Thank You

This is probably the last post of this year. A year that has been fully packed with action, challenges, traumas, dramas, highs and lows of all kind. I won't even dare to list a bit of them here. Impossible task. But most of all it has been a year I would like to call as the Year of Friends...

'Giving birth is not as hard as raising a child'

The Tanzanian proverb quoted in the headline of this post comes handy and proves to be valid and true in times like these. The long-term effort to prepare institutions capable of providing good quality education and formation of our kids in Kiabakari and the area is a huge undertaking which has taken already a good chunk of my life, energy and resources...

I Want To Ride My Bicycle

A day to remember for our parochial community and for my catechists in particular. For the first time in the history of Kiabakari mission I will bless and hand over 13 bicycles to my catechists, donated by the Diocese of Musoma, after initial small downpayment of Tanzanian shillings 10,000 /= (approx. 6-7 USD) from each catechist. It has never happened before that all my catechists were able to get their ride on the same day, and the brand new one to be precise...

The Highway

Living in Kiabakari in Mara Region, it is a long journey for me to get to Arusha and further on to the coast. You need to go through Serengeti and Nogorongoro on dirt road or to take a detour through Mwanza, Shinyanga, Nzega, Singida and further on.  The proposed so called Serengeti Highway which construction apparently has got a green light to go from the President of the United Republic of Tanzania and the Government, which would shorten our journey to Arusha significantly, poses huge controversy and raises fears of many that this may threaten the Serengeti National Park as we know it, along with Maasai Mara on the other side of the border in Kenya - especially the great migration of the wildebeests and other animals...myself included, even if I might be one of the beneficiaries of the project!

The Murder Of The Father

As the aftermath of my previous post on Cardinal Wojtyła's Lenten papal retreat back in 1976, as I went through the records of other papal retreat masters of the last decade or so, I came across a figure of Mons. Bruno Forte, now the Archbishop of Chieti-Vasto in Italy, who was one of the last retreat masters in John Paul II era. His 2004 retreat based on the theme of 'To follow You, the Light of Life", turned into a book under the same title, drew a closer attention to his person and his teachings...

Sign Of Contradiction

These words derived from today's Gospel reading of the fifth day of the Octave of the Nativity of Christ (Lk 2:22-35): “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” - evoke forceful memories of the retreat the Holy Father John Paul II gave to the Holy Father Paul VI and the Vatican Curia back in Lent 1976, which was turned into a book after that (in many languages, I think; I know personally of Polish and English translations). That book, that retreat made a lasting impact on me and my personal spirituality as I went through it and meditated upon it when I was a seminarian and in my priestly life as well... I believe it is worthwhile to find this book in Catholic bookstores or online.

Perfect Match

Whenever I choose to indulge my mind and soul in a banquet of a classical music, sitting alone in a dead of the night in the living room or resting in bed, it always strikes me how this genre of music fits perfectly into the ambiance and mystery of an African night... Just like now when I write these few remarks on my phone while being cleansed in my mind and soul by the divine German baroque cantatae performed by my old friend Andreas Scholl... Simply, a perfect match...

No More...

The fourth day of the Octave of the Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in short - The Feast of The Holy Innocents, Martyrs, gets a totally different dimension, validity and importance for us, if we see in those Holy Innocents not only babies slaughtered centuries ago in Bethlehem and its neighborhoods, but also all unborn babies denied their right to life and happiness by the sin of abortion. And this sin is going on as we speak...

A voice was heard in Ramah,

sobbing and loud lamentation;

Rachel weeping for her children,

and she would not be consoled,

since they were no more.

Don Quixote

I feel today like Don Quixote setting off for his quest to attack windmills... Going through bills of quantities and various requirements for the projects under way, it has become painfully clear and obvious to me that I may look like Don Quixote trying to accomplish something so complex with very little at my disposal... It is going to be very interesting to see actually how these tasks will be completed... At the end of the day... the candles are burning, prayers are being raised to Heaven and I keep faith, hope and steel resolve to make it happen. Still, your kind prayers appreciated!

3 A.M.

The time of the night that finds me awake from time to time... More frequently in the last few years as the day hours aren't enough... The early hours of the morning... sometimes the best time of the entire day... the most creative, innovative, illuminating, thrilling... or simply the time to take my coat, hat and walking stick and go down the memory lane...

The Flower of Lucca

I woke up this morning, ready to tackle the present piece of time in two different ways simultaneously. Firstly, to continue celebration of the mystery of the Nativity of Christ through the liturgical Octave till the New Year and then in days following the Octave till the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Secondly, to get on energetically with three projects at once - the finishing of piping of the water tank, the finishing and furbishment of first grade pupils classroom in John Paul II Center for Education and Formation, and the construction of service buildings and the repair and finishing of St. Gemma Galgani Convent for my sisters...

Three Years

Three years ago, on the same Feast of the Holy Family day, but on a different date (December 30, 2007), we had a special celebration that ended 17 almost years of my personal wait for the completion of the second pillar of Divine Mercy Vision in Kiabakari. The official opening of the Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Health Center in Kiabakari... Today, while reminiscing the huge relief and satisfaction I felt on that day, I looked forward though, as today was a day I asked Merciful God for a special blessing and protection so that the construction and finishing works of the St. Gemma Galgani sisters' convent in Kiabakari - which will start tomorrow - may be concluded safely and expertly in due time. The date for the official blessing and the opening has been set already, when I met Bishop a few days ago - April 10, 2011. And the very first Holy Mass in the Sisters' convent chapel - the next day, on the liturgical feast of St. Gemma Galgani, the Patroness of the convent...

Because there was no room for them in the...

...chapel. This is what I found today as I drove to Kamugegi village, some 7-8 kilometers from Kiabakari. The last rains were too much for the grass roofed mud bricks tiny chapel we were using for some time now as people try to raise funds to build something more solid... So, instead of celebrating today's Mass in the chapel, we were forced to go to the nearby school and use one of the classrooms for the Holy Mass....

Silence

I do hope you kept Christ in your Christmas celebrations. And met Him in the silence of your heart, peaceful in right balance of your conscience cleansed by Advent preparations and the sacrament of reconciliation. I am not into writing Christmas cards, sending decorated emails or passing smses with fancy 'Xmas' pictures and texts. If you are into this kind of Christmas communication and wishes, I am sorry to disappoint you by keeping silent. But what I did is this: I said breviary in silence for you and for the intentions dear to your heart. Then while elevating the consecrated Hosts during Christmas Midnight Mass and today in all Christmas Masses I whispered to Him to keep an eye on you and make sure you stay safe and blessed and your worthy prayers are answered by Him in due time and manner. Then I sat close to the Christmas crib in silence and thought about you asking silently the Holy Family to watch over you and help you the way They deem necessary to hep you...

Yom Kippur

At least twice a year we have the special day of repentance and reconciliation with each other and with God. A day or two before Christmas, again during the Holy Week preceding Easter and once again a day before the annual Patron Saint of the Parish feast day (July 4th). I do not include here communal penitential services (with individual confessions) celebrated on the occasion of Divine Mercy Sunday or other pilgrimage days...

9 Years

I may not condone his lifestyle and life decisions, but nevertheless I admire his talent and career as a poet, writer, musician, frontman of the band, solist. Grzegorz Ciechowski a.k.a Obywatel G.C. (Citizen G.C.) will remain forever as one of my favorite artists in Polish music scene. Today is the day he passed away, nine years ago. May his soul rest in peace! Prayers appreciated! This is the link to my post on Grzegorz I wrote in August with a few of his songs listed there. Enjoy!

We Walk By Faith, Not By Sight

2 Corinthians 5:7. Very challenging text. As if walking with our eyes closed, believing what we are being told and accepting it at face value. Walking by faith, not by sight. As if landing in a thick fog, guided only by ILS, knowing that the instrument landing system will guide me correctly at a right glide slope path to the center of the runway. As if walking along the edge of a cliff, guided by a voice of someone else, trusting that person completely. As if looking at the valley covered in thick mist, seeing nothing and being told that there is a beautiful valley with picturesque village on the curvy river meandering through the valley towards the horizon...

The Deadline

I'm extremely glad that my bishop, the bishop of Diocese of Musoma, Rt. Rev. Michael Msonganzila, took his time to come and visit us here in Kiabakari this afternoon, while on his way back from the meeting with priests who formerly belonged to the Diocese of Musoma, but now will become a part of the presbyterium of the recently announced new diocese of Bunda. When they announced the creation of this new diocese, I thought initially that Kiabakari will become a part of the new diocese as we are neighbors with Bunda parish which has become now a capital city of the Diocese of Bunda (some 30 km only from Kiabakari)...

A Short Course In Domestic Archeology

Tonight I will say a special prayer for my Grandma and Mum. They spent all their professional careers working in the Archeological Museum in Krakow, saving the prehistoric past for us, archiving meticulously their findings, preserving and displaying for us to keep us remembering who we are and where we come from...

Ping-Pong

The very first trip to Musoma today. Scorching hot day. Three months have passed since I was in Musoma and already I noticed many changes here and there. Task force put in charge to lay tarmac in the new bus stand area (I wrote about this phenomenon in one of my first posts since the inception of this blog into the virtual world) started to pour first layer of asphalt when I was leaving for holidays in September. I came back and there i no trace of asphalt there (sic!). A mystery of faith...

Camaraderie

There is this feeling one would describe as a feeling of togetherness in undertaking a huge challenge, in tossing oneself into a deep ocean in hope one will manage to stay on top as one is aware that there are others around who are willing to help and one is willing to help others too in order to succeed together as a team...

