freely that they will come every Friday to our temporary chapel which I put up using the roof sheets from the old chapel which we had just demolished to pave way for the new church on top of the hill which came later to be known as Divine Mercy Hill.

Imagine the extreme conditions inside this structure - roof sheets on the roof, roof sheets as walls, and dust as a floor. And those brave Christians spending up to 10 hours inside fasting without water and praying EVERY Friday till the end of the construction of the church which happened three and a half years later!

Truly, they have become like those people who were supporting hands of praying Moses during Israelis battle, as we read in the Bible...

What they had decided in January 1994, they fulfilled faithfully till the end. Whenever I was able I was with them, leading some of the prayers, being available for confessions and Holy Mass...

After the dedication of the church on July 3, 1997, the Evil One who - so far - was unable to break their resolve and make them quit, struck hard for the first time. My 'wanamafungo' (as I came to call them, meaning - retreat people') came to me asking if there is a need to continue with these Friday retreats as the church was ready and the goal has been achieved...It was a clever temptation, based on sane reasoning...

But I sensed a temptation and resisted. I asked them to continue and decided to give those Friday recollection days more solid look and put them in a regular framework or schedule - with morning prayers, spiritual talk, rosary, Stations of the Way of the Cross, adoration, confessions, Holy Mass and Divine Mercy Hour.

Every year I proposed certain themes for every Friday of the year, with third Fridays of every month given special emphasis as an open day for people and pilgrims from the whole diocese and beyond, as the idea of elevating the status of the shrine to the diocesan shrine of Divine Mercy was clearly seen on the horizon and - bishop and me - started to talk about it louder...

I used to invite a retreat masters for the whole year (twelve third Fridays of the month) who were to give talks on set themes that were decided upon in the pastoral calendar of the shrine...

Second strike of the Evil One came when I was asked by the late Bishop Justin Samba to move to Musoma Cathedral as a parish priest. I thought it was over - in regards to the future of the shrine and Divine Mercy devotion at large in Kiabakari...

My successor in Kiabakari did not feel this devotion and the need to have a shrine of Divine Mercy, so he wanted Kiabakari to be just an ordinary parish...

And even if he was not ready to be to 'wanamafungo' as close as I was, those heroes continued with their iron resolve and resisted the temptation to abandon Fridays...

I returned to Kiabakari in November 2006 and they were relieved clearly as they knew that the old times returned too, and with them - Fridays also as a retreat day with full participation of the priest...

And this is how it is up till today. They have praying and fasting for 16 years now - EVERY Friday of the year! Some of them have passed away, some of them moved out of Kiabakari, some of them got tired or sick and cannot come again on regular basis, some new members came in, the rest - depending on the Friday - are going strong. There are Fridays with just a few people participating, on other Fridays we are many...

It does not matter to me much. The resolve and continuity is what matters...


They are my true heroes. They are THE ROCK on which Kiabakari is being built for the past sixteen years...

I bow my head in front of them in admiration, praise and gratitude. I salute them with love and pride! I kneel down and wash their feet humbled by their faith and values they have been standing for fiercely for so long. They - through their fasting and prayers and persistence - made all this happen what you can see now in Kiabakari mission and the shrine. Their patience, determination, fasting and prayer conquered Lord's heart and made him to fulfill our dreams and visions - His plans and vision for this place...

THE TRUE ROCK ON WHICH KIABAKARI IS BUILT.

The Dark Side of the Hill

It was such a beautiful, sunny and breezy morning today. Just perfect for checking on the fame of this side of Divine Mercy Hill - if it deserves to be called 'a dark side' of the hill by some cheeky volunteers who happened to work in Kiabakari in our health center. And this nick just stuck and cannot be unstuck...

But, frankly speaking, there is nothing about it to deserve such nick. Maybe because the vegetation of this side of the hill is thicker, there are more trees and bushes on this side and this makes for a lovely shade and shadows since early morning, with sun just piercing that thick vegetation with its relentless rays...

So, I took my camera out and set off right after breakfast to see what is 'cooking' on this side of the hill...

Now, this is what I found out:

I wonder, if my side of the hill deserves to be called the 'dark side'? To me, it looks simply like a paradise! What do YOU think?

Catch 22

This Saturday, May 22nd, 2010, I will celebrate 22nd Anniversary of my priesthood I received through the hands of His Eminence Franciszek Cardinal Macharski, Archbishop of Kraków, Poland, on Sunday of the Solemnity of Pentecost in Kraków's cathedral. My ordination class 1988 is the largest in the 1000 years long history of Archdiocese of Kraków, as far as the number of deacons ordained for the diocese the same year - we were almost seventy who were ordained that day....

