My City

At Last!

First day of real winter since I touched down in Poland. Beautiful!

Thank You!

Sincere and heartfelt words of thanks to all of you, my friends, who kept me in you prayers while undergoing the surgery. I am back home, looks like the procedure went well and though weak and dizzy yet I look forward to the time of recovery that lies ahead now. Thank you and God bless you all!

Back On The Med Trail

The day after the arrival back to Kraków I am again since this morning on the medical trail of doctors and preparations for what is coming up next Monday and Tuesday when I will be admitted to the hospital for the planned surgery which supposedly will ease up my persisting breathing problems, especially when sleeping.

Frankly, I am looking forward to this new challenge and experience in my life. And I am very grateful to the leading surgeon on the surgical team for finding a spot for this procedure when I met him in early August last year at the end of my medical checkup process in May to July when the source of the problem was discovered. I feel somehow relieved that he and other specialists found out the root of the problem that bothered me for long time now and came up with the solutions and the date for the procedure under national insurance policy which will help me avoid the significant costs of this surgery. I wish to thank also my family doctor who helped me last year with all the necessary procedures and checkups and directed me for the surgery.

I am very grateful to my friend and brother-in-arms, Rev. Fr. Stanisław Puzyniak, the parish priest of my home parish in Nowa Huta - The Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Osiedle Teatralne, covering the area of Osiedle Górali where I was born and lived till Form IV before moving to our own apartment in December 1981 in St. Kazimierz Parish in Kraków's Grzegórzki. Himself touched by pain and suffering in his own life, he did not hesitate to cover the expenses of the airfare to get me here and return back to Tanzania after the procedure and six weeks required recovery time as told by the surgeon. Thank you very much, Stasiu!

A very special word of thanks to the CEO with the family of my friends of Foundation Kiabakari, to all my friends who are with me in this point of time of life - for their closeness, support, help, words of encouragement and prayers. Thank you so much!

Prayers very much appreciated for the successful procedure next Tuesday. Thank you and God bless us all!

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.

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.

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!

The Apostle of Divine Mercy In Kraków

I have just returned home from the funeral service at Salwator cemetery in Kraków of a man whom I will always consider and respect as the Apostle of Divine Mercy in Kraków. The late dr Stefan Bartik was the most gracious, kind, sensitive, patient and caring person among all doctors I consider to be blessed by the grace of encountering them in my life. I grew up in the light of his smile and the warmth of his heart since I was a baby boy. He was a classmate of my Mum, the family friend, our doctor. To me he was always more than a family, he was a role model to me. I feel honored to meet him in my life.

He was the Apostle of Divine Mercy in merciful deeds towards all who surrounded him, his patients in particular. So many fond memories I cherish in my heart of this absolutely remarkable person. I remember one in particular, on the day of imposing the martial law in Poland, on December 13, 1981, when my Mum got very very sick and I had to make my way from Sądowa Street to Salwator to ask dr Stefan for his help. The situation of our country was critically serious, yet he did not care the dangers and came to help my Mum.

His family is my family, and more than a regular family, because we have been close for so many years through spiritual and friendship bonds. I hope his departure to Father's House in heaven will not weaken these important to me ties.

The funeral announcements posted online and in local newspapers witness to my words (I copy here just two of them):

,,Ci, których kochamy nie umierają nigdy,
bo miłość jest nieśmiertelna"
Emily Dickinson

Z głębokim żalem zawiadamiamy,
że w dniu 26 maja 2014 roku
odszedł od nas po ciężkiej chorobie,
w wieku 76 lat,
zaopatrzony świętymi sakramentami

ś†p
STEFAN BARTIK

Lekarz medycyny

Bezgranicznie oddany
Rodzinie, Przyjaciołom i Pacjentom
Najukochańszy Mąż, Brat, Tatuś, Teść,
Ojciec Chrzestny, Wujek, Kuzyn i Przyjaciel

Msza święta żałobna przy Zmarłym odprawiona zostanie
w poniedziałek, dnia 2 czerwca 2014 r. o godz. 13.00
w kaplicy Wszystkich Świętych
na cmentarzu Salwatorskim w Krakowie,
po czym nastąpi odprowadzenie Zmarłego
na miejsce wiecznego spoczynku.

Pogrążeni w głębokim smutku i żalu

Żona, Siostra, Dzieci, Rodzina i Przyjaciele

and 

Z głębokim żalem zawiadamiamy,
że w dniu 26 maja 2014 roku zmarł

dr STEFAN BARTIK

Wspaniały Kolega o prawym charakterze,
cieszący się ogromnym szacunkiem pacjentów.
Wieloletni lekarz reumatolog,
który większość swojego życia zawodowego
związał z Krakowskim Szpitalem Reumatologii i Rehabilitacji,
pełnił przez wiele lat funkcję Zastępcy Ordynatora.
Wieloletni członek Małopolskiego Oddziału
Polskiego Towarzystwa Reumatologicznego,
znany z aktywności zawodowej i społecznej.
Tracimy wspaniałego Kolegę i Przyjaciela.