Reactivation

Done today. The reactivation of my union with the living and praying parochial community.  Three Holy Masses, two in the shrine and one in Nyamikoma outstation, were the binding force that reactivated our union of faith, love and dependancy on each other. Thank God for giving me enough power to make to the end of the last Mass as today is quite hot, humid and no wind (just picking up as I write). Tough job to 'do' three long Masses in full liturgical armor in semi-oven conditions... Anyway, I'm grateful I was able to fulfill my duty till the end. It was so cool to reconnect with the parish and my people. I guess this joy gave my homily some extra winglets! People were happy to see me back and I felt as if some kind of relief was looming over them, as if they were unsure if I would come back... So now resting a bit with my music playing in the background on iTunes... Thinking already about challenges ahead. Tomorrow a trip to Musoma, setting things in motion. Time and planning is of essence! Have a good evening! Sending all of you, folks, in North America, and Europe, megatons of sun and heat! Take care and don't get frost bites!

Home

So good to be back home! Precision Air was gentle and understanding enough to bring me to Musoma on time and the flight itself was a smooth ride, strange to be honest as normally you would expect some rough parts, taking under consideration the modest size of the aircraft and variable conditions around Lake Victoria with strong crosswinds, then around Arusha/Moshi with the influence of Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro, sometimes climbing to the cruise altitude over Dar es Salaam is a rodeo ride. But not this time...

The Picture

As I am about to zip my bag, having checked that all that little I had on me, was in fact in the bag and nothing was missing, I am in a standby mode with a couple of hours left before I proceed to the airport and then (hopefully) to Musoma via Precision Air regular flight. This standby mode is not only about the wait for the departure, but also about the wait for Florian, my artist and friend who will come to see me for the last time this time to talk about a special project we want to do...

Tanesco

Coming back to Tanzania from North America and Europe where noone remembers when it was the last time there was a power failure, not caused by some natural calamities like hurricane, extreme frost, snow, flooding, earthquake and so forth, and finding myself in a situation where there is no single day without power cuts in Dar es Salaam and elsewhere around the country, it is really hard to adjust to the reality of uncertainty - when they will cut the power, if they will cut the power, how long it will take to restore the power and so forth... These are the real life questions! Being helpless as I am in this situation, I cannot but laugh watching this piece of comedy from a popular group in Tanzania. Those of you who understand swahili, enjoy... For others, you have to come here to understand what I am writing about.

Missa Luba

Done with the to-do list, resting in my room, immersed in thoughts, recollections and memories, visualizing the coming Christmas time filled with various eye catching and heart touching celebrations, I found myself reminiscing one of the best choirs in Africa, if not the very best (at least out of those I know myself) - the Muungano National Choir from Nairobi, Kenya. I remember the very first time I happened to listen to their a capella songs some 16-17 years ago... I rushed then to Nairobi to buy their audio CD and - as I was happy to find out - also their VHS recording of the same audio CD...

Last Day

Last day before I fly back to Musoma tomorrow (hopefully, it will be Musoma, as sometimes Precision Air takes you to unexpected destinations, changing schedules without warning, and flying us, poor folk heading for Musoma to Mwanza instead, then hauling us to Musoma by minibus, which means three hours of traveling). Last 24 hours of preparations before I finally reach home...

Sentinels

Two days before I arrive back home in Kiabakari, it is high time to dispatch sentinels announcing my arrival to relevant parties and people involved and asking several persons to do this and that and to provide me with info I need... The last 48 hours before I get back home are the time of the most intense communication between me and people in Kiabakari and Mara Region at large...

A Welcoming Sign

I have been quiet on this issue for some time but I have to admit that the election of the first black African Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Poland has been a very welcoming sign of opening of our Polish society to the world and human races...

Plastic Jesus

I know nothing about plastic Jesus. My Jesus is a Son of Man of Flesh and Blood, Soul an Divinity. This is  the One I offer to the Father in the Most Holy Eucharist and when I say Divine Mercy Chaplet. This is the One who knows me through and through and has not given up on me yet. This is Jesus I belong to. This is Jesus I struggle to follow, read and understand. This is Jesus who keeps silent most of times in my life, yet steers it whenever needed and shelters me when I make the mess of my life and bring ruin and chaos. This is is Jesus, real One, who talks to me silently through people and events, through His Word and Breaking of Bread. I know nothing of plastic Jesus...

Purgatory

I believe there are times one cannot help oneself through prayer. These are times when Heaven seems to be offline. One feels as if in Purgatory while still alive on earth... Helpless... At times like these, only prayers of friends and caring soul can come to aid. Just as it is with prayers for souls in Purgatory. Thank you all who come to my aid at times like these, when I go through Purgatory while still alive on earth...

Gaudete

I have every reason to celebrate today's Third Sunday of Advent called traditionally 'Gaudete Sunday' with my heart, soul and mind overflowing with sentiments of joy, gratitude and jovial mood. One of the greatest times of my life in past three months - such an undeserved gift of God and so many grand people... Now, back safely in Tanzania, feeling immediately at home, enjoying the presence of my wonderful friends here, soaking in megatons of sunrays, humidity and heat... Looking forward to a few days of encounters and business affairs... Getting ready to go back to Kiabakari, fully motivated, charged and ready to tackle new challenges! I immersed myself with all these positive vibes in the Ocean of Divine Mercy in the morning Eucharist and surrendered myself anew to Our Lady of Fatima protection and maternal guidance under a watchful eye of St. Joseph from Mont Royal's Oratory... I'm ready for a new chapter of my life and struggle in Kiabakari... Are YOU ready to journey with me and help me with your prayers and support to make the Divine Vision of Kiabakari happen?

Full Circle

My odyssey has drawn a full circle as I touched down on Dar es Salaam airport runway last night... Three months of travelling, making a personal pilgrimage to people's hearts and places... It will take me much much longer to understand more fully the meaning of this unique period of my life and its impact on people I was blessed to meet, Kiabakari and myself... Today I just try to gather myself, being thrown - with mild flu and under influence of several vaccinations' shots which I took hard to be honest - from winter in Europe to sauna conditions in Dar es Salaam... Blessed be the name of the inventor of a fan, not mentioning airconditioning! Stay blessed on this Third Sunday of Advent! Praying for you and all intentions dear to your hearts... God bless us all!

The Lollipop

On my way to a full recovery of stolen documents, I had to go to hospital this morning to get my vaccines shots and the yellow WHO booklet reissued before I fly out back to Tanzania. Not a very pleasant experience, I must admit... Since I had no time to spread these vaccination shots in time, they were all administered to me at once. Six in total. Yellow fever vaccination, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, polio, diphtheria, tetanus and so on... I got my yellow WHO booklet back and I'm happy, yet my arms hurt a lot now and I feel as if I have been recovered from the underneath of the speeding train...

At least, I have my lollipop to comfort myself a bit which the nurses awarded me for being a good boy as I didn't even wink while being shot with those vaccines...

Frozen

Simply frozen to death, and feeling as if my whole body is burning from inside, fighting cold and fever, after spending the whole day in freezing temps in one of the Krakow churches, doing mission awareness and fund-raiser for the construction of the center for education and formation in my mission and the completion of the sisters' convent... Stuffed myself with a handful of pills and heading for bed. Will see tomorrow how things pan out...Hoping flu won't get upper hand on me...:(

A Miracle Of Life

Remember the recent uproar of liberal pro-choice people and groups of pressure who cry foul when the ChurchAds.net in UK revealed Advent / Christmas posters depicting Baby Jesus in His Mother's womb with halo around His little head? I consider it a wonderful interpretation of Advent reality - a maternal womb of Our Lady as it was then... But for some, crooked 'art' like some time ago a crucifix in urine or something disgusting like this - is an epithomy of art. I rather see it as a decline and death of human culture that should always serve the proclamation of the beauty of life and genuine talents and charismas of people...

You Cannot But...

fall in love with Krakow, the Only Royal Capital City of All Poland! Dressed in regal snowy attire, caught in freezing temperature, swept by strong winds... Mesmerizing, captivating, magical... Check these pictures I took on my iPhone as I strolled through Planty green belt and at Wawel Royal Hill and on my way back home...

The Sound Of Snow

Back home with my Dad. Poland welcomed me with frosty bites on my cheeks and light snow falling silently from heavens... Yet the crunching sound of snow under my feet as I walked this morning to Sisters' chapel for the morning Mass was the most beautiful sound I missed for long...

Time To Say Goodbye...

This is my last post on American soil. In a few hours time I'll head to JFK airport to begin my journey back to where I belong...to Kiabakari. First, to Poland, to my Dad, relatives and friends. Then, to Tanzania, to get back home before Christmas. And after the New Year, I'll get down to work with whatever good people helped me with. We'll see how far it will take me in the realization of the projects lagging behind... I won't worry now, I will not worry then either. The Lord will provide. And I trust in His Mercy!...

Bitter-sweet

This is the taste I have wrapping down my USA voyage, as I celebrate the last Sunday on American soil, in St. Ladislaus Parish in Hempstead, Long Island. The first Sunday after my arrival to the States left a scar on my heart, as it was the day my things were stolen from the closet in the sacristy of the Presentation parochial church in Stockton. Today, on my last Sunday, I feel much better, experiencing the warmth of the welcome and genuine kindness of pastors and the parochial community...

Last Weekend

Looking forward to my return to Poland and bit later - to Tanzania...This weekend, last weekend on North American soil, bears a unique meaning to me - it feels like the words of the Book of Genesis, when God after creating all these wonderful things, rested...

Black Friday

From Wikipedia: Black Friday is the day following Thanksgiving Day in the United States, traditionally the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. On this day many U.S. retailers open very early, often at 5 a.m., and offer promotional sales to kick off the shopping season. Because Thanksgiving always falls on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States, the day after occurs between the 23rd and the 29th of November...

Stable Personality

Thanksgiving Day in United States - though celebrated by me for the very first time in my life (and I am quite excited about it, as I heard and saw a lot about this unique day in USA) - is an excellent opportunity to reflect upon one of the four legs of a table which is a symbol of a stable, mature personality...

What If?

