New Year 2015

The last day of the 'old year', December 31, has been always to me a special and opportune time to recapitulate the proceedings of the past twelve months in the eyes of faith and in a quadruple ambiance of prevailing feelings of:

1. Adoration and praise of God,
2. Gratitude to God and people I was blessed to meet, work and interact with,
3. Repentance for what was lacking in me and my service and asking for pardon from God and people I offended, even if not purposefully,
4. Hope and consecration to God's Mercy and Providence for the year to come.

It is no different today. This is exactly how I feel, meditate upon, think about, recollect and pray.

I will not dare to attempt to commit to this post what has happened in the past twelve months of this year. Instead, I will celebrate a special Thanksgiving Mass this evening immersing in Divine Mercy Ocean this year, all people I met, everything that has happened, all that we and I were able to achieve, everyone and everything, with all my hopes, dreams, passions, plans for the next year.

Thank you, Lord! Thank you, all my loved ones, friends, benefactors, readers of my blog and all I met this year! At the same time I ask God and all of you for pardon and absolution for my mistakes, failures and shortcomings.

I wish us all a wonderful New 2015 Year full of God's Love, Light, Power, Joy and Peace. A year full of personal accomplishments and genuine satisfaction.

Take My Dearest Treasure

In her Diary, Saint Sister Faustina writes:"... when Mass began, a strange silence and joy filled my heart. Just then, I saw Our Lady with the Infant Jesus ... . The most holy Mother said to me, 'Take my Dearest Treasure,' and she handed me the Infant Jesus. When I took the Infant Jesus in my arms, the Mother of God and Saint Joseph disappeared. I was left alone with the Infant Jesus" (Diary, 608)

In this holy time of the celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ as I celebrate the Christmas Eve Mass tonight, I wish and pray for all of you, my dearest relatives, friends, benefactors and readers, that what Sister Faustina experienced, we all may experience as well - tonight and every day of our lives: taking Infant Jesus in the Holy Communion - Our Lady and ours Dearest Treasure, the Incarnated Divine Mercy of the Father.

May Jesus let us feel His loving presence, blessings and light in our daily lives, especially in times of trial, loneliness, distress and cross.

May Jesus empower us through our merciful words, thoughts, decisions and deeds to radiate His Presence, Power, Love, Mercy and Light to others in our daily lives - to those hungry of love and understanding, those in need of a listening ear, of a shoulder to lean on and of an appreciation, to those searching for a deeper meaning of their lives, to those crying for our help and support. 

Lots of love to you all from all of us here in Kiabakari!

Christmas Gift

The best Christmas gift I could ever imagine or wished for from our standard 4 students! The results of their national exam (first ever in a short history of our primary school) have been announced today. Our school was the first in the Kukirango ward (gmina in Polish). Out of 1002 standard 4 students who sat for the exam in all primary schools in the area, our students took the top eleven spots. All of our twenty four standard 4 students took places between 1 and 31. Our girls and boys set a high benchmark to beat for their peers in our school in future years.

We are very happy that our concerted efforts - hard work of our students, sisters, teachers and parents supported by my personal benefactors, Fundacja Kiabakari and its friends and sponsors (including 'Makulatura na Misje' dedicated team) via volunteers, educational adoption scheme, construction of the modern school, textbooks, educational gifts etc. - pay off. Well done, everybody!

Germany Appreciation Day And The Fifth Graduation Ceremony in Kiabakari - A Short Movie

This is just a short YouTube version of the full-length DVD (2,5 hours long) of the special celebration on December 3, 2014 in our pre- and primary school. I have posted already a still images but the video is a totally different quality of reporting. A special word of thanks to Mr. Aldimilablis Novatus for the shooting and expert editing of the movie. I hope you enjoy what you are about to see! 

Volunteering in Kiabakari - North American Chapter

I ask all my friends to have a kind look at the website/blog below (click on the caption below the picture to access the blog) and help if possible this young brave lady who dreams about sharing with us in Kiabakari her time, talents and professional knowledge she has acquired through her studies. She will be the very first North American volunteer in Kiabakari. Keeping my spiritual fingers crossed for our future guest! Welcome to Kiabakari, Emily!

Click here

"Ntampata Wapi?" The Tribute to All People of the Foundation Kiabakari

This song I wish to dedicate with all my gratitude and respect to the Chairperson of Foundation Kiabakari, the board and the council and all esteemed volunteers of the Foundation, private volunteers and of other organizations who came or are committed to the cause of Kiabakari and gave our people the greatest gift ever - their selves, their talents, time, love, care, kindness, passions, creativity and devotions...

Out Of Curiosity

Have you ever clicked on and read the content of one of those? Feel courageous to comment below!

Germany Appreciation Day and The Fifth Graduation in Our Pre-School - Images

Selected images in random order from a special day at our pre- and primary school in Kiabakari on Wednesday December 3, 2014, as we - firstly - honored and showed our gratitude to German people who helped us in the span of past five years with two development project and by sending four teachers-volunteers to Kiabakari. And secondly - celebrated the fifth graduation in our pre-school. We were very happy to welcome our special guests of the day - German volunteers from Internazionaler Bund organization - Hanna and Nele who work as teachers-volunteers at Kigori Primary School since August this year. I leave captions and explanations of images to you, viewers. Link to the full photo album on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152841962026912.1073741853.649361911&type=1&l=f227eec667. Enjoy!