Twenty two years passed since that day. In retrospective, I must say, all mysteries of rosary have been revealed and relived in my life - joyful, luminous, sorrowful and glorious as well...The Lord led me through various situations and made me to experience the full spectrum of human feelings and emotions - from elation and euphoria down to despair and darkness. I am immensely grateful to Him for giving me such a wonderful life. I could not ask for more.

At the same time my heart is filled with emotions, gratitude, joy, pride, satisfaction but also - sorrow, disappointment, pity and contrition for all mistakes and falls I went through in my priestly life.

I will celebrate a special Holy Mass of the Anniversary on Pentecost Vigil, on Saturday afternoon at 5pm in Divine Mercy Shrine in Kiabakari, in spiritual union with my classmates, praying for those who are strong and pressing ahead, for those who are feeble and weak, for those who passed away and for those who left...May God have mercy on us all! And Saint Francis of Assisi, our Saint Patron of the class, may protect us and pray for us always till we arrive safely to the House of the Father in heaven.

Your prayers for us, dear reader, are appreciated very much!

Here are twenty two pictures for the twenty second Anniversary of our priesthood we were consecrated to on May 22nd, 1988...

My ordination class 1988 (can you find me?)

 With my Mum (in the middle) and Godparents right after Ordination Mass on May 22nd. 1988

With secondary and university students on our way from Sułkowice (my first parish) to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska in 1989

Spring 1990 - with my students from my second parish - Jaworzno-Osiedle Stałe

Portiuncula in Assisi - 5 January 1990 - a personal pilgrimage to Patron of my ordination class right before flying out to Tanzania to begin my missionary apostolate

Our Lady of Lourdes church in Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland - my personal 'missionary formation center' - wonderful three months among wonderful people, unforgettable experience!

St. Peter's parochial church in Drogheda - the main church in my parish (We had two churches in Drogheda parish and there are still two as far as I know)

Hospitalized in Medical Missionary of Mary hospital in Drogheda, had some health problems, but I was okey soon after

Makoko Language School in Musoma, Tanzania - my class - May 1991

Rookie times - my first Palm Sunday in Kiabakari - 1991

1991 - on my way to the outstation with Zanaki parish choir

Holy Thursday 1991 - in Bukabwa outstation of Zanaki parish

Sacrament of Reconciliation in Kyawazaru outstation

1994 - during construction of Divine Mercy Shrine in Kiabakari

November 1997 - my private thanksgiving pilgrimage to Fatima after successful completion of the construction of Divine Mercy Shrine and its dedication on July 3, 1997 in Kiabakari

August 17, 2001 - Apostolic Nuncio in Tanzania raises the parochial church in Kiabakari to the dignity of Diocesan Shrine of Divine Mercy

2003 - in Musoma Cathedral Parish with fellow priests, Fr. John Chacha and Fr. Kazimierz Króżel

February 26, 2003 - closing of the Jubilee Door after Golden Jubilee of Musoma Cathedral Parish

January 26, 2006, Butiama, Tanzania - sworn in as a postulator of beatification process of the Servant of God, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere

2007 - during one of the pilgrimages to Divine Mercy Shrine in Kiabakari

2008 - Baptisms in the shrine

"What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?
I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.

I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people. 

I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving,and will call upon the name of the LORD.

I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.

In the courts of the LORD's house, in the midst of thee,O Jerusalem. 

Praise ye the LORD."

(Psalm 116)

In Te, Domine, speravi...non confundar in aeternum!

Ulysses

I had a bread roll with Blue Band spread and  honey this morning for breakfast...So what? Is this worth writing a post about? Hmmm...

This ordinary event triggered a whole world of memories...going back to 1997... This was the year my parochial netball team VIWAWA FC (VIWAWA is an abbreviation of Vijana Wakatoliki Wafanyakazi, meaning Catholic Working Youth) participated in Nyerere Cup in Dodoma, Capital City of Tanzania. And won Fair Play Cup which - on our arrival back to Kiabakari - we handed to Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, former President of Tanzania, who agreed before to be our Patron and Sponsor of the team.

We were based in diocesan guest house in Dodoma. Every morning, breakfast was the same. Bread rolls, Blue Band spread and honey (Tanzanian honey which I love, so yummy!). We spent there some ten days, having the same morning ritual for breakfast...

So, whenever I happen to have the same stuff for breakfast since then, my mind goes back in fond memories to 1997 year, to Dodoma, to netball tournament (see pictures from that event here), to our great effort as a small, rookie parochial team who dared to challenge national league teams on equal basis and won hearts of people back then by our discipline, fair play, excellent behavior and smiles...We made friends with a lot of people there and these friendships last till now...

It is amazing how simple, unassuming things have power to trigger high emotions, memories, reminiscences, pictures in my mind...It feels like reading 'Ulysses' by James Joyce (one of my favorite novels of all times; you can download the book for free here)...This stream of consciousness flows through me all the time and flows out, pops up, bursts into life triggered sometimes unexpectedly by those little things in my life...