Just saw this map on internet. This interesting geopolitical map gives us fresh view at the world we live in... Just to share it with you. The link to the article explaining this idea can be found here...

In Memoriam

Eight years have passed today since my first and only parish priest in the missions - Rev. Father Karol Szlachta, passed away suddenly, hit by a stroke on  a sunny Sunday afternoon, on the day the Holy Mother Church celebrated the Solemnity of Christ the King...

I Fell For Her

Yes, I did. She is such a unique presentation of the truth about Mary of Nazareth, a humble, noble, gentle, beautiful girl from that despised by Jews and others town...

The Four Living Creatures

Following patiently my hosts here in Princeton, NJ as they visit various malls and shopping establishments, I came across a strange setting in one of those shopping centers. My imagination sent me back to the Living Word of God in the Holy Scriptures, as I visualize what popped up in my mind looking at this...

My Right Pocket

I love the right pocket of my winter jacket. It is warm and padded from inside. Whenever I put my hand inside I feel warm and cosy. And I know that on the bottom of the pocket I will always find something I like to touch and play with my fingers. This 'something' are rosary beads I got as a special gift from a friend of mine who lives in Italy with her family...

My Skyscrapers

Came back from Manhattan, New York, led by my hosts, ho showed me around the Empire State Building, Ground Zero, Wall Street, the Bull, Battery Park and the ferry from Manhattan South end to Staten Island and back...

My King

Tomorrow is the Solemnity of Christ the King. Our King. The King of the Universe. The King of my own universe. The universe of my soul, my body and my mind. The King who is the Incarnated Divine Mercy. The KIng of Mercy. My King...

Window Shopping Spirituality

As I was walking around the Manhattan, NY, absorbing sights and sounds of the city, I was stopped in my tracks by one shop window and the display shown there. It took me several minutes to move on as I went through the messages compiled there...

Lost Ones

Wandering around the Manhattan in New York, I came across the St. Patrick's Catholic Cathedral. It's not that I stumbled upon this beautiful piece of sacred architecture. I looked for it on purpose. It is mandatory to me to pay visit to the Mother of All Churches in each diocese I travel to wherever I go. And in every instance, I look for any sign of Divine Mercy devotion displayed in the church, which means to me that the message of Divine Mercy took roots in the local Church...

The Shepherdess

While in Chicago, my host and friend, Sister Stephanie, showed me around the Resurrection High School on the compound belonging to the Congregation of Sisters of the Resurrection. As we went through different sections and departments of that impressive and high-tech facility, adorned with spirit-lifting mottos and decors, one artifact struck me particularly...

Handkerchief

The synonym of insecurity? The signature of a person knowing better what is the right choice, safe decision? ‘Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it stored away in a handkerchief, for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding man; you take up what you did not lay down and you harvest what you did not plant.’ ...

Food Court

It's a popular term in United States, I guess, as everywhere I went so far, there never is a food court too far to not stumble upon it. People seem to live in the fast lane, so this type of fast lane food outlets comes pretty handy. Foodstuffs displayed all over the place and it's up to the patron to choose what she or he desires to have ...

Reunion

I've heard a lot about reunions since I arrived to North America. All kinds of reunions. And people seem to get excited at the prospect of the reunion. I'm no different...

Healing Rays

"Lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven,
when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble,
and the day that is coming will set them on fire,
leaving them neither root nor branch,
says the LORD of hosts.
But for you who fear my name, there will arise
the sun of justice with its healing rays." (Mal 3:19-20a)

Hope Up

I was notified yesterday by my friends in Stockton not to raise hopes up, though the suspect of the theft of my bag at Presentation Catholic Church in Stockton two weeks ago was caught yesterday. I do hope that my documents will still be recovered and returned to me. There are many people praying for this and I am so overwhelmed and grateful to them for this support. This is the link to the Channel 10 news on the developing story.

Prayers appreciated for the successful recovery of my docs!

Hands

In a few hours time, I will shake hands with my hosts here in Chicago, Sisters of the Resurrection. This gesture, will speak volumes, though in silence. Will speak of friendship, love and sorrow of departure...

Intensity

The opening prayer of today's Mass of the Commemoration of St. Josaphat Kuncewicz, bishop and martyr, lays down in front of our spiritual eyes and conscience the following message:

Stir up within Thy Church, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the Spirit with which blessed Josaphat, Thy Martyr and Bishop, was filled, when he laid down his life for his sheep: so that, through his intercession, we too may be moved and strengthen by the same Spirit, and may not shrink from giving our lives for our brethren. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen. ...

Independence

The 11th of November is a special day for Poles, celebrated as the Independence Day meaning the return to the map of sovereign European states after 123 years of foreign rule. Naturally, regaining independence is not an event that could be discussed in terms of one specific date in calendar but rather a long and complex process. This special date, however, marks a series of important events that gave the day a symbolic meaning: the Compiegne armistice is signed, ending long and bloody World War I. Most of German troops deployed in Warsaw since August 5, 1915, have been disarmed; Jozef Pilsudski, the architect and leader of Legions, the most esteemed politician at that time, holds talks on taking over power and re-creating the Polish state 'from the scrap'.

Chill Down My Spine

My buddy from Stockton sent me this link. I just felt sick in my stomach. But I have to get over it. Still, this picture evokes bad memories and feelings of vulnerability, helplessness and invasion of my privacy...

Two Worlds

My host, Rev. Sister Stephanie, insisted strongly yesterday, while doing the tour of downtown Chicago, on seeing the monument of one of the illustrious sons of Poland - Tadeusz Andrzej Bonawentura Kosciuszko. So did I. The time I spent at the foot of the monument brought an abundance of memories of people and places...

Never Far Away

Indeed, never far away from Divine Mercy, wherever I go in this world. Which shows how this message and the spirituality based upon the devotion to Divine Mercy as passed to us by Saint Sister Faustina has spread all over the world...

Sisters of the Resurrection

Heard so many good stories about this place, but what I've seen here, at the Sisters of the Resurrection compound in northern Chicago, is beyond my ability to describe properly. This place is a silent witness to the power of the faith of these women of a few many generations, who believed that to God nothing is impossible and that Risen Christ is able to do whatever He wants, that is why with the prayer on their lips and the faith and unshakable hope the Sisters created this remarkable place, which has so many faces...

The Windy City

Just two stops at Mendota and  Naperville remained as Southwest Chief train number 4 closes remorselessly on Chicago. It has been an experience of its kind for me, and surprisingly, for many fellow passengers with whom I had pleasure to sit at the table and share. Almost all of them were traveling on this train for the very first time, considering this journey as a lifetime reward. I sat with folks from New Orleans who just celebrated their Golden Jubilee of marriage. I sat with a couple going for a week long drive in desserts. I sat with guys going on tour somewhere, taking this slow option and enjoying tranquility and spectacular views along the way (did you check my photos on Facebook? Look here)...

Amtrak

This is quite a new experience to me, I must admit, though traveling by train is nothing new and - in genera - I like it, as it gives me more freedom to work and move around without missing what is passing by the window along the route...

From West To East

Time to move on. It has been a wonderful time here in Los Angeles with caring and welcoming Fr. Rafal, sisters and the Polish community around the only Polish parish in the City of Los Angeles - Our Lady of Bright Mount. I simply cannot visualize what would happen if I had not know Fr. Rafal before I got my documents and money stolen in Stockton...It is just beyond my comprehension. Where would I go to seek help and shelter? With no IDs and no money! I needed to get to LA to get my stolen passport replaced at Polish Consulate in Los Angeles, but upon arrival to LA where I would go and stay with? How would I move around? How would I get to Polish Consulate? These are the questions I cannot find suitable answers till now...

Close Encounter

My host took me for a ride to San Diego, CA. We visited one of his confreres down there, Fr. Jerzy, who was living in a trailer for a couple of years commuting to church 20-30 minutes every day by car, before establishing his permanent house near the tiny parochial church of St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe and rebuilding and redecorating it. Truly an amazing story of a man of a relentless resolve who, despite so many setbacks and people indifference and/or bad will, never gave up an stayed at this post as the faithful pastor...

Just Like Kiabakari

What a rewarding day today, bright and sunny here in Los Angeles, with temps exceeding 35 Celsius. Feeling so much better in these conditions and range of temps, far closer or similar to those in Kiabakari and Tanzania at large. My general mood is that I feel like a solar panel that absorbs hungrily sun rays after gloomy and dark past days in my heart and mind... Recharging my heart and mind and body with these positive rays of warmth and light. Thanks be to God for today, for my new temporary passport and kindness and swift help of Polish Consulate staff in LA, for my Amtrak ticket for my upcoming trip cross country from LA to Chicago (two days on board of Southwestern Chief train number 4), for Fr. Rafal - my true Guardian Angel here in the only Polish parish in Los Angeles, for his kindness and hospitality and helping hand...God is great and so are His chosen ones I am truly blessed to meet day by day on my North American trail...

Who Am I?

Finally, the seriousness of the situation I was put in since Sunday, got to me and I don't like what I see, what I understand and what I feel... Who am I now? I have no name, I have no nationality, I have no country to live in, I have become nobody to the computerized eyes of this world. I have no ID of any sort on me, everything was stolen. My privacy has been violated, I feel 'raped', I feel vulnerable, I feel helpless, I feel I do not exist anymore...

All Souls Day

Waking up to the warm rays of the rising sun in Los Angeles, hoping for a better day, brighter mind and peace in my heart. It has been long journey by Greyhound bus from Stockton to LA, arriving not as announced at 9.30 pm, but 11.30 pm... Welcoming Fr. Rafal, poor lad had to wait for me that long... And now the All Souls Day in the polish parish in Los Angeles, three Masses and a meeting with Polish diaspora in the evening... I love praying for the departed, I love offering Holy Mass for the repose of their souls, I love to recite Divine Mercy chaplet and other prayers for my sisters and brothers in Purgatory. This is so important! One day I become like them. How amazing is that to save souls from Purgatory! How important! How necessary this sacred solidarity, this union of souls helping each other...
 