Five Minutes To Midnight - Wrapping Up 2014

I have just realized that I haven't posted anything in the whole month of November. Shame on me! Yet, considering the November pastoral and development works package plus the annual holidays of the manager of the health center and my personal secretary at the same time leaving me with all things on my poor head, no wonder that I was a bit too preoccupied to continue posting here. My apologies anyway.

We have just started December and the new liturgical year. The Advent has begun. The time, I would say - five minutes to midnight in the scale of the year.

This is the time for closing meetings of the year, reports, summaries, retrospections and so forth. I have drawn my short list of highlights of 2014 in my life and in Kiabakari. Here it is:

January - first pastoral meetings in the parish, the Holy Childhood annual feast on the Epiphany,

February - 8 days long Faith Renewal parochial retreat (The Year of the Family theme), Baptisms and First Communions in the parochial church and outstations, the end of the registration process of our pre- and primary schools (yes! after a full year of painstaking process!), Furu fanatics team hosting in Kiabakari,

March - Lent spiritual and pastoral activities,

April - Holy Week, Easter, Divine Mercy Novena and Divine Mercy Sunday three days of celebrations, major overhaul of Grandma (my 21 year old truck),

May-July - three month short sabbatical - medical checkups and procedures, pilgrimages to my favorites shrine and Saints in Poland, Italy and Ireland; visiting friends and places in Poland, Austria, Hungary, Ireland and Germany; private fundraisers in parishes and among friends for the construction of the new wing in the primary school in Kiabakari,

August - Third World Apostolic Congress on Mercy in Colombia, Bogota (paricipating as the national coordinator of the Congress in Tanzania) and the proposal of organizing a continental congress on Mercy in Africa and Madagascar in September/October 2016,

September - The Year of Family pastoral program with catechesis on Sundays, Confirmation catechesis on Saturdays, the pastoral visit of the Apostolic Nuncio in Tanzania in the Diocesan Shrine of Divine Mercy in Kiabakari with the blessing of the construction site of the new wing in our school, the beginning of the construction of the wing,

October - The Year of Family pastoral program with catechesis on Sundays, Confirmation catechesis, the construction of the new wing, Holy Rosary daily prayer service in the presence of the Most Holy Eucharist,

November - The Year of Family pastoral program with catechesis on Sundays, the daily liturgical services with prayer for the deceased, Confirmation catechesis, exams, the construction of the new wing, Confirmation Mass for 128 candidates from all outstations of the parish (9/11/2014), the national exams for Standard 4 students in our primary school (26-27/11/2014),

December - The Fifth Graduation in our pre-school (3/12/2014), the official inauguration of the children choir in the parish (14/12/2014), the completion of the construction of the new wing and the finishing of the standard 5 classroom, Advent pastoral program, Christmas, the finale of the Year of the Family (27-28 December) with our bishop presiding.

There is a lot to be grateful to Almighty and Merciful God in this year. And I invite you all, my dear friends, to join me in this thanksgiving prayer. 

There is a lot to be sorry for as well. And I invite you again, my friends, to join me in our prayer of contraction and asking for pardon for our failures and shortcomings. 

There is a lot to be hopeful for in this new liturgical year. And once again I ask you all, my friends, to raise our hearts and voices to our God praying for our dreams, passions, resolutions, desires, plans and goals - may good Lord grants us all that is pleasing to Him and salvific to us.

In Te, Domine, speravi! Non confundar in aeternum!

Happy new Liturgical Year to us all!

Mwalimu Nyerere And Kiabakari

Revisiting the images from the past, I came across an album of pictures taken when Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere (the Father of the Nation and the first President of independent Tanzania) was visiting Kiabakari on his personal pilgrimages to Divine Mercy Shrine in Kiabakari and when we - from Kiabakari - were visiting him in Butiama. Here are few of them in no particular chronological order. Enjoy!

Six Years Ago

It was six years ago when on the day like today, October 25, we celebrated Golden Jubilee of my parents wedding. We had a family small celebration at home with the Holy Mass which I presided and the little function afterwards. It was the last celebration while my parents were alive. Soon after 2008 Jubilee, my Mum passed on to better life in Heaven, on January 3, 2009. Then later my Dad, on May 29, 2012.

Today they would have celebrated with us their 56th anniversary of the wedding. As they continue celebrating in Heaven with the choirs of Angels as I believe strongly, we continue to celebrate here on Earth through prayer and Holy Mass for their intention. In fact, I have just finished celebration of the special Holy Mass for their intention. May Good Lord grant them eternal peace and fullness of happiness in His House.

I ask you kindly to say Rosary or any other prayer you deem suitable for my Parents intention. Thank you in advance!

My Parents - Maria Halina and Wiesław Ferdynand
on the day of their wedding

The Saint We Knew. The Saint Yet to be Discovered.

The celebration of yesterday's first time ever liturgical commemoration of St. John Paul II prompted me to put a few thoughts to paper today. As I celebrated the Holy Mass of the Saint with my parochial community in Divine Mercy Shrine which sheer existence I owe to the Holy Father himself through his lifelong secretary then - and Cardinal of Kraków now - as the majority of funds for its construction came from him back then in 1994-1997, I reminisced all the moments I was blessed with of my personal encounter with the Saint.

