Just before eight o’clock life in our Institute quickens its pace. In the lecture hall, the computer has already been connected to the multimedia projector which is showing the first slide of the presentation. Dr Hilgers, standing with the mocrophone, is ready to start the lecture. Faculty members are in place, and the students are filling the hall. In a while there will be a common prayer at the beginning of the day. In contemporary lingua franca – in English. Those who can’t speak English – pray in their own language, so sometimes you get the impression we’re praying in tongues.

As soon as the lecture hall door shuts,  participants’ children appear in the lobby outside – with their fathers or baby sitters. It’s another opportunity to meet and exchange experience.

Today it’s similar, though a bit different. There is one husband who came with his wife, but without the kids (the’ye been left with their grandparents). He takes part only in the Mass and some of the lectures.

After the prayer, he sat down at a small table and opened the Bible. He became engrossed in his reading. When I came back, he was still praying. Next to him was the I-Pad. There will be a time for checking the mailbox, “what’s on the news in the politics”, maybe something more… But first – the meeting with the word spoken by God. It’s also the way to “believe Love.” Who can tell you about it better, after all?

With loving memory of you,

Fr Jay

Today is the beginning of the Lent. This is a very special time, a time of grace. I read with a new sensitivity the Message of His Holiness Benedict XVI for Lent.

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/lent/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20121015_lent-2013_en.html

In the light of what happened on Monday I read his words a bit like a testament because quite soon he will stop preaching as the Pope.

The whole Message is wonderful. It is worth reading carefully. Let me share with you two sentences from it:

Christians are people who have been conquered by Christ’s love and accordingly, under the influence of that love – – they are profoundly open to loving their neighbour in concrete ways (cf. ibid., 33).“ [nr 1]

Everything begins from the humble acceptance of faith (“knowing that one is loved by God”), but has to arrive at the truth of charity (“knowing how to love God and neighbour”), which remains for ever, as the fulfilment of all the virtues (cf. 1 Cor 13:13). [nr 4]

We can say in concise terms that what we need to is to “believe Love”  (1 J 4, 16).  This is the programme for the Lent. For each of us it means different things, different efforts and a different point of departure… The point of arrival is common to all of us.

See you on the way.

I remember you all and pray for you.

Father  Jarosław

Ever since last Thursday, Łomianki near Warsaw, Poland, have become the European NaProTechnology center.

The team from Omaha arrived first. Starting on Monday, we were preparing lecture rooms, places for individual meetings with the Instructors, checking if the equipment works properly. On Thursday the Educators started their course: students from Africa, Croatia, Ireland and Poland. They are the most advanced – they’ll be licensed to teach the Instructors.

On Saturday we began classes for those who had come across Creighton Model System in other places than Omaha and Łomianki. There are the students from France, England, Scotland, Lithuania and, of course, Poland. Today the participants from Education Phase 1 in September will start arriving, mainly doctors, and tomorrow – all the remaining students. That makes up altogether almost 120 participants from 12 countries.

So this is a challenge, not only related to logistics, but also the chance of experiencing something axtraordinary: meeting people from different parts of the world, who have various jobs and life vocations, but who share one desire to serve married couples and those who wish to fulfil their parenthood in God’s way. So what’s to be expected is not only very intensive immersion course, but also the time of great prayer. It was wonderful to see and hear Our Father spoken in so many languages, to experience the sense of being united on one faith. Even though the responses to the priest celebrating the Mass were given in different languages, they only confirmed the universality of the Liturgy.

Each participant has brought their experience of meeting married couples. They are here to learn to help them better. Now it’s time for us to help the participants and to support them with our prayer.

From the heart of the events,

the eye witness

Fr Jay

I left. And went straight into action – to the meeting of families of our Wrocław Holy Family Center.

I needed that long time spent on the journey (500 km) from the Hermitage to the city of Wrocław in order to slowly adjust. Almost two weeks of living outside civilization (no tap water, no electricity and a fire place to keep warm), but closer to God and simple lifestyle – have let me distance myself from that everyday pursuit for time, for getting all things done, answering e-mails swiftly and so many other details which are so challenging each day.

I’m sorry I’m writing as late as today to thank all of You for being with me, for your prayers, memory and support. I always need it and am happy to receive it 😉 , but believe me: it is particularly necessary during the time of the “desert”, when you have to face your own weakness, so surprisingly great (especially when you’d thought that “I’ve mastered this or that” or “it’s not so tragic with me as it used to be”) – and you also experience God’s love that goes beyond reason.

Thank you for being there with me.

With a heartfelt prayer of gratitude,

Fr Jay

The most expected time of year, every year. The closer to it, the more joy in my heart.

Each year, it is a bit different. For one thing – becuase the subject of my meditation is different, secondly – because I’m getting to know the hermitage and begin to adjust. Initially the tool re-designing my life, making up for the lost time, asking for some special grace – it is becoming simply a meeting place. The time of a mystery. I’m a child at his Father’s, a brother – at his Brother’s…