This Is When The Real Fun Starts..

Ok, so this is the morning after... Need to get down to the police station to get their statement with the case number and do some passport photos while I'm still here in Stockton, CA, so I can proceed to Los Angeles to get the ball rolling...You gotta love this stuff...

The Communion Of Saints

It's already All Saints Day in Africa and Europe as I put these words in this post. Since that unfortunate happening I explained in my previous post, I have been experiencing the true display of the communion of Saints with so many people feeling with me, compassionate and connecting with me. This is true revelation of this article of the creed. The communion of Saints. Thank you all, who are genuine Saints in this world. You never leave alone a vulnerable person, hit hard by life's unexpected events...

Setback

One little thing can change the whole scheme of things or simply turn them upside down. This is what exactly happened just a few hours ago. As I wrote in my preceding post, I went to Presentation Catholic Church here in Stockton, CA, to celebrate Mass for all those intentions of my and others hearts I mentioned there. So this is what I did...

Fitting Finale

On the very last day of this month of October, I have been invited to celebrate a Holy Mass at the Presentation of Our Lady church in Stockton, where my friend and buddy I have come to visit belongs to and serves at as a church usher on Sundays... How fitting this is to say the last Holy Mass in this month of Rosary at the church of the Presentation of Our Lady...

Western Coast

Just  a quick post to let you know that I arrived safely to San Francisco and will stay in the area for a few days, almost a week, visiting friends I have known, liked and respected for quite a some time, years even, but never had chance to meet them in real life, same as it was the case with friends in Canada. Still with a heavy heart missing 'my' people in Canada and the country at large. I will never seize to thank for their kindness, hospitality and caring hearts. My heart stays with them, my prayers are and will be with them and the Holy Mass offered for them and the intentions dear to their hearts will be a part of my spirituality based on gratitude.

Kwaheri Ya Kuonana

KWAHERI YA KUONANA in Swahili language means GOOD BYE TILL WE MEET AGAIN. Just a very quick note, but fully loaded with emotions, sadness and feeling of inevitable looming over me. This is my last evening in Canada before I fly tomorrow early morning to Toronto and then to San Francisco to start a second chapter of my North American odyssey...

Kahnawake

A friend of mine took me this morning for a short trip to Kahnawake Mohawk Reserve on the other side of St. Lawrence River. I returned saddened with what I saw there. Since my childhood I have been a great fan of adventure books - in particular of Karl May - telling a proud tale of Natives in North America, then movies came along, especially 'Dances With Wolves'... but the reality of Natives I have witnessed today dealt a devastating blow to this lifelong beliefs and mental picture filled with my awe and respect...

13 Out Of 33

This is the number of Chilean miners belonging to Jesus of Nazareth parish in Copiapo, Chile. The parish priest of that parish is 47 year old Polish Claretian priest, Fr. Adam Bartyzol, born in Pieniazkowice in Podhale region of Southern Poland, who has been working in Chile for four years now...

Happy Anniversary

October 25 - a very special day in the history of my family. The day my Mum and Dad got married in 1958 in Krakow-Nowa Huta. Today 52 years passed since that day. Two years ago we celebrated the Golden Jubilee of my parents' wedding. I remember vividly that day, when I celebrated the Holy Mass in our apartment in Krakow, as my Mum did not feel well and Grandma could not walk by her own power to the parochial church...

Polish Radio 7 Toronto

Last Thursday, on October 21, 2010, I had an opportunity to spread more news on Kiabakari, Divine Mercy and my life as a missionary in Tanzania, when I was invited to talk about these issues on air in Polish Radio 7 in Toronto. Here is a link to the audio file of this radio talk. Hope you enjoy it in Polish language...

In Retrospect

The past three weeks in Canada - two in Quebec and one in Ontario - have been one of the best times in my life. Serious. My vague idea of what Canada is about has been immensely 'modified' and let's be honest - shattered into pieces, particularly in the area of people and relationships. Before I arrived to Montreal, I did not know a single person in real life. All my contacts were made in virtual reality, online, through social networks like Nasza Klasa and Facebook! It is amazing how well all this worked out in real life terms...

Berlin

The place I'm at, was called first the Town of Berlin, then the City of Berlin since 1854 through 1916. Then the Germans lost the First World War and the city become known as Kitchener. Nowadays along with the city of Waterloo and Cambridge, the three cities are called 'the tri-cities'. Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge is all about contrasts and symbiosis of the past and the modern...

Toronto.pl

Since I arrived to Toronto on Saturday, my state of mind is nothing short of amazement and awe, mixed with pride and respect for the people I have met in this city. So sad, that Polish community or better, Polish diaspora, in the United States of America stole a mainstream of news on Poles in North America. Polish community in Canada - in my humble opinion - has been living far too long in the shadow of its mighty big brother from the States and somehow deprived of its due glory and credit for its amazing history...

Service To Resume Soon

Since I arrived to Toronto, I've been quite busy and offline (no computer at my disposal at the moment). There have been lots of thing to write about and share, but I ask kindly for your patience. The normal service will resume on this blog soon, hopefully on Tuesday as I reach Kitchener. God bless you all! Lots of love and respect! Peace!

________________________
Wojciech Adam Koscielniak

Mail address: P.O. Box 1010 Musoma, Tanzania, East Africa

Website: www.wojciechkoscielniak.pl
Blog: http://kiabakarisnippets.blogspot.com

Foundation 'Kiabakari'
www.kiabakari.org

He Will Take Care Of It

He had only a few words for the Assembly: ‘’This is not my work, it is the work of Saint Joseph. Put one of his statues in the middle of the building. If he wants a roof over his head, he’ll take care of it.’’ Two months later, the Congregation had amassed the necessary funds to continue working on the construction.

Coltan

Did you ever hear this word before? I did not. Till today when I came across a link to a short video called 'Blood Coltan' on Facebook. I followed the link and watched the video. This is not a very pleasant experience, I admit. Then dug in for more info on internet, YouTube in particular and found 'Blood Coltan' divided into six parts for easier downloading. Below you can watch all six of them or you can follow the link I posted above and see there.

Sleepless In Montreal

Impossible to sleep while mesmerized by the voice of the one of the best countertenors of all times - Andreas Scholl... How can I sleep when this voice sends me into orbit of my dreams, passions, worries, despairs, joys, prospects, lights and shadows??? Impossible!

The Ambiance

Continuing along my today's mood for mental and aesthetic path of sights and sounds, let me turn the spotlight to the largest European country in the world (excluding perhaps the European part of the Russian Federation), which is the Province of Quebec in Canada. Since I arrived here, I still haven't felt as if I arrived to North America. The European ambiance of this province makes me feel as if I am still in Europe. As I am about to move to Ontario in a couple of days, let me share with you the ambiance and the beauty of this part of our world, especially with those of you who have never been to Quebec yet...

Mwalimu

This post, being a sequel to the previous one, is all about images and voices of and about the one we commemorate today, on the day of his passing from this earthly part of our life to the eternal one. I wish to share some vintage pictures of Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, my personal ones, an interview with Fr. Andrzej Duda, a former parish priest of Butiama, the native village of Mwalimu and some of English speeches of Nyerere I came across while doing research on Mwalimu (teacher in swahili)...So, here they are...no words...just images and voices...

The Father

October 14, 1999 Tanzania came to a standstill at the sad news that were broken to us on TV and radio by the then President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Hon. Benjamin William Mkapa.

Scratching The Surface

That is exactly how I see it. Just scratching the surface of a little yet known world to me. The world of human ingenuity, charisma, talents, skills, passions and desires that drive people from the very young age to excel... Since I have arrived to Canada, this is what I've been doing...more rather by chance, by accident, that by a methodical process or approach. Scratching the surface of the world of talents, passions, charismas, dreams, notions, desires and lifetime goals in Polish diaspora in Montreal mainly, as I have been spending most of my time in this city...But I am absolutely certain that in Toronto and elsewhere in Canada, the picture is just the same...

The Kingdom Of Far Far Away

I am not exactly sure if it even remotely possible to mold my feelings and magical experiences of yesterday pilgrimage into any sort of words and ideas poured in to the form of this post... Mission impossible, I reckon... Yet I feel an urge in my heart to share with you how yesterday's mystical encounter with the Kingdom of Far Far Away has touched the very core of my existence and changed me...

Common Ground

When I left Poland, first heading to Ireland for three months to improve on my English, then to Tanzania to work as a missionary, I felt as if the solid ground I was walking upon since my childhood was removed underneath my feet... This solid ground was my Polish world, customs, tradition, culture, language, everything that constituted the 'aquarium' I was accustomed to and grew up in...

Homesick

A very relaxed morning, kind of reward for the past busy, action packed days... And the homesick feelings creeping in, as I go through emails and smses from Tanzania and Kiabakari... Something just hit me in the stomach and made me wanting to go back to Tanzania as I miss it badly... I can be in paradise here in Canada, I may be surrounded by the most wonderful people imaginable, yet still my heart and soul belongs to Africa, to Tanzania, to Kiabakari...

Silence

I love waking up to the silence of the morning...so rare in my life as the day gets busy right from the start in normal circumstances in the missionary life over there in Kiabakari or even when I'm home in Krakow...But not today...This morning is just me and the silence of the Montreal smooth waking up to life on Saturday morning...

Talk About Inspiration

Every decent person with a sense of shame will stop whining, bitching, moaning and complaining how miserable her or his life is - after reading and watching this...