Wyrazy głębokiego współczucia

Rodzinie i Bliskim

składają

Koleżanki i Koledzy
z Małopolskiego Centrum Reumatologii,
Immunologii i Rehabilitacji
Szpitala Specjalistycznego im. J. Dietla w Krakowie

It was raining during the Holy at Salwator cemetery chapel, it was raining during the funeral itself. Kraków bade farewell to one of its finest sons with heavenly tears. And rightly so.

Now we ask dr Stefan to intercede and pray for his family and for all of us as well. I believe he will continue to be the Apostle of Divine Mercy in Father's House in heaven taking care of us, till we meet again there...

In His Heart

What an incredible encounter it was. Having an unique opportunity to pay visit to His Eminence Franciszek Cardinal Macharski, Archbishop Emeritus of Kraków, in his simple residence in the compound of "Ecce Homo" Shrine under care of Albertine Sisters, to celebrate the Holy Mass together, to have a long and lovely chat over a cup of coffee and a cake.

Polish President Bronisław Komorowski and H.E. Cardinal Macharski (more on this story here)

In my twenty six years of priesthood it was the very first time that I was a main celebrant in the Mass with His Eminence participating. A genuinely overwhelming honor.

Cardinal Francis seemed to be happy that I paid him a visit after a couple of years since my last one. Inspite of his fatigue due to his age, he was very generous to spend so much time with me (more than an hour), asking questions and offering witty remarks. He has not lost his cute sense of humor. So great to see him in such a great form and spirits.

I loved one detail in particular. His Eminence wore today a light blue clerical shirt (today is very hot in Kraków, over 30 C) with Kraków City emblem on his breast pocket. Apparently, our city is deep in his heart. And in his seclusion and silence of 'Ecce Homo' shrine, he prays for the city and all the people. He has all of us in his fatherly heart. Such a great man! He loves his city, he loves his people and cares for us. And in return, we love him!

Kraków City Logo

Special Day

Feeling blessed and honored to have the opportunity to visit His Eminence Franciszek Cardinal Macharski today at his residence at 'Ecce Homo' Shrine in Krakow and to celebrate Holy Mass with him at 11.00 am. He is my bishop who accepted me to the major seminary in Krakow, formated me and led through all steps until ordination to diaconate and priesthood. He is the one who sent me to my first and second parishes in our Archdiocese. He is the one who sent me to Tanzania as a Fidei Donum missionary and took care of me throughout the years. Respect and filial love to this remarkable Man of God, now Archbishop Emeritus of Krakow, 87 years old. Please, pray with me for him!

Caring Healthy Arms

This is the title of the exhibition of pictures and artifacts prepared by my Foundation Kiabakari at ŻyWa Pracownia located in Krakow's Kazimierz district as a global education effort to spread the news and knowledge about the ongoing development project 'Upendo Unaojali' in Kiabakari. I am very pleased with a huge work done by our team under the leadership of Miss Bożena Koczur. I hope and pray and humanely I keep my fingers crossed as well for the success of the exhibition and good media coverage. If you happen to be in Krakow in this period, please come and see for yourself!

The links to the event - Facebook (click here) and Internet (click here).

Pharmacists Of Kraków

Yesterday I had an opportunity to celebrate the Holy Eucharist for the community of pharmacists of the city of Kraków and Małopolska Region. The Holy Mass and the following meeting with dr Jadzia Żyłka (former doctor volunteer administering the health center in Kiabakari in the period of 2009-2010) was held in Capuching church in Loretańska street. It was a wonderful experience for me. And here is the text of my homily:

Radio Bonus

Yesterday I had an opportunity to talk a bit on various issues concerning myself, my vocation, silver jubilee, my missionary vocation and work, Kiabakari and Divine Mercy and so forth during a radio interview at internet Radio Bonus  in Kraków. The excerpts of the interview have been published just a while ago at the Archdiocese of Kraków portal www.franciszkanska3.pl. The link to the article is here.

For those of you who would like to listen to the recording, I was told it would be aired tomorrow, Friday, May 10th at 5pm Polish time. I was told also that they intend to publish the audio file of the recording, so those of you who cannot access the radio at that particular time, could do so at their convenience.

I wish to express my gratitude to the Radio Bonus staff, in particular to Miss Magda Dobrzyniak and Miss Karolina Putlak who organized the interview, for this unique experience and an opportunity to share. God bless us all!

Eagle Has Landed

Not exactly an eagle, but me landing safely in Warsaw on Thursday and then proceeding to Kraków by train, arriving home in the evening. It is quite difficult to say home to an apartment in which there is nobody waiting for me. No parents nor Grandma living in here anymore. Gone to receive their rewards in Heaven. What is left in here is just emptiness and silence.

This space is too vast for me to fill it. Even with my prayers. Impossible. There will always remain a vacuum in here. Three vibrant personalities creating this place for many years. Not anymore. I won't even try, just occupying my little corner and trying to spend these days of my stay in Poland as bravely as possible. And go back to where I belong.

