Fr. Łukasz Bankowski – Vatican
Over 600 students – scholarship holders of the ‘Dzieło Nowego Tysiąclecia’ Foundation – spent almost a week in Płock, participating in prayer, formation, and meetings, and getting to know places associated with St. Stanislaus Kostka on the 300th anniversary of his canonization. For Bishop Szymon Stułkowski, the ordinary of Płock, the presence of young people was primarily a sign of a living Church.
In the Footsteps of St. Stanislaus Kostka
“I am very pleased that for several days we were able to host the scholarship holders of ‘Dzieło Nowego Tysiąclecia’ in Płock. This is a beautiful group of over 600 young people from various parts of Poland,” the Bishop of Płock told Vatican News.
He emphasized that he wanted the camp participants to get to know the places associated with the childhood and maturation of the patron saint of youth. “We wanted to show them the places where St. Stanislaus Kostka was born, baptized, and matured in his knowledge of the Lord God. It was here that his desire for holiness was born, which later resulted in his religious vocation,” he noted.
The hierarch also expressed gratitude to all institutions involved in organizing the event – the city authorities, universities, dormitories, and numerous volunteers. As he emphasized, the joint work allowed for the creation of a space where young people could not only learn about the history of the Church but also strengthen their faith.
“We met a beautiful, young Church. May St. Stanislaus Kostka continue to accompany these young people in their maturation of faith,” he added.
More than a scholarship
Bishop Marek Mendyk, Bishop of Świdnica and a member of the Council of the ‘Dzieło Nowego Tysiąclecia’ Foundation, drew attention to the deeper dimension of the Foundation’s activities. As he noted, for years he has observed successive generations of scholarship holders and sees that the greatest value of the program is not just material support.
“The Foundation financially helps young talents, often from places far from large academic centers. However, what builds me up the most is their personal psychological, social, and spiritual development,” said the ordinary of Świdnica.
According to the hierarch, summer camps play a unique role in this process. “This is an opportunity to meet, talk, and jointly discover values. Young people meet peers who think similarly and seek the same ideals. From these meetings, relationships are born that often last a lifetime,” he emphasized.
The ‘Dzieło Nowego Tysiąclecia’ Foundation, established as a living monument to St. John Paul II, has been supporting talented youth from less affluent backgrounds for over 25 years. The summer camps, organized annually, remain one of the most important elements of the formation program, combining the experience of community with the discovery of the spiritual heritage of the Church and the teachings of the Polish Pope.