You Take Care Of It

For the last two days I have been away from my hosts' laptop, thus unable to publish new posts...This, though, does not mean that nothing special happened or my mind went AWOL. Nope! I have continued to see wonderful people, share with them our sorrows and joys, talk and reflect upon our struggles, victories and lost battles, hopes and dreams, shattered confidence, day-to-day worries and having snippets of speechless beauty of Canada, visiting some spectacular places and sharing passion of Canadians for their national sport - ice hockey...I am deeply grateful to all families and individuals who invited me into their lives and spiritual worlds and made me so happy and enriched with their faith, love of the country, both Poland and Canada, passion for art, culture, life, people...

Help Me

October 5th every year since 1938 has been marked by a passage from this life to heaven of one of the most remarkable Saints ever who influenced the whole world by the message given to us through her by Jesus himself, the King of Mercy... Sister Maria Helena Faustina Kowalska - a humble and unassuming Polish nun became a secretary of Divine Mercy for the whole world...

Pie Jesu

I'm still overwhelmed by the beauty of the angelic voice of Jessica, one of the girls and young ladies - members of the parochial choir of the Holy Trinity parish in Montreal, under pastoral care of Franciscan friars in Montreal and Canada at large...

Camel Through The Needle Eye

A friend of mine took me for a ride in Montreal, showing various places of interest. I enjoyed this rich experience of Montreal big time... Took some pictures and a video on my Iphone. Just want to share them with you... I feel more and more at home in Montreal...

In Person

Last night I finally met in person one of the nicest, kindest and easy going guys in my life. I've been friends with Tony for the last six or seven years on our Ferrari forums at www.thescuderia.net, where we were and still are forum moderators, loved him for what stood for and who he were (as pictured by his posts and comments in forums), but never met him in real life. This has changed forever yesterday...

Habs

Just came back from the initial tour of Montreal, guided by my host. It was just awesome! I fell in love with the city and the ambiance of the place, people and places...

Guardian Angels

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.” (Mt 18:9-10)  The words of Jesus from today's Gospel of the Feast of the Guardian Angels come with a particular force today in the light of all scandals and abuses in our Catholic Church in recent years...

Too Bad

Upon arriving to Montreal airport, all passengers went through the immigration process. When my turn came to face the officer, he asked me casual questions - who I was, what I did for living, where do I work etc... When I told him I was a missionary from Poland working in Tanzania and visiting my relatives and friends in Canada for the first time in my life, he seemed to be caught a bit off guard, especially when I told him that I met my hosts online and never face to face!

Wry Grin

It was all about the wry grin as I presented a few sweet gifts to my hosts on my arrival. I couldn't help but smile to myself as I remembered those years when we were receiving special food parcels from our relatives or friends in America - with chocolates, oranges, peanuts etc... How we were excited back then! Now tings have changed...It is us who come over to America with some nice things to enhance longing of our hosts for their Fatherland - Poland... Some special unique Polish sweets, chocolates, plums in chocolate, pishinger from Krakow, krowki krakowskie etc... Nice to make people happy so much with these typical Polish foodstuffs... I did not fall behind myself... digging into delicious Canadian pears and apples alongside special salad with crawdads... mmmm... yummy...

Formula One

Just a couple of hours ago I landed in Montreal. This is my first ever trip to North America...Felt like Christopher Columbus getting the first glimpses of the New World through the visors of the Swiss LX 086 about to land in Montreal... But my real excitment erupted when -on our final to the runway - we passed by the Formula One circuit on the island on St. Lawrence river...

A New Day

I was unable to write anything yeterday, though the day was fully charged with emotions, happenings, travel, farewells and so forth... It was a very sad and traumatic day for me... Sometimes everything falls apart on its own merit, relations and friendships end, without any input from myself. It was one of those days... Thank God it's a new day today... This is the first friday of this month...I enclose my wounded heart in the Sacred Heart of Jesus... It is all I can do as the tears have not dry out yet...

Bureau of the Mission Security

Yesterday evening I had a wonderful time with a group of people who I call fondly the Bureau of the Mission Security...

Arrogance

"Job opened his mouth and cursed his day." (Jb 3:1) These are the opening words of today's Liturgy of the Word. And, boy, how right and spot on he is today, on a miserable day, windy, low pressure, and a headache that makes me go ballistic, even after coffee and double panadol...aaaarghh....Geez, I kind of feel the same as Job today, cursing the day...

For Nothing

The First Reading of today's liturgy of the commemoration of St. Vincent de Paul, priest, offers to us a richness of meaning and insight into our own spiritual attitude and relationship with God and the world...

Mama

Just came back from the Rakowice cemetery in Kraków. It was dark and rainy. Close to the hour of closing the gates. Went to light a candle and pray at the grave of my Mama, Grandma and Grandpa. In just a few days I will fly to the unknown world and I do not know what to expect and what will happen. All my dreams and hopes I put in that tiny little flickering light of the candle. Asking Mama, Grandma and Grandpa to protect this journey and its outcome for the benefit of Kiabakari. Especially for the benefit of girls and ladies along with our Sisters, who still lack proper housing in Kiabakari...

The Heart Of Poland

While in western Poland, I visited two places near Poznań, meaning a lot to me. One is Gniezno, a city of St. Wojciech, my Patron Saint, where his basilica is located, and main shrine to his honor, with his relics in silver coffin are placed in the heart of the shrine. The second place is Lednica, a lake located between Poznań and Gniezno, with two focal points - one on the northern tip of the lake, and the second on the south western side of the lake...

Wonderful Time

Back from a five day long trip to western Poland, which turned out to be a trip to Berlin eventually, to visit and comfort a very special friend of mine who just came back from Tanzania after suffering a horrible bus accident on her way to Kiabakari on Monday morning...I will try to write a fuller report in the following days. Today I just thank God for giving me such a wonderful time spent with fantastic friends I love and respect so much!

Going To The West

Setting out this morning on a - hopefully - lovely and memorable trip to the western part of Poland - Poznań, Zielona Góra, Wrocław and elsewhere...Such a beautiful weather, let it stay this way all the way till the end of the week. Feeling in a mood to sing along with Connie Dover...

Taken Away

"Take care, then, how you hear. To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away." (Lk 8:17-18)

This are the final words of today's Gospel. Take care, then, how you hear... HOW YOU HEAR... This expression has taken me strongly this morning during the Mass at Sisters' place, as I always celebrate there, while being at home...

Peace

Such a peaceful day in the Royal Capital City of Poland, my City of Kraków. Not much to do, just hanging around with friends and communicating here and there. A few meetings on the line. And the weather is gorgeous, fitting to the splendor of the city. Thank God for such a beautiful gift of a day!

Home

Arrived safely, at last, home this afternoon. Tired, delayed, but eventually happy. My happiness grew immensely reconnecting with my Dad, Brother, closest friends and Sisters whom I visited and said Holy Mass for them and for myself, thanking God for safe journey, for he past month and all achievements, asking for forgiveness and committing myself, my loved ones and the stay in Poland and the travel to North America to Divine Mercy through the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima. More thoughts, feelings, reflections to follow tomorrow. Going to bed now! Good night!

Prayer Room

Just came out of the prayer room, after saying the Divine Mercy chaplet and praying a bit for various intentions, located near dayrooms, where I checked in after wandering aimlessly, tired and unfresh after all night flight from Dar es Salaam and trouble at the airport here in Zurich, having missed my connecting flight to Warsaw and being forced to stay the whole day and night till tomorrow morning when I will hopefully conclude my air travel to Poland...

Victor Novorski

Do you remember that movie `Terminal` with Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones? Yeah...This is me now. Stuck in Zurich as the flight from Dar was late, I missed my plane to Warsaw and all the remaining flights to Warsaw are fully booked today. Will have to stay whole day and night here in Zurich waiting for my morning flight and paying extra charges as I have a special friend ticket which is fixed and cannot be changed. Talk about more obstacles on my way to holidays...Still, all this will bring blessings...Missing my Dad though, relatives and beloved friends....Will have to wait one more day....:(

Anticipation

This is the prevailing feeling which took possession of my soul and mind, as I sit in the departure hall of Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, expecting the departure which has been already announced as delayed by 40 minutes due to the late arrival of the incoming plane from Zurich. This simply means that I will - most probably - miss my connecting flight from Zurich to Warsaw tomorrow morning, as there is only 40 minutes of the gao between two flights and it always has been a run from one side of the Kloten Airport in Zurich to the other, barely catching the bus leaving the terminal A to the plane...So far I was able to get on time, but tomorrow, if the plane does not catch up with favorable winds over Sahara, I may have to be put on another plane departing two or three hours later. Anyway, this is not what my anticipation is directed at...

Mwenge

On the day of my flight to Europe, usually I go to Mwenge, an area of Dar es Salaam, which years ago was on the outskirts of the city and now is considered one of the most prestigious locations in Dar, almost a downtown Dar es Salaam, such is the expansion of the city. Mwenge is famous not only for the St. Maximillian Maria Kolbe Catholic Parish, which parochial church was built by a Polish Salesian missionary, Fr. Karol, in late eighties and early nineties, but also for one street where the small shops of dealers in African art of all sorts are lined up...

Tanzanian Hospitality. Swiss made.

I've been their faithful client for the past twenty years. And today, before I met with Florian, an artist and my friend, I went to Swiss Airlines downtown office in Dar es Salaam to pick up my favorite seats in the coming flights to Europe and further on to North America and back...

Florian

Today was a calm and productive day. First full day of rest after landing in Dar es Salaam last night. The keyword to this day is Florian. Florian Ludovick Kaija, to be precise. My friend and partner in crime - working together on many artistic projects in Kiabakari, Musoma and also for our Foundation 'Kiabakari'. I went this morning to see him at home, then we came back to city center for lunch and business talk...

Listless Smile

Too tired and mentally exhausted, on the eve of my departure, to get excited and triumphant...After hard fought battle against time and elements, I smile to myself like a soldier barely alive in the aftermath of a fierce battle which cost him a lot...