Special Message To Someone Close to My Heart

A Special Message to You, my Relatives and Friends, on the occasion of my Silver Jubilee.

Almighty God in His Divine Providence has planned that I will celebrate 25 years of priesthood - in the Year of Faith. This is a privilege, a great challenge but also a wonderful opportunity to thank God with living faith for His countless blessings, in particular - for the priceless gift of YOU in my life. By the grace of God’s Providence, you have helped me to become what I am today. I am deeply honored. You are - and always will remain - a very important person to me, close to my grateful heart.

That is why, as my jubilee is approaching fast, I come to you with this special message, asking you to join me in the celebrations, not only through prayer, liturgical celebration and sharing the festive food, but most of all through our living faith, as Apostle James, teaches us: “Faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead...for just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” (James 2:16.26)

Since my priestly ordination on May 22, 1988, I have always stood firmly by and worked hard for the holistic (spiritual, corporal and intellectual) development of communities I served, trying to live my faith among people through works. I wish my jubilee celebrations to be a clear example of this lifelong attitude, thus benefitting directly the community I serve in Kiabakari.

I do not wish any personal gifts for myself on the occasion of my jubilee. Yet I dream of a different, special gift from my friends instead. I humbly ask you to think about the development of Kiabakari community i serve. Your gift will make a difference in rekindling our faith, improving our medical facilities and services and broadening access to a quality education for young generations of Kiabakari people.

Thank you for being there for me throughout all these past years! I invite you cordially to my jubilee celebration in my home parish in Kraków. I will be preaching in all Masses on that day. The main jubilee Mass will be at 12.30PM. God bless you much and see you soon at the celebrations!

Fr. Wojciech

Holy Thursday

My silver and golden jubilees logo. Created by Mr. Florian Kaija Ludovick

Holy Thursday of this year carries in itself a special meaning to me.

In four weeks time I will turn fifty. Half a century of life behind me. God only knows how long I will live more. I am not worried at all and I do not give this thought much attention. What is important is to live my life to the fullest and continue to be a tool, though poor and insufficient, but still a tools in God's hands.

Apart from the golden jubilee of my birthday, in two months time I will celebrate golden jubilee of my Baptism and then together with my classmates - our silver jubilee of priestly ordination in Wawel cathedral in Kraków. Twenty five years have already passed and I do not know how? Out of these twenty five, twenty three served in Tanzania - in Kiabakari and in Musoma cathedral a bit as well.

This evening I will The Holy Mass of the Last Supper of our Lord with my heart and soul filled to the brim with infinite gratitude to Almighty and Merciful God for the gift of life, Baptism, faith, priesthood and missionary all; gratitude of my Parents who not only gave me earthly life but also brought me to the Baptismal font and raised in Catholic faith and morals and taught life with their wisdom and love; gratitude to so many wonderful people I met in the course of my life - relatives, friends, colleagues, who shaped me and my life in many ways.

I will offer this evening Holy Mass for all of us, immersing us anew in the Ocean of Divine Mercy. Thank you for all you have been to me throughout these past fifty years of Christian life and twenty five years of priesthood! May Good and Infinitely Merciful God be your reward here and in heaven!

Dziękuje! Asanteni! Thank you!

Second version of the jubilees logo. Can you find number 25 in the picture?

The Word

Just to share with Polish readers the homily of my classmate and the chairman of the new evangelization program of City of Kraków during the Jericho prayer (I wrote about it a few days ago).

Once Again On The Foundation Kiabakari Exhibition

I would like to draw attention of Polish readers of my blog (of course, nonexpendable Google translator can help readers of any language, to read in their native languages) to the nice article with photos of the exhibition ongoing in ŻyWa Pracownia in Kazimierz district of Kraków, prepared by Foundation Kiabakari. The link to the article is here. I would like to thank the authors of this article for their kind initiative.

Photo Exhibition

Miss Agata Krupa, the volunteer of Foundation Kiabakari, has prepared - with the cooperation with dr Jadwiga Żyłka, also the volunteer of the Foundation, and her sister Magdalena Żyłka, the owner of Żywa Pracownia in Kraków - a photo exhibition entitled: 'Kiabakari - Afryka Obiektywem Malowana' (Kiabakari - Africa painted with the lens). I would like to encourage all readers of my blog, living in Poland, in particular in Kraków and its vicinity, to visit the exhibition. I would like also to commend especially the painstaking work of Miss Agata who prepared pictures, framed them and set up the exhibition. Thank you so much! My gratitude goes to both sisters - Jadwiga and Magdalena - for their kind thought to stage this exhibition in their workshop in Kraków and for their invaluable help in making it possible. It is my hope that this exhibition will find positive interest in many visitors and will help to open up Kiabakari, its joy and problems to the concerned sensitive hearts of people. God bless the organizers, visitors and all benefactors of Foundation Kiabakari (www.kiabakari.org).

Radio Interviews