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...