Fr. Łukasz Bankowski – Vatican
Prayer for catechists and students
Groups of pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Poznań have arrived in Rome, thus concluding another school and catechetical year.
“We came primarily to give thanks for the past school and catechetical year. In our archdiocese, there are about a thousand catechists who daily undertake the enormous effort of forming children and young people. This is accompanied by many challenges, as religious education in Poland is currently going through a difficult time,” says Archbishop Zieliński.
The Metropolitan of Poznań emphasizes that prayer at the tomb of St. John Paul II is a request for strengthening those who daily undertake the mission of transmitting faith.
“We give thanks for the possibility of the presence of Christian values in schools and we pray that the situation of catechesis in Poland will normalize. To this intention, we add all the matters with which pilgrims come to the apostolic tombs,” he adds.
Joy for the new blessed
One of the most important events of the past pastoral year for the Archdiocese of Poznań was the beatification of Fr. Stanisław Streich.
“This beatification is a great joy for our Church. Fr. Stanisław Streich was murdered in 1938 while celebrating Holy Mass for children. He gave his life as a priest completely devoted to the most needy people: the homeless, the poor, and families in difficult situations. We especially give thanks today for this gift of a new blessed,” emphasizes the archbishop.
Disciples and missionaries
Looking at the new pastoral year, the Metropolitan of Poznań points to the need to renew the missionary dynamism of parishes. “In October, we are organizing a nationwide conference dedicated to parish mission. At the same time, we are continuing a pastoral program reminding everyone that we are all disciples and missionaries of Christ,” he says.
As he adds, the pilgrimage to Rome is also an opportunity to re-read the spiritual heritage of St. John Paul II. “We want to be his disciples not only by remembering his teaching, but above all by living it daily. The Pope taught us to preserve this spiritual capital for future generations. We desire not only to guard it, but also to pass it on to the young people who will build the future of the Church,” notes Archbishop Zbigniew Zieliński.