Exaltation

Interesting way to conclude yet another period of apostolate and work in Kiabakari before setting off for yet another trip, crossing the continents, cultures, time zones, nations, countries...spreading the word about Kiabakari,  this unassuming place in East Africa, which God in His inexplicable decision touched and made His house in which He is praised and exalted as the Father rich in infinite Mercy...

Chief Ihunyo

Yesterday, apart from WAWATA feast celebration in my mission, I also went to Zanaki Parish, the mother parish of Kiabakari,  for the third and last time - substituting for the parish priest, who is away for holidays. Right after finishing the first Mass in Kiabakari, I drove to Magorombe (the place where Zanaki Parish mission is located) for the Holy Mass. And then, after that Mass, to the Chief Ihunyo Girls' Secondary School for my third Mass. It was my third time there at Chief Ihunyo and the thing that particularly pleased me while celebrating the Holy Mass for Catholic girls studying in this educational facility )who are not allowed to attend Masses in the parochial church due to various reasons which I won't dig in), built by our Member of Parliament, Hon. Nimrod Mkono, who shows in deeds and not only in words, how much he cares for the education of new generations, with emphasis on the education of girls, which is crucial taking under consideration the negative bias of many parents - preferring to focus on the education of boys rather than girls. This problem is particularly acute in our Region, and Zanaki area, including Kiabakari, is leading in sad statistics....

WAWATA

Lasy Sunday of September in the Catholic Church in Tanzania is observed as a feast day for WAWATA (Wanawake Wakatoliki Tanzania - Catholic Women in Tanzania). This is one of the numerous lay movements and associations in the Catholic Church in Tanzania. Today, though it is not the last Sunday of September, we have just celebrated as the feast of WAWATA in our parish. My ladies in Kiabakari asked me to bring forward the celebration so i don't miss it as just in a few days I will start my holidays and won't be around on last Sunday of this month. I have to admit that I was moved by their wish to have me as a guest of honor in today's feast...

Ground Zero

9/11 is remembered worldwide today, for different reasons, depending where one stays in war on terror trenches. For me today was all about work, work, work. Just a few days remaining before i set off for long holidays, which means hectic preparations of the mission to leave it safe and secure and take care of everything I can think of that may happen in the meantime. I dislike these last days, always stressful and frustrating...

Friends of Kiabakari

We have been working the whole day with my friends in Poland, who help me with PR stuff, websites, graphics, volunteers program etc. So, I am deeply in this mood. That is why I would like to ask all of you, who follow this blog: if you happen to be on Facebook, I would be honored if you kindly join our family of Friends of Kiabakari there and Foundation 'Kiabakari' cause. Your becoming a Friend of Kiabakari and a supporter of the cause of the Foundation 'Kiabakari' will not only be a great honor to me and my friends who support Kiabakari vision and development, but also will immensely help in spreading a word about this place, its people, its past, present and future. I would be grateful for your kind support of our work by joining us on Facebook - Friends of Kiabakari, Foundation 'Kiabakari' and clicking 'Like' button here on Facebook Kiabakari Snippets box. Thank you for your kind support - on behalf of all whom I serve here in Kiabakari. God bless you all!

Vuli

Looks like Vuli is finally knocking on the door...Vuli is the Swahili name for a small rainy season, the equivalent of European spring time. Clouds have been building up for several days, murky weather, humidity, hard to breathe air, barometric pressure changing constantly...First shy drizzles, be it at night or during the day, for a few minutes, and us running around with plastic buckets and containers, trying to catch every drop possible from roofs, gutters, anywhere...

Fast Lane

It's been one of those days when I feel I live in a fast lane. Especially today, the tempo of life has been set to a turbo mode. Time flew so fast and there were so many things happening at once that even now, though sitting and writing these few lines, and getting ready to switch to a more subtle mode of peaceful evening, I doubt it will be easy to do so and relax, as the hard drive in my head is still spinning fast and does not show any sign of slowing down...

Patience

Three years and two months it took Tanesco (Tanzania Electricity Supply Company) to react to my warning letter that the last pole in the power line supplying electricity to my house was about to collapse any time as it was rotten completely and swaying in high winds...

Two Victories

This day today brought a genuine mental rollercoaster. Feeling a bit drained and burned out, but calmly happy as two miracles happened today, two small victories, two prayers heard and answered, and all this on this special day, the Feast of the Birth of Our Lady...

Father Or ATM?

We had a lovely evening, concluding the celebrations of the Birthday of Our Lady. Two sisters, altar servers and myself drove to downtown Kiabakari for a special Mass, on request of four Small Christian Communities located in the 'city center' constituting so called 'street' or 'mtaa' in swahili. There are six Catholic 'streets' in Kiabakari itself, and Madaraka is one of them. That is the one we went for to celebrate the Mass in a special intention...

Personal Ur

On the day of the Feast of the Birth of Our Lady, my thoughts always set on a pilgrimage to the little shrine of Our Lady of Graces in a small town of Janów Lubelski in eastern Poland, the area where most of my family from the maternal side, hails from...This unassuming place holds the same importance to me as the Wawel Cathedral where I received my diaconate and priestly ordination in 1988. That little shrine in Janów Lubelski is my personal Ur of Chaldeans...

Limits Of Decency

Staring at the piece of paper with columns of numbers and total below... Just finished measuring a truckload of timber that came from Musoma, which I ordered yesterday and left my worker there at the timber depot to supervise measuring the timber and loading on a truck. Then the vehicle arrived in the evening and my people offloaded the cargo. I asked the man I entrusted with the responsibility of making sure we get what we ordered if he was absolutely sure that this was the timber we ordered and if he was certain that the running meters of timber ordered match the running meters of timber we had just offloaded? He vehemently acknowledged that this was the case...Sorry, but I am too old to be a naive optimist...

Emerald Thoughts

I don't know why it is like it is today...But I have been overwhelmed by emerald thoughts...Why today? I don't know, but I miss the Emerald Island with particular force today...It is such powerful longing for that magical place on the globe, for people I admire, love and respect...to the extent of being physical experience...feeling almost sick! Maybe someone needs a special prayer, maybe one of my friends over there is in a danger or in distress, maybe there is someone who thinks about me today...I don't know...All I know is that I miss them so much and long so much to see them, to reconnect with them and to enjoy their presence...

Operation 'Maji'

Having gone through a hurdle run - preparations, logistics, confessions on Friday, Confirmation feast with the Bishop on Saturday, then regular Sunday services with the wedding Mass in Nyamikoma outstation yesterday, time has come inevitably to go back to reality. This day I can proclaim as Operation 'Maji' day...

Panacea

The cure for every condition, the wonder-medicine to lift me up, to calm me down, to console and cheer up, to stay with me when everyone is gone, to make me happy or reflective, to help me refocus and recharge, to cure my moods, to enhance clarity of mind and boost my imagination, to ease off pain and stand up firm, to be with me wherever I need it...true panacea...

In God's Textile Store

Two Holy Masses 'under my belt' and off I went to Nyamikoma oustation, some 6 kilometers from Kiabakari on the main highway from Musoma to Mwanza. I braced myself for a long Mass in extreme heat in my favorite chapel in the parish, dedicated to the Patron Saint of my ordination class, St. Francis of Assisi... I was about to officiate at the sacrament of marriage of three couples and - before that - to baptize one of the brides, confirm one couple and to baptize four children from three couples. I said to myself with wicked grin - 'no country for old men!' Another day in tough conditions...

No Country For Old Men

When the echo of a final word of the Prayer after Mass of altar servers faded away in the sacristy of our church, I grinned to myself and groaned incomprehensibly - 'no country for old men...' Three and a half hours in sauna temperatures of in fully packed church with zero air circulation. Give me a break! I felt even my teeth sweating in this condition...

'F' Word

An organized chaos. I think this is a proper and accurate description of what was going on today here. I'm too tired by hearing confessions since morning till late evening, to pay any attention to my sense of organization and logic in making things happen - screaming in me in protest to what was happening around me today...

Scouting An Enemy Territory

The day before the Confirmation Mass, my confreres and myself will have an opportunity to scout an enemy territory, looking into an abyss and facing the Evil One in the bottle ground of souls of our confirmants who will come this morning for the confessions...

The Rural Death Row

We have just put two convicts on the rural death row. It always happens whenever we are about to celebrate a parochial feast, as we are getting ready to do just that the day after tomorrow, when Bishop Michael Msonganzila will come to celebrate a Holy Mass with the sacrament of Confirmation for some 300 young and old members of the parochial community. There  always is a death sentence accompanying these joyful events. They aren't that joyful to some convicts though. And although we have a prison in Kiabakari, those convicts we put to death on the occasion of our feasts are not from that prison...They are from the green mile a.k.a. the rural death row...

The Holy Hour

Thursday before the First Friday of each month is a day for a very special liturgical service - A Holy Hour. As the name of this devotion says itself, this is a hour long adoration of the Most Holy Sacrament, of Jesus Himself in the mystery of the Eucharist... The more I grow in years and become more and more absorbed with spiritual, pastoral, administration, development and other activities, the more I long for this special hour spent on knees in front of Jesus in Eucharist among the liturgical assembly of my fellow Christians in Kiabakari...

The Death Of A Spinach

This is what happened last night. After a wedding Mass which went well, with simple and elegant liturgical setting, pretty good attendance and visible happiness of the bride and groom, we waited for a call from a wedding organizing committee. They were supposed to call us when to come to the wedding hall so we do not have to wait for too long for supper. I always (whenever I decide to attend wedding reception, which happens quite rarely, to be honest, as I see it as a massive waste of time for me, I don't care saying this) insist on telling me exactly when is the best time for me to come so I don't have to sit for hours, idle and bored as the protocol of these events is always much the same, stiff, official and boring to death!

