Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Warsaw (Agenzia Fides) - February is going to be a month full of missionary meaning for the Church in Poland, according to report made to Agenzia Fides from Monsignor Jan Piotrowski, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Poland. On the Second Sunday of Lent, February 17th, there was a celebration, as in past years, of the national day of support for Polish missionaries. According to the National Director, there are currently 2,115 missionaries spread out among 95 countries worldwide, mostly in Africa and Latin America. The theme for the Day was: “The gift of charity and hope is a commitment.”
Among the celebrations on this day was a special collection whose proceeds will be joined to the national collection, taken up on the feast of Epiphany, sent later to aid Polish missionaries.
The second missionary event in February took place on February 18-19, when 40 delegates from Polish dioceses met in the National Council for the PMS. The event took place in the residence of the Missionary Sisters (SSpS) in Sulejówek, near Warsaw. On the first day, the national secretaries of the Mission Societies presented their reports on the activities on a national level, and the National Director of the PMS, Monsignor Jan Piotrowski, presented the financial report for the year 2007. Last year, Church in Poland collected about 5.5 million złotych (the national currency), with a 10.9% increase in proceeds, in comparison to 2006. The first day concluded with a theological reflection, a time for community prayer, and a discussion on the challenges for Missionary Childhood, which is celebrating 150 years since its arrival to Poland. On the second day, there were two talks: “History, development, and the dynamic animation of the Missionary Childhood,” presented by Sr. Kinga Kozdrój (of Tarnów), and “The educational meaning of Childhood, according to the Statutes and the publications of the PMS,” given by Prof. Stanisław Dziekoński. The event concluded with the Holy Mass, which was presided by the secretary general of the Episcopal Conference, Bishop Stanisław Budzik.
Lastly, on February 20, in the University of Cardinal Stefan Wyszński (UKSW) in Warsaw, a meeting was held by an important core team of catechists, animators, missionaries, and students. The meeting was aimed at discovering the rich historical, pastoral, and spiritual traditions of the Missionary Childhood in general and especially in Poland over the past 150 years. Children from an elementary school in Warka (near Warsaw) presented a play on the founding and development of this Society.
In commemoration of this Jubilee celebration, the Polish bishops have declared 2008 “Missionary Childhood Year in Poland.” Since September 2007, preparations have been underway on various levels, for living this year dedicated to the Missionary Childhood. Also on schedule is a celebration of a National Congress for Missionary Childhood, June 6-7 in Cracow, where the Society began in 1858. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 22/2/2008; righe 38, parole 472)
