Happy 115th Birthday, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati!

Pre-School And Primary School Birthday Party - Images

Here are some images of the birthday party, traditionally held in our schools twice a year. First - for those whose birthdays fall into first six months of the year, and the second for those in the latter part of the year. It was a wonderful day of smiles, fun, plays, laughter and good food. Enjoy the images!

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

Surprise

My Mission Support Team in St. Kazimierz home parish in Kraków, has prepared a surprise party for me, on the occasion of my 50th birthday (delayed, as it was actually on April 22nd). Still, it was a lovely afternoon, with a great cake and blowing out candles, nice talk and sharing. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen!

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?

Happy Birthday, Mom!

My Mom, Maria Halina Kościelniak, is celebrating Diamond Jubilee of her Birthday today. Though not among us, here on Earth, but in Heaven, we join Her in joyful and hopeful celebration offering a special Mass for Her, praying for Her full happiness in Father's House. Happy Birthday, Mama!

Why?

Why is it that among all holy women and men of the Catholic Church, only Saint John the Baptist's birthday is celebrated solemnly in the liturgy of the Church? Of course, apart from Our Lord and Blessed Virgin Mary birthday celebrations. Not even Saint Joseph got his own birthday noted and celebrated in the liturgy. Weird. This speaks volumes about the importance of the life of Saint John the Baptist in the history of salvation. Apart from the birth of Jesus himself and his Mother, the birth of John the Baptist is the third most important birth in the scheme of redemption...Wow.

Week Long Snippets

It was a pretty busy week. I am glad I end it on a positive and high spirits note. Returning on Monday from Janów Lubelski, driving my Dad's old car in rain was not a good experience. It left me stressed as the traffic was heavy and many people drive their cars as if in Playstation game. Rested a bit in the afternoon, talked briefly with my Foundation's members. On Tuesday I traveled by train to Warsaw. It was meant to be three days trip, but luckily, I was able to finish the whole to-do list in 24 hours, so I was able to travel back to Kraków on Wednesday afternoon. The train was late one hours, and I felt down a bit, as the exhaustion and weariness kicked in. Nevertheless, next day, on Thursday I felt recharged and able to continue with the agenda. Yesterday was a preparation day for today's trip to Mucharz parish, where this evening I will start my mission awareness weekend in the parish, where my classmate is a parish priest. He invited me for the Patron Saint parochial feast - St. Wojciech, bishop, missionary and martyr. It is my Patron Saint as well, and I feel honored to be invited as the main celebrant and preacher for the occasion. It coincides also with my birthday tomorrow, April 22. It is the last birthday in the range of 40+ as tomorrow I will turn 49 and will start my fiftieth year of my life and the 25th year of my priesthood. I am genuinely surprised that years passed by so quickly! When I was a teenager and a seminarian, looking at guys in their fifties I was thinking - gosh, they are soooooo old! And, tara! I am right here. The only difference is that I feel great, consider my forties the best period of my life and look ahead for so more years to come in my active service of God, the Church and the society. Still, I ask humbly for your kind prayers for me and for all those I serve and for my parents, relatives, formators, teachers and all people God placed on my path who made an impact on my life and the way I am now. I am  deeply grateful to all of them and while celebrating in prayerful and reflective mode my birthday and Patron Saint feast day, I immerse all of them in the Ocean of Divine Mercy. Thank you!

In The Reflective Mood

Since yesterday, when we went to celebrate fiftieth birthday anniversary of one of our Fidei Donum Polish missionaries in diocese of Musoma, I've been into a reflective mood. Looking at that guy, who just turned fifty, I recalled vividly times we spent together in the major seminary, as he was my classmate (till when we were ordained as deacons) and my roommate (at one time). Time flies so fast. It will take me two more years and I will turn fifty myself. When did all these years come and pass? Life is truly a short project and as we are on the downhill part of it at this point of our life journey, I guess this makes for a reflective mood and a serious examination of conscience... Well, fifty behind him (already) and me (almost). How many more ahead? Only God knows. I don't care but I hope we learned something by now and the remaining years of our lives will be pleasing to God and lived wisely, piously and fruitfully, working tirelessly in the vineyard of the Lord, till He comes and calls us off duty.

Happy Birthday, Mum!

It is today, on the Solemnity of the Annunciation of Our Lady, that my Mum was born, just one year before the outbreak of the Second World War, in Włodzimierz Wołyński, the then Polish eastern lovely town, now in Ukraine. It was written in her national ID card that she was born in USSR. Imagine that? It was legitimate Polish territory back then! She was given a name of the Patroness of the day - Maria. And the second baptismal name - Halina. Today is the third birthday which we celebrate without her. She passed away after long fight with numerous illnesses on January 3, 2009. The more time passes by the more I miss her. I won't go into details. She knows what I mean. But anyway, I am sure she is happy in God's embrace and reaping rewards for her life of lifelong suffering and fight for health. Rest in peace, Mum! Love you much...

Happy Birthday, Bro!

February 17 is the birthday of my three years younger and only Brother, Christopher (Krzysztof). Wishing him well and praying for him and his beautiful family in a special way today. Happy Birthday, Bro! May Good Lord bless you abundantly and keep you and your family close to His Sacred Heart! Forty five and counting, and still going strong! Well done! Prayers appreciated for him and his family, my dear readers!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Today is my Dad's Birthday. I called him on Saturday evening to wish him all the best as he turns 74 today. Still going strong, still smiling and jovial, still kind and open-hearted, still fighting and keeping faith and positive attitude, though home alone, after Mum and Grandma passed away last year. I'm proud to have him as my Dad.