Disappointment

I can only imagine how God must feel when any of his children chooses to go his/her own way till the end of life and refuse to be saved and go to heaven. There must be an inexplicable disappointment of Our Father. To choose darkness and hell, rejecting patient love, tenderness and open arms of God... This we may never understand. How and why this happens. But it does happen...

And On This Rock...

I will build my...tank...

Amazing workers I am privileged to have, I have to say in full praise! They were able to pull an incredible feat. To finish laying concrete slab as a base for the water tank in less than 20 hours with such huge problems with water, borders on impossible! They are trashed now completely, so after paying them their dues and thanking with all my heart, I couldn't but wish them a good night, haha...

The Guest

I've got an unexpected but very welcomed guest. The whole morning has been very hectic for us. Fetching water by car from a creek on the outskirts of Kiabakari, some one kilometer or so from the mission, to save mixed cement and continue concrete laying of the tank base.  At the same time, I've been busy in the parochial office. Tuesdays are customary office days, so people come from distant corners of the parish and from Kiabakari itself to have their 'shidas' (problems) solved. Add to the flavor the incoming Confirmation on this Saturday, and confirmants swarming around the office to finish 'office staff', then you get a lively morning... Then the Guest arrived...

The Last Day

August 31st - the last day of summer holidays in Europe, tomorrow 71st anniversary of the break out of Second World War, with Germany invading Poland on September 1st, 1939 - as the benchmark starting point (well, we may count other benchmark points as Anschluss (annexation) of Austria on March 12th, 1938 etc.)... In Poland tomorrow thousands of pupils will start a new school year (I remember my anxiety mixed with joy I felt whenever September 1st was approaching, as I always liked going to school)...

Night Watch

Keeping a night watch with my commandos - workers who lay concrete base for the main water retention tank at the side of the shrine. Note that we do not have such a luxurious equipment as concrete mixer. Everything is done manually. So, to boost their morale and keep fatigue away, we made some coffee for us so we don't fall on our noses into the pit, and after initial several hours of concrete mixing and pouring by means of water buckets filled with concrete in half and passed from one to another all the way down to the pit where 'mafundi' (masons, experts) were - and a dinner break, we set off with second mix of concrete. Hopefully, if we do not run out of water, which is quite possible as the water level in my home tank is dangerously low, we may finish the job by today's (yes, it is today already) afternoon...

Solidarity

My country is (and indeed the whole world should too) celebrating today the 30th Anniversary of the birth of NSZZ 'Solidarnosc' (the first free independent trade union 'Solidarity' after the Second World War in Poland) which brought eventually the end of the communist era in Poland and Eastern Europe...

Useless Gift

I've just come back from Zanaki Parish, our mother parish, from which Kiabakari, Butiama and Nyamuswa parishes were born (the old Mama - Zanaki Parish giving birth to three new parishes in the spread of a few years in the nineties). The parish priest is on vacation, so I give a helping hand once a month there, and there is another priest from Musoma helping also once a month. The remaining two Sundays each month are covered by a resident catechist. It is so tough to get substitution in our diocese in times of long holidays. We do try our best to secure services for every Sunday while away, but it is not always possible. There are still very few priests in this diocese and things if improving, they improve in a snail's pace... New priests are being ordained every year, but others are dying or getting sick or simply finishing their service and going back home...

The Beginning Of Love

“Today there is so much suffering - and I feel that the passion of Christ is being relived all over again - are we there to share that passion, to share that suffering of people?...

Milan

The day after St. Monica's liturgical feast, the Church celebrates the feast day of St. Augustine of Hippo, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, her son... Since August 2005, when I visited Milan in Italy guided by Don Emilio, my friend and confrere from our ordination class of 1988 in Kraków, Poland, my perception of today's feast and my personal relation with St. Augustine deepened and strengthened in a special way...

Those Tears

The circumstances of St. Monica’s life could have made her a nagging wife, a bitter daughter-in-law and a despairing parent, yet she did not give way to any of these temptations. I always liked her and she has been my inspiration in my struggle to fulfill the vision of Divine Mercy in Kiabakari that was revealed to me on that morning of one of Lent Sundays in 1991...

Zero-Zero

Just a quick post on what has just happened. Shortly before 7pm, community superior of my sisters came to me asking for help in picking up two sisters coming to visit us from Shirati, some 120 kilometers from Kiabakari. They sent her a sms asking for pick up at Zero-Zero junction (zero-zero, because all distances in our area are counted starting from that junction) which is exactly between Musoma and Kiabakari, some 20 kilometers from here. This is a junction of Musoma-Mwanza highway which passes through Kiabakari and the highway going to the Kenyan border and beyond to Nairobi and Mombasa....

Sinkhole

I guess 'The Day After' Syndrome is going to pass rather quickly this time. And this I will owe to the most hated place in the entire Divine Mercy Hill. Strange, to say the least! For around ten long years I was staring in this disgusting, repulsive, depressing sinkhole which sucked life, joy, hopes out of me big time day in, day out mercilessly, silently, efficiently...

Black Madonna

Today is the solemnity of Our Lady of Częstochowa on Jasna Góra which has become the National Shrine in my country, the spiritual capital of Poland. Thousands if not millions of pilgrims come to Częstochowa day after day throughout the whole year from all over the country and abroad to pay homage to the undisputed Queen of Poland who, throughout the centuries, has showed the way and guided and protected our nation from her throne in Jasna Góra...

The Day After

Nah, it won't be about the pill. Just about the syndrome I suffer from whenever doing or going through something that demands a lot of physical or psychological input on my side to accomplish. This syndrome of feeling like trash, feeling shallow, feeling empty, feeling sad 'the day after' has been haunting me since I can remember...

Gentleman's Handshake

Feeling a bit exhausted mentally. It's been a delicate moment, this evening, when I sat with my friend and foreman and talked about money. Labor charge to be precise. For the school project and for the water tank project. It has been always tense conversation throughout past 15 years, whenever we sat down to talk about money. In times like these friendship simply seizes to exist....

Tomatoes Or Oranges?

Today is La Tomatina Day in the town of Bunyol in Spain. I heard about this festival of sheer madness and saw some videos of it. I always wanted to take part in atrocities like these that never end in fatal accidents. But considering my spectacles and the fact that my targeting system might be compromised big time by the lack of eyewear, I would turn into a moving target for others, rather that be an effective tomato propulsion device...

Instant Prayer

Having my morning instant coffee with milk, thinking about the kind of innocent, pure prayer, full of trust in Lord's Mercy and Kindness...The prayer that brings instant results. Instant Prayer... This is precisely what happened this morning...

The Lord Of The Dust

That's how I can describe myself today. Simply and genuinely the Lord of the Dust. When I arrived home yesterday evening, I noticed how dry the whole area has become during these past two months of dry season, called here in swahili kipupwe. But what I have seen today, surpassed my wildest expectations. I was shocked to see how ugly the whole Divine Mercy Hill has become. Ugly, dry, dull, lifeless. Couldn't believe my eyes... African winter in its ugliest...

Home, Sweet Home!

I'm back home in Kiabakari. Eventually, our plane departed at 3pm from Dar es Salaam and after uneventful flight which took some two hours (watching Mr. Bones movie all the way onboard), we landed safely at gravel airstrip called Musoma Airport, right in the middle of the Municipality. I always get stressed when approaching Musoma by air. There usually are quite strong crosswinds in evening, blowing from west, northwest, making for a bumpy descent. The runway is made of gravel, poorly maintained, so i always wonder how pilots keep plane straight, feeling how it shakes and wants to go sideways. It scares .... out of me, to be honest! This afternoon at least it was not so bad and - because I was busy taking pictures of Musoma and the Lake Victoria, I didn't pay to much attention to what was going on with the aircraft...

Precision In Constant Changes

I should have known and choose to fly to Mwanza instead of Musoma... I should have known! Aaaargh! It happened again... Precision In Constant Changes should be the new name of Precision Air. I was all in smiles when checked in to Musoma and sitting comfortably in the domestic departures lounge waiting to board ATR 42 enroute to Mwanza via Musoma at 1.30 pm. Then, precisely at 1.30 pm THEY announced. The plane will be delayed two hours due to technical problems. Ouch! So, here I am, continuing my wait and training yet another time in patience as Precision Air won again... With a cup of coffee and veggie samosas...

Ambivalence

This is exactly how I feel getting ready for my return flight to Musoma early afternoon today and then a short drive (some 40 km by car from Musoma) to Kiabakari. Ambivalence is a right word to describe my state of mind as I brace what awaits me there back 'home' in Kia (as we got used to say in short)...

Rohobot

On my last day in Dar es Salaam, before I fly tomorrow early afternoon to Musoma (hopefully - to Musoma, not to Mwanza, as it often happens) by Precision Air flight and come back fully recharged to the pileup of things that await me in Kiabakari, I decided to reward myself with a nice dinner with a bunch of nice people at Rohobot Ethiopian Restaurant...

Sacred Birds

It always amazed me that in Catholic Symbolism birds (doves, eagles, pelicans, phoenixes, peacocks etc...) hold a sacred meaning with no connotation of evil, contrary to what we sometimes experience and believe in secular world and our cultures, be it Polish culture and popular beliefs or in Tanzanian diverse ethnicity...

Defenders Of The Cross

Since that inexplicable tragedy near Smoleńsk on April 10 this year, we have been witnesses to the evolution of people's relation to the cross that has been erected by Polish scouts in front of presidential palace in Warsaw, which for a long time was a place bringing together all Poles and other people sympathizing with us, commemorating that sad event, praying for the victims and for the nation, expressing their pride and patriotism...

Coincidence?

Just thinking...as I go about my tiny duties this morning, sorting myself out and getting ready for the onslaught of tough three weeks ahead of me in Kiabakari, in which I will try to supervise preparations for the Bishop's visitation and confimation on September 4th with numerous items on this agenda (catechesis, liturgical preparation of candidates and participants, confessions of confirmants, preparations for the very day including Holy Mass, festivities and lunch for all parishioners, decorations, preparations of gifts for Bishop and catechists etc...) and at the same time construction works in the center for education and formation (plastering of walls of two classrooms and laying cement floors in there - if funds allow for this) and the construction of main water tank. And - at the same time - my own logistic preparations for Canada and USA voyage. I surely need these two, three days in Dar es Salaam to recharge and get ready for this...

Peice Of Heavan

Laughing out loud to myself, watching this short self-made documentary by a young Tanzanian on Dar es Salaam, called in this video Peice of Heavan :) Apart from spelling mistakes, this video (in two parts) is a genuine effort to present the city to anyone who intends to visit Tanzania and Dar es Salaam in particular... Check it out...and enjoy...

Joy

Just woke up this morning, feeling happy! Yeah, things went pretty well yesterday, unexpectedly fast and efficiently...Actually, I was quite surprised! Got my ticket for Canada / USA voyage (thank you MM for your kindness and generosity in giving me 'friend's ticket' which saved half the price of the regular fee!). Went to German Embassy in Dar and was genuinely surprised that all paperwork was waiting for me, so just a signature and the funds towards the construction of main water tank in Kiabakari were there at my disposal. Went to the bank to deposit the money, met with friends here and there, and all this in very pleasant weather...How NOT to be happy after a perfect day like yesterday?...

Lone Rider

I have traveled several times by trains while in Europe. Never alone. Always with and among fellow travelers...But when it came to the last trip by train before boarding the plane which would take me back to Africa, there was no one on board with me. There was not even a train driver...

Inversion

For the very first time in my missionary life in Tanzania, I had this weird sensation of arriving from Africa to Europe in reverse...Actually, I was flying from Europe to Africa yesterday, but it felt, temperature-wise, the opposite! I flew from a hotter continent to a cooler one... It's colder in Dar es Salaam than it was in Kraków, just a couple of days ago! Strange feeling, weird sensation... From a humid hell in Kraków's melting pot to a gentle pleasant breezy Dar es Salaam with moderate temperatures, liveable...

Wrong Turn

Once I watched the movie under this title. Wrong Turn. What a disgusting, gruesome movie it was! Arghhhh! Yesterday it was not about the movie again...It was all about the title...Wrong Turn. This is how you can precisely describe the finale of my long haul flight from Zurich via Nairobi to Dar es Salaam...

Familiar Feeling

This kind of feeling flows through my system whenever I 'stumble upon' a picture of Divine Mercy in a place I would not expect it straight on... On Tuesday, upon arriving to Okęcie Airport in Warsaw, I had ample time on my hands to wander around the terminal and get to know it better than normally, when I am in haste... So, I decided first to see how the chapel in new terminal looks like. Well, I must say, I was very impressed!

Dark Matter

Packing has never been tougher than this one today...It has never taken me so much energy, emotions, strength of will and time to pack that few wee things I take with me back to Africa...I feel like I am not ready to go back yet...that I need a few days of rest and give myself a chance to wind down high wired emotions...These few things I put to my bag made it so heavy to move that I suspect there may be some dark matter involved in it...

Hollow Profile

I don't know what kind of words I should use to describe how I feel on the eve of my departure for return trip to Tanzania...I've been sitting here, staring at my laptop, trying to verbalize my feelings and the general sense of hollowness....

Sudden Blow

Today's Liturgy of the Word is all about painful loss. "The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, by a sudden blow I am taking away from you the delight of your eyes." (Ez 24:15). These words from the first reading hit me hard...By a sudden blow... How many times in my life it has happened...by a sudden blow...The Word of God came to me this morning in all its naked truth and reality as I went to the Rakowice cemetery to lay flowers, light candles and pray for my Mum, my Grandma, my Grandpa and all my beloved relatives and friends I lost in my life...By a sudden blow...

20 Years

Twenty years exactly to the day passed yesterday since I boarded the British Airways plane in Warsaw Okęcie International Airport en route to Heathrow, then switching to Aer Lingus from Heathrow to Dublin, together with my fellow rookie missionary, Fr. Janusz Zajda, on our way to Archdiocese of Armagh, to spend three months there in order to improve our English language skills, before we were able to fly to Tanzania to begin our kiswahili language course in Maryknoll Language School in Musoma as the first step of our new missionary life...

Upon The Palms of My Hands...

Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady is just round the corner. I will celebrate it in Divine Mercy parish, a parochial community in Skawina, a town in the vicinity of Kraków, where I was asked to substitute for one of my colleagues, who is on vacation now. I will have an opportunity to raise mission awareness by preaching in all five Masses tomorrow and hopefully to collect some funds to pay for expenses of my new book. We will see how it goes... I am too old to be either overoptimistic or over-pessimistic. I guess I am more realistic with a positive attitude...

Schengen

Sitting at the table with my laptop, fresh after a quick three days holidays in Austria. I just realized that the distance from Ulmerfeld in Austria to Kraków is more or less the same as the distance from Kraków to the Baltic Sea - approx. 580 kilometers. And yet, throughout all these past years, it seemed as if Ulmerfeld was on a different planet! Actually, it took us less time to get from there to Kraków, and the journey was pleasant and seamless, contrary to the arduous trip to northern tip of Poland, taking the condition of our roads into consideration.

Simple Elegance

I love the parochial church of my friend, Fr. Wieslaw. Its simple elegance is stunning and I feel very much at home in this House of God. Nothing is too much in there, everything is simple, elegant, balanced and 'user friendly'. I enjoy every moment spent on prayer in this holy place or just sitting in there or admiring its well-appointed interior and a pleasant architecture.

Eat Me

Yesterday we arrived to Father Wieslaw parish at Ulmerfeld-Hausmening-Neufurthin in early afternoon and after a short rest, we celebrated a solemn Mass in a parochial church with a brass band and a parochial choir Audite Nova. I was deeply moved by their warm welcome, love and joy. I had an opportunity at the end of the liturgy to offer my heartfelt thanks to Father Wieslaw, my classmate and best friend of more than 28 years now, and to the parochial community which has been with me for a few years now and helping as best as they can, under circumstances, with mission projects in Kiabakari and my personal upkeep.

Rosa Mystica

Visiting my best friend in Austria in Ulmerfeld-Hausmening-Neufurth parish. Today we (our host, Marek I came with from Krakow, and myself) set off in the morning to make our personal, private pilgrimage to the most famous pilgrimage site in Austria, the shrine of Our Lady in Mariazell (Wikipedia - here). It was a great spiritual, cultural, geographical and environmental experience. I loved the shrine, loved the place, loved the countryside, loved the picturesque road leading to Mariazell from our base in my friend's parish. But apart from the spiritual main reason for going there - which was to pray to Our Lady for my beloved ones and friends, for the intentions of their hearts, for myself and Kiabakari and for all heavy stuff in my heart, apart from the beauty of the prayer in a beautiful shrine, I left Mariazell mesmerized by another experience of beauty...

Cheerful Giver

These two words are the keywords for today's Gospel of St. Lawrence, the Martyr, liturgical feast. But. Where to find exactly that type of person in this world? Hmmmm.... A cheerful giver? Give me a break! Rather in my life I tend to bump into a tearful giver, moaning, bitching, complaining, finding-any-excuse giver, and  to the contrary - I am easily found by a cheerful receiver, demanding and skillful claimer... Anyway... Yawn... I guess I had a fraction of sleep and woke up too early this morning getting ready for a long haul to Austria with my classmate to visit another classmate working there, to be in a generously positive mood. Coffee did not help either... Anyway, have a nice day, and we - let's have a safe journey... Yawn...

Citizen G.C.

Suddenly I felt an impulse, an urge to go back to Citizen G.C. (Obywatel G.C. a.k.a Grzegorz Ciechowski and his former band Republika) songs. Sitting after an eventful day in my room, trying to wind down and get ready for tomorrow's trip to Austria to visit my classmate, I just - unfortunately - let my mind slip into time travel mode and found myself back in 80's when I was a secondary school lad who listened to all kinds of music - be it Polish or foreign...This time I went back to Obywatel G.C. and Republika Band. I miss those guys...It is not only about their music, but about everything that it evokes in me, tons of memories, fond memories of those passed times...

Right In The Heart Of The City

Right in the heart of my City of Kraków, in The Main Market Square, is where the smallest church - among all churches in the whole of the Archdiocese of Kraków - is located. The church dedicated to my Patron Saint - St. Wojciech (or in Latin - St. Adalbert). My favorite church!

Where God is Absent

It is on August 9th every year since the year of the Lord of 1987, that the Church commemorates one of the most intriguing Saints, she has ever elevated to the glory of altars. "We bow down before the testimony of the life and death of Edith Stein, an outstanding daughter of Israel and at the same time a daughter of the Carmelite Order, Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, a personality who united within her rich life a dramatic synthesis of our century. It was the synthesis of a history full of deep wounds that are still hurting ... and also the synthesis of the full truth about man. All this came together in a single heart that remained restless and unfulfilled until it finally found rest in God." These were the words of Pope John Paul II when he beatified Edith Stein in Cologne on 1 May 1987.

Who was this woman?

Pigeons

While in Poznań (I have just come back from the wedding affair trip which proved to be a great success to my relief as a priest who blessed the marriage and delivered a homily; and to the glory of the newly weds and their families who did a splendid job to prepare and execute one of the best weddings I have ever attended in my life; so professional, so balanced, so nice in every aspect)...

'W' Hour

'W' hour has finally arrived. The Wedding Hour of my close friends. Marta and Daniel. It seemed an eternity since they called first back in early February, asking me to bless their marriage today, on August 7. I refused at the first instance as there was a bishop's canonical visitation planned for this week supposed to end tomorrow. And it is never easy to change such a huge agenda as this. But, as Marta was full of hopes that God will do miracles, He surely delivered miracles...