Before he was elected as the Pope, when he was our Archbishop of Kraków, the church bells resounding in the city on the evening of his election when I was on my way back home from Form I lessons in my secondary school in Nowa Huta. His first pilgrimage to Poland in 1979, in particular his visit to the Shrine in Mogiła. I was standing so close to the street that I could touch this white big Star truck carrying him.

Then the consecutive pilgrimages, when I was already in the major seminary in Kraków, performing various duties. His meeting with us in the courtyard of Archbishop's palace in Kraków. So many remarkable moments which deepened my admiration of this person and the desire to know him better - and what is most important - his teaching.

When I was on my way to Tanzania, in the first days of January 1991, I was granted a rare opportunity to concelebrate a morning private Holy Mass with the Saint in his chapel in the Apostolic Palace, and then - after the Mass - to exchange a few words with him, as he asked me where I was from (he was visibly happy to learn that I was from his home diocese of Kraków) and where I was going. When I told him that I go to Tanzania, he smiled broadly and exclaimed - "I know! I was there! The Land of Kilimanjaro!" (in fact, he was freshly from the pilgrimage to Tanzania in September 1990). He gave me his blessing for my future missionary work.

Then, so many other occasions, whenever I was on my way home from Tanzania or on my way back to Tanzania, I always passed through Rome and - thanks to Mons. Stanisław Dziwisz - was blessed with more encounters with the Holy Father. Celebrating two more private Holy Masses with the Saint - in the Vatican and Castel Gandolfo, having opportunities to chat with Holy Father and tell him about my and my colleagues from Poland work in Tanzania. He would always listen carefully and say something that stuck in my heart and mind.

One day, when I was visiting Mons. Dziwisz in his office in the Vatican, I asked for Holy Father's blessing of my missionary cross (which hangs over my head in my bedroom till today). Mons. Dziwisz smiled, took the cross and left the office and came back after a while, smiling and saying that the Holy Father just blessed it and wishes me God's blessing in my work. To my astonishment, Mons. Dziwisz said the the Holy Father was in the next room working!

The last time I had a chance to talk to the Saint was in Castel Gandolfo, when, after the Holy Mass, I offered him a special album on Tanzania, thanking him for sending the first missionaries from Kraków to Tanzania and for praying for us as we continue the mission he started back then in 70'.

It would take a lot of pages to put to paper all thoughts that went through my heart and mind on this special day of the commemoration of the Saint I knew personally and had numerous encounters with him. The Saint so much connected to Kiabakari and Divine Mercy Vision we try to implement gradually - first with his personal help, then with the help of other friends - Foundation Kiabakari, Polish government, my personal friends, parishes, institutions, NGO's, well wishers, people who suffer and pray for us, volunteers and visitors who came to Kiabakari in those past years. And the pilgrims who come and pray here - now through the intercession of the Saint Apostles of Divine Mercy - Sr. Faustina and Holy Father John Paul II.

No wonder, the construction of St. John Paul II Center for Education and Formation in Kiabakari is so important and dear to my heart. We have started with the pre-school, continue with the primary school and hope to reach as high as the high school, vocational training center and the home craft school.

Is it too much to ask for? With the help of such a friend and powerful intercessor in Heaven as St. John Paul II, I will not be mistaken to state that - if this is the Will of God, with the power of Divine Mercy, it is possible!

Saint John Paul II the Great, our friend we know and yet we still need to discover you so much more, pray for us! Pray for Kiabakari! Pray for the Divine Mercy Vision in Kiabakari!

All You Beasts, Wild And Tame, Bless The Lord!

One hundred images from the recent day trip to Serengeti with volunteers of Foundation Kiabakari, Teresa and Urszula. Enjoy the beauty of God's creation.

Stoned To Death With Popcorn

It's a pity that the beatification process of Fulton J. Sheen - the remarkable human being, Catholic, famous preacher, archbishop and most of all - faithful follower of Christ - has been stalled by two disputing dioceses in USA. Hopefully, they will resolve quickly their differences and the process will come to its completion.

As we await it with great anticipation, let's remind ourselves some of his most famous quotes (click here). I must admit cheekily, that my favorite quote, certainly one of his most popular, is this:

“Hearing nuns' confessions is like being stoned to death with popcorn.”

Somehow, being a Catholic priest and a long-time confessor of nuns of numerous congregations, both  in active and contemplative service of the Church, I can attest to the truth of this quote!

Against Malefice

Found this prayer in the internet. I think we need to pray with living faith and full trust in God's Omnipotence and Mercy - for ourselves and for each other in this manner.

Prayer Against Malefice from the Greek Ritual

Kyrie eleison. God, our Lord, King of ages, All-powerful and All-mighty, You Who made everything and Who transform everything simply by Your will. You Who in Babylon changed into dew the flames of the ‘seven-times hotter’ furnace and protected and saved the three holy children. You are the doctor and the physician of our soul. You are the salvation of those who turn to You. We beseech You to make powerless, banish, and drive out every diabolic power, presence, and machination; every evil influence, malefice, or evil eye and all evil actions aimed against Your servant [name of person/s]. Where there is envy and malice, give us an abundance of goodness, endurance, victory, and charity. O Lord, You Who love man, we beg You to reach out Your powerful hands and Your most high and mighty arms and send the angel of peace over us, to protect us, body and soul. May he keep at bay and vanquish every evil power, every poison or malice invoked against us by corrupt and envious people. Then, under the protection of Your authority may we sing, in gratitude, ‘The Lord is my salvation; whom should I fear? I will not fear evil because You are with me, my God, my strength, my powerful Lord, Lord of peace, Father of all ages.”

Yes, Lord our God, be merciful to us, Your image, and save your servant [name of person/s] from every threat or harm from the evil one, and protect him/her by raising him/her above all evil. We ask You this through the intercession of our Most Blessed, glorious Lady, Mary ever Virgin, Mother of God, of the most splendid archangels and all Your saints. Amen!

Power Of Attraction

I personally find this gem of a thought as one of the most important statements of the Holy Father Francis. 

"When a person is secure of his or her own beliefs, there is no need to impose or put pressure on others: there is a conviction that truth has its own power of attraction." (Pope Francis to interreligious leaders in Albania, 21/9/2014)

Invitation To The Philippines

The National Coordinator of The Divine Mercy in the Philippines invites us all to take part in the upcoming Fourth World Apostolic Congress on Mercy in his country in 2017. Check the info on the national shrine of Divine Mercy in Marilao, Bulacan here.

Thank you, Father Bruce! We are coming, but first - our Continental African Congress on Mercy in Rwanda in September/October 2016.

From Zero To Hero

Coming back to Kiabakari has been always a special experience - like getting a shot of pure adrenaline straight into the main vain or like jumping straight into the deep cold sea. This time this adrenaline shot kicks stronger. This time the sea is a bit rougher and colder.

Monday evening, upon my arrival back to Kiabakari, I have found on my desk a heap of correspondence and documents waiting for me to go through. Among them a schedule of the upcoming pastoral visit of the Apostolic Nuncio in Tanzania in our diocese of Musoma (Sept 11-17). The first point in the itinerary of the Nuncio - Kiabakari, on September 11. Interesting thing - as I type this post, in general the people in Kiabakari have no idea the Nuncio is coming. I guess the one who substituted me while I was away, did not publicized the news to the faithful.

Now, you don't need a flourishing imagination to figure out how long it took me to switch from the holiday mood to the full combat mode.

Yes, you are right. A millisecond.

So, after holding an emergency meeting last night with the executive council of the parish and the Sisters, things are beginning to move quickly ahead. We have exactly one week left to go from zero to hero. Keep your fingers crossed!

We have hosted Apostolic Nuncios in Kiabakari twice already.

First time, on July 28, 1992, The Archbishop Agostino Marchetto blessed and opened officially the mission in Kiabakari and the quasi-parish of Kiabakari was initiated by the then Bishop of Musoma Rt. Rev. Justin Samba.

Second time, Archbishop Luigi Pezzuto came to Kiabakari on August 17, 2001, to raise the parochial church in Kiabakari to the dignity of the diocesan shrine of Divine Mercy.

I wonder what this third coming of the Nuncio to Kiabakari means to us this time? For sure, we will receive the Nuncio as the Holy Father Francis himself. The meaning, the value and the outcome of this pastoral visit I leave entirely to the freedom of action of the Holy Spirit.

Maria Madre Del Buen Pastor

One of my favorite presentations of Our Lady in Bogota numerous churches. Revisiting today in my heart and mind and in prayer to Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd, as I get ready to arrive tomorrow to my mission in Kiabakari to continue relentless quest of fulfilling the Lord's Will and the Vision of Divine Mercy in Kiabakari. Praying for all of you at the feet of Our Lady in that church in Bogota in my spirit and asking for your kind prayers for my safe trip back home and for God's Mercies and Blessings for the challenges that lie ahead of me there.

Our Mother of the Good Shepherd, pray for us!

Post-WACOM Bogota 2014 Documents

If you wish to browse through the wealth of the Congress teachings, videos, see the works of mercy in Bogota or to download an applet for WACOM for easier mobile access, please visit the official website of World Apostolic Congress on Mercy here.

Southbound

'Our Father' In Swahili Language

ORIGINAL

COVER

THE PRAYER

Baba Yetu uliye mbinguni,

Jina lako litukuzwe;

Ufalme wako ufike,

Utakalo lifanyike

Duniani kama mbinguni.

Utupe leo mkate wetu wa kila siku,

Utusamehe makosa yetu,

Kama nasi tunavyowasamehe waliotukosea.

Usitutie katika kishawishi,

Lakini utuopoe maovuni.Amina.

Final Day Of WACOM Bogota 2014

Pictures, pictures...

WACOM Bogota 2014 - The Fourth Day

So much has happened yesterday on the fourth day of our congress that I will more time to prepare images and videos and to upload them here. First, we traveled outside of Bogota to the extinct salt mine in Zipaquira turned into a museum and a place of worship, where deep inside the mountain we had our fourth day talks, testimonies and the Holy Mass. We listened to the official letter of the Archbishop of Kraków, His Eminence Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, to the participants of the Congress, read to us by his delegate, Mons. Jan Machniak, the rector of the International Academy of Divine Mercy in Kraków.

Then, in the afternoon we were transferred to the Centro Convenciones Compensar where were had a nice surprise - a taste of a great Colombian wine and a water, light, music and color show. We sat in the stands and marveled at the latest technology. We listened to the message of the Holy Father Francis who spoke us from a projection shown on a curtain of water mist. Incredible. We were given paper hats, masks, candles, whistles, you name it. A truly joyful end to the long and eventful day. Such a nice touch by the organizers!

Just a few images below as I could not manage to upload videos from the light show.

Have a great day and may Divine Mercy be you light, strength, consolation, inspiration and motivation!

ZIPAQUIRA SALT MINE

Mons. Jan Machnak delivering Cardinal Dziwisz's message to WACOM 2014

CENTRO CONVENCIONES COMPENSAR

Celebrating WACOM Bogota 2014 in joyful mood

The message of the Holy Father Francis projected on the water mist screen

Third Day Of WACOM Bogota 2014 - A Festival Of Mercy

On the third day of World Apostolic Congress on Mercy we have moved to the open space of Colegio San Pedro Claver at Fontibon district of Bogota City. The entrance was open to anybody, it was a Divine Mercy invitation day for all inhabitants of Bogota. We started the day as usual with Laudes, proceeding with talks from various speakers, confessions for all participants and the Holy Mass presided by His Eminence, Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa from Santiago de Chile, one of the nine Cardinals to assist Holy Father in the governance of the Holy Church.

The Presentation

Tonight I had an opportunity to share some insights into the personal and missionary experience of Divine Mercy in Tanzania during the meeting of Cardinals and Bishops with the continental and national coordinators of World Apostolic Congress on Mercy.

Speakers who wanted to share similar insights were many thus we were allocated just a few minutes. This forced me to cut short what I prepared on behalf of Divine Mercy followers in Tanzania. Here I present the full text of my presentation.

WACOM III Bogota 2014 - Videos

Here a videos from the day of registration to the WACOM III and the first two days (Friday and Saturday). You may spot me somewhere in there.


Official TV advert

Day of registration

Friday

Saturday

WACOM 2014 - Day One - Impressions

I will comment on the proceedings of the congress in upcoming posts. Today just a bunch of images from the first day of the congress. Enjoy!

Registration For WACOM Bogota 2014

There was a couple of hours delay when the actual registration process has finally begun. It took me an hour to get through the all stages but at the end it all went fine and I have become a happy owner of my congress participant special kit. See below what I found in that lovely bag (no, that scarf is not a stole to celebrate sacraments. This is in fact a poncho!).

The congress first session begins tomorrow morning but tonight there is going to be a concert in the city. 

Time to find a coffee shop nearby and work on my address I was asked to give on this coming Sunday. I know what I would love to share with the people but time allocated for speakers is only 8 minutes. Some editorial work to make my speech precise and straight to the point.

Have a blessed day! Staying together in prayer!

Mission Town - Images

Came back home late last night, woke up this morning to do some post-production work on pictures I shot yesterday with that little excuse of a camera. Hard to get anything decent out of these pictures, especially those shot in low light conditions. Anyway, here they are - images from the pilgrimage up the Monserrate, then La Candelaria, the Cathedral, Museum Botero mixed some street graffiti and busy city life caught on camera while sitting in the back seat in the car. Enjoy!

Mission Town

Today is the mission town day. After yesterday trip to Laguna de Guatavita, the entire day today I am going to spend in the city. First, going up the mountain to the Shrine of Monserrate, the true spiritual powerhouse of Christian Colombia. I will pray for all of us and our intentions there.

Then, La Candelaria (the Bogota old town)

and so forth. Time permitting, perhaps some museums on the way.

I am not going to return to the apartment any time soon, as we found out there is no water in the entire building - thing that astonished my hosts as they said it never happened before. Probably I brought some bad luck? To me it does not make for a tragic circumstance as one can wash in a bottle of mineral water or do the toothbrushing with coca-cola or something like that. But to my hosts this made them considerably upset.

Okey dokey, my tiny camera ready, battery charged, memory card emptied. My bag pack ready with the essentials. Sneakers on and off I go. See you soon here later tonight. God bless us all!

Laguna De Guatavita

Yesterday, instead of going up the mountain to the Shrine of Monserrate, we decided to go first out of town. It took some time to buy and activate the local simcard with data plan, but thanks to my two angels Adriana and Stella who were my guides in the trip, things went rather smoothly. I can't imagine how I would get in terms with the salesmen who knows only Spanish and my Spanish is close to zero.

The weather yesterday was not apparently at its best, nevertheless we had a nice drive up the Andes towards Guatavita town on the lake Tomine, some 70 km from Bogota. It was drizzling so we were unable to see much there. I asked my guides to go up the mountains to Laguna de Guatavita, a sacred place for Muisca ancient people. That place was and still is the powerhouse of spirituality. I wanted to go there to pray for the success of the upcoming Congress on Mercy and for all intentions - mine and of my friends. This trip included quite significant physical effort on my part. It was the day after arrival to Colombia, so jet lag was still there and the altitude of the Laguna - above 3,000 meters a.s.l. meant an extra difficulty. These two factors and the fact that due to my weight and health issues I am not a good climber, all added up to the flavor.

III World Apostolic Congress on Mercy - Bogotá 2014

Hola! Buenos dias!

Thanks be to Merciful Lord for the safe journey from Krakow via Warsaw via Frankfurt to Bogotá, the capital city of Colombia. I was met by my hosts at the airport last evening and driven to my location in the commercial city center where I will stay throughout my stay in country.

I have two days to overcome the jetlag and to get used to the altitude (2600 m above sea level) before the actual Congress starts on Thursday afternoon, beginning with the registration and handout of packages for the participants.

So, I guess I will do some city sightseeing with my hosts, buy a local Sim Card with data package, after that we will go to the major Shrine of the city on the mountain at Montserrate. Then today still or tomorrow we plan to go to the Andes and the countryside.

Since I am not a tourist who wants to tick off page long list of things to do and places to see, I will do it my way. Slowly, meeting first people, learning their ways, their look at the local matters, trying to grasp the soul of the country and its people, the culture, the customs, the present and the past intertwined in daily people's lives. Also, to share a smile and a good laugh with my friends here over a local food and drinks.

When the Congress sessions begin on Friday morning, you will be able to follow its proceedings on www.wacomcolombia.org or watch it live on internet TV at www.cristovision.org (click the tab - III Congreso Apostolico Mundial de la Misericordia). More to follow as the Congress unfolds. Don't go away :)

Que pase un bien diá! Have a good day!

Quiet Reflections Over Sunday Morning Coffee

Waking up to the last day in the homeland before starting my long journey back to Kiabakari which will lead me initially to South America for the third World Apostolic Congress on Mercy. I will attend the Congress in the capacity of the national coordinator of Divine Mercy in Tanzania. I feel deeply honored and privileged as this will be my third time to participate in such a global event (the first was the Congress in Lateran Basilica in Rome, the second in the Divine Mercy Shrine in Kraków-Łagiewniki). 

But - first things first. 

Today is the last full day in Poland. The Mission Awareness Sunday in one of the Kraków's parishes. As I pray silently to gather my inner strength and resolve targeting them towards today's goals, the morning coffee brews across the room. In a few minutes I will be ready to cross the city from Grzegórzki to Biały Prądnik to begin my service to the Word of God. 

The so familiar scent of a freshly brewed coffee reminds me so many meeting and quiet chats over a cup of coffee with so many good friends throughout the past three months in Europe. So much to be grateful for to God and to His people. So many recollections, so many good experiences, so many challenges faced off boldly, so many things that happened shaping in a way the months to come.

I ask humbly for your kind prayers that the Word of God I will sow today with the power of the Holy Spirit yields abundant fruit in the Holy Church. I wish you all a blessed Lord's Day! 

Time to go.

Last Visit

Today was marked by two last visits to various health specialists. The last one was with the leading doctor who collected all documentation from the entire period of my medical checkups and procedures. She is the one responsible for laying out the way forward. She is the one responsible for issuing prescriptions I need for the next few months ahead. And she did just that.

I am happy and relieved that this three month period of countless visits to doctors, hospitals, specialists is finally over. It is not over for addressing my health shortcomings, but anyway, for now we are done and the outcome is not bad if not positive in general. I am positively happy and full of hope.

Now is the time to buy medicine prescribed and start packing before I begin my journey first to Colombia for the Congress of Divine Mercy and then back to Tanzania.

Thank you all who prayed for me all this time! Thank you so much! God bless us all!

Nothing Else Matters

As my time in Europe is coming eventually to an end, I wish to thank all great people, communities, parishes, families, institutions, congregations and companies who answered my plea for Kiabakari since I arrived here. Nothing else matters to me as much as Kiabakari and its development according to Lord's Will. I pack now my few things, head on to Bogota, Colombia on Monday for World Apostolic Congress on Mercy and from there to Kiabakari to continue our quest to fulfill he Lord's Will in that chosen place. Watch our official video of the history of Kiabakari (click here) and you will understand why to me nothing else matters as much as that place... God bless! Stay with me!

St. Peter's In Dar

Got an email this evening from my friend - Mr Florian Ludovick Kaija - Tanzanian artist from Dar es Salaam, whose art decorated Kiabakari shrine. He notified me in the email that he was given a big job of interior wall paintings in one of the most prestigious and important Catholic parish churches in Dar es Salaam - St. Peter's in Oysterbay. Four sample pictures were attached to the email.

I must admit I am quite impressed with his new works. See for yourselves!

PayPal

You may have noticed a new addition to this blog - on the right sidebar, just at the top of it. The donation button from PayPal. Some of my readers have been asking me how I can cope running this blog knowing the internet data packages charges in Tanzania and elsewhere. They suggested to place the donation button in the blog so people can donate a bit to help me to make ends meet. Moreover, I would like to use donations to enable volunteers coming to Kiabakari to have free wifi by purchasing a mobile wifi router which are now available in Tanzania and keep it running by purchasing voucher cards to top up credit in the router. So, if you feel giving us a hand in this, you are very welcome. I will appreciate greatly your kind support.

Mesmerizing Beauty

Today I took a minibus from Kraków's Bus Terminal and traveled 90 minutes to Jawiszowice (12 kilometers from Oświęcim / Auschwitz and 10 km from Bielsko-Biała outskirts), to St. Martin parish, where my lifelong friend, Fr. Henryk Zątek, has been a parish priest and custodian of the centuries old wooden church for the past fifteen or so years.

What he accomplished, helped by art conservation specialists from Kraków in this relatively short span of time is beyond my comprehension (please, read the history of the parish and the church here. This surely must be one of the most beautiful and most professionally restored, preserved and protected piece of sacred architecture in Poland if not in the world. To me, this is my favorite wooden church ever.

I took a few photos on my iPhone (posted below), but I would suggest that the best way to appreciate the beauty of the church and the love of Fr. Henryk to his church and his never-ending effort to preserve it as best as possible for this and future generations - is to see it with one's own eyes. If not possible, please make a virtual walk in and around the church by clicking here.

From Wild Man To Wise Man

A friend of mine living in Kraków just recently gave me as a special gift a book written by Franciscan Friar, Fr. Richard Rohr - 'From Wild Man to Wise Man'. Thank you, Christopher!

I have been reading the book a this point of time and this read led me to the Male Spirituality website and to some of the recorded talks of Fr. Richard on YouTube. 

The book has been a revelation to me. I want to go through it slowly and deeply. I would suggest to all my male readers and friends to lay hands on this little gem of spiritual literature dealing with very rarely touched topic such as male spirituality. 

The same applies to the videos. Here below I embed a series on 'Why Males Need Initiation.' Listening to these talks, folks. They are quite revealing.

Visiting Our Heavenly Mum

I am very happy and grateful to Black Madonna, Our Lady of Jasna Góra National Shrine in Częstochowa, The Main Patroness of Poland, for today's personal pilgrimage and the special grace of celebrating the Holy Mass at noon in the Sacred Image Chapel. I offered the Holy Sacrifice to Our Lady for all your and mine intentions, my dear readers. May Our Most Holy Mother intercede for us, protect us and lead us to Her Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ukraine Creativity

Say 'Ukraine!' these days and immediately you think about the recent events there. The video from YouTube I post here is from 'Ukraine Got Talent' though. I found the link to this incredible performance on Facebook (thanks to one of my friends there) and thought I would be a good idea to share with you all. Not the latest edition of the show, five years old in fact, but very relevant in my humble opinion. This is the creativity we should crave for, support and admire. Not the creativity in art of war.

BREAKING NEWS: World Youth Day In Kraków 2016

Today at noon, His Eminence Stanisław Cardinal Dziwisz, officially unveiled the logo, prayer and anthem of the upcoming World Youth Day in Kraków, Poland, in July 2016.

The logo for WYD Krakow 2016 is enclosed in the outline of Poland. In its center there is a cross which represents Jesus Christ who is the centre of the meeting. Yellow circle marks Krakow on the map of Poland and also represents the youth. The spark of the Divine Mercy flows out of the cross, its shape and color refer to the painting 'Jesus I Trust In You'. The logo is a graphic illustration of the words "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy” (Matthew 5:7) that have been chosen as the theme of the meeting. The colors used in the logo are: blue, red and yellow and they refer to the official colors of Krakow and it's crests.

Click here to read more on the topic.

The official logo of WYD Kraków 2016

The official prayer of WYD 2016:

“God, merciful Father, in your Son, Jesus Christ, you have revealed your love and poured it out upon us in the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, We entrust to you today the destiny of the world and of every man and woman.” [1]

We entrust to you in a special way young people of every language, people and nation: guide and protect them as they walk the complex paths of the world today and give them the grace to reap abundant fruits from their experience of the Krakow World Youth Day.

Heavenly Father, grant that we may bear witness to your mercy. Teach us how to convey the faith to those in doubt, hope to those who are discouraged, love to those who feel indifferent, forgiveness to those who have done wrong and joy to those who are unhappy. Allow the spark of merciful love that you have enkindled within us become a fire that can transform hearts and renew the face of the earth. 

Mary, Mother of Mercy, pray for us. Saint John Paul II, pray for us.

---

[1] John Paul II, Homily for the Dedication of the Shrine of Divine Mercy, Krakow, 17 August 2002.

Into The Sacred Reality

Tomorrow is the day I will go on my personal pilgrimage to St. Wojciech (Adalbert) parish in Mucharz (my Patron Saint). This is the centuries old parish, one of the first in this area, with amazing history. Here it is believed my Patron Saint stayed and preached Good News on two separate occasions in tenth century. It would not be possible to omit this sacred place in my road map of shrines and holy places important to my faith and spirituality which I need to visit and pray there in my time of holidays in Europe this year.

From this parish Wadowice parish was born (the home parish of Saint John Paul II). Mucharz was the very first parish visited pastorally by Karol Wojtyła right after he became the bishop of Kraków. This is the parish and the sacred place which - according to words of Saint John Paul II spoken in 1994 in Vatican during the celebrations of 16th anniversary of his pontificate - had great influence on his faith and his life. 

Time to immerse myself in the sacredness of this holy place and its venerable history full of the presence of the Holy Spirit and of my Patron Saint. The added value of this spiritual journey is the fact that the parish priest of the parish is my classmate from our ordination class, Rev. Fr. Krzysztof Strzelichowski, one of my closest friends in our class. So good to reunite with him again, to celebrate Holy Mass together and have a nice late evening chat over a piece of world renowned cottage bread, a glass of fine wine and our favorite cheese.

Memory Is Our Homeland Project - Important News

This post is a follow up on the project "Memory is our homeland" of which I wrote two years ago in this blog (click here). I am very happy that things are moving forward in the project. Below is the full letter I have received this morning from Jonathan. I will be very happy if you could spare a few minutes of your kind attention to read it carefully and act on it. Jonathan needs our support. The story he so passionately wants to narrate in his movie is very important part of our Polish history and must be preserved for next generations. I would be very grateful if we could support this project in any way we can - either by prayer and well wishes or through donations. Let us come together to help this young, caring and dedicated filmmaker to fulfill his dream and the need of his heart.

Jonathan's letter:

To the friends, family, and supporters of Memory Is Our Homeland,

I hope this email finds you all well. I figured it was a good time to send out a bit of an update on my film project. Almost four years after my first trip to Poland and Belarus in 2010, there have been many ups and downs to get here, but the project has now been picked up by a producer, here in Montreal, who is going to help me try and find the funding to complete it. There's still work to do, but I wanted to let you all know where I'm at, and thank you for helping me get this far.

If you're receiving this email, you should know that it's because I count you among those who’ve made an important contribution towards helping me work on something that feels both like a long-standing dream and a family obligation. Whether it's through a financial contribution that's helped me travel or work on the film, helping with translation, shooting, or photographing, or support in the form of a meal or an encouraging conversation, you've each had a role in helping me work on something that's bigger than me. If I'd known at the beginning how much work it would be to get to this place I would have found it daunting, but it's your support that's helped me stay with it.

People don't make documentaries to get rich quickly, they do it because they have something that needs to be said, even if it takes time. Over the last four years, I've travelled to England, France, Tanzania, Kenya, Amsterdam, Germany, and Poland in search of a story that belongs not only to me and my family, but to countless others. I've interviewed more than 20 people, been in touch with hundreds of others, and share these stories with many, many more. And after being able to travel to Belarus, and stumbling upon the village where my grandmother was born, I was even able to find people who fondly remembered my great-grandparents and their family.

Whatever reception this film may have when it’s done, it already feels like an accomplishment to have gotten this far. It feels significant to have been able to reassure my grandmother, before she passed away, that not everything had been lost when she was deported as a child: the memories had endured. I am grateful to have been able to give those who shared their stories with me a sense that they were being heard and documented. To see the trailer, that shows some of their stories and how the film is coming together, please visit this link: https://vimeo.com/99573982

As for the good news, a few weeks ago I signed a contract with a Montreal-based producer named Frederic Bohbot to find the funds to complete the film. Frederic runs Bunbury Films (http://www.bunburyfilms.com), a production company that won an Oscar a few months ago for a documentary called "The Lady In Number 6". He's the perfect producer for this project: smart, savvy, respectful of the story and my approach, and even a graduate of Eastern European and Soviet Studies. In Poland, we will also be working with producer who has worked with the Andrzej Wajda Film School and The Polish Film Institute. 

Having these people onboard with the project is a huge step, and we hope to have funding sorted out by this autumn. Frederic has applied to the Canadian Media Fund (a TV broadcaster-supported fund), and met with several Canadian and American broadcasters, and we should hear back by September. In the mean time, he is willing to put his equipment and his expertise at my disposal, towards continuing the work, until we secure financing. 

In the immediate future, my goal is to spend the next couple of months working on it, and getting to Europe this summer to work on the film, since there are important interviews to shoot in the winter. To that end, I am looking to find the means to travel to Europe, and to cover the expenses of a small shoot in Poland and Belarus. With equipment in place, and translators and a cameraman in Poland willing to work for free, I just need to find a way to make my way over there. I’m asking for help to figure out how to do that, so if you know people who can help (or have travel agents in the family, or air miles you won’t use!), please let me know. If you know of people who might be able to figure out how to get me there, please let them (or me) know. There are only two months to cover until we hear back about funding, but they are important ones. Any ideas are appreciated!

In the end though, what I am contacting you for is to say thank you again. Please take the time to check out the short trailer. It's just over 2 minutes out of 50 hours that I've shot in North America, Europe, and Africa in the last several years, but it's a good representation of what it is I've been trying to do, and of the people whose stories I've been trying to tell: https://vimeo.com/99573982 

And it's partly thanks to all of you that I've been able to do it. 

Warm wishes,

Jonathan 

The movie trailer:

Memory Is Our Homeland (Short teaser trailer) from Memory Is Our Homeland on Vimeo.

Like A Girl

Watch and share this inspirational video to tell girls around you that they are simply awesome!

Full Respect

His Excellency Bishop Jan Zając, auxiliary of Archdiocese of Kraków and rector of Divine Mercy Shrine in Kraków-Łagiewniki celebrated his 75th Birthday today in the shrine together with three priests - confessors in the shrine - who celebrated their Golden Jubilee of priesthood. Bishop Jan Zając was my rector in the major seminary in Kraków, donated personally Divine Mercy image to the shrine in Kiabakari, was present on behalf of the Metropolitan of Kraków during the dedication of Kiabakari parochial church on July 3, 1997 and has been my mentor, guide, spiritual father and great consolation throughout all these past twenty + years in the missions. I could not have possibly missed his celebration today. Happy Birthday, Bishop Jan! Congrats, Jubilearians! Photos courtesy of Piotr Bednarczyk

"Kiabakari" Playlist On My YouTube Channel

Polish Power

Yesterday a brand-new Kraków Arena - a multifunctional indoor center in Kraków, just a mile or so from where I live in the town, was officially opened. The first major event serving as an opener was a volleyball game between arch rivals Poland and Brazil. The venue as you would expect was fully packed with fifteen thousand or so spectators who got an excellent and first hand opportunity to admire the new impressive facility. Poland won the game 3-1 by the way!

The way my fellow Poles sung our national anthem holding cards with national colors gave me goose bumps. In times like these we endure in our country at this particular time of our history, it feels so good to express in such a powerful manner that we are proud to be Polish. Polish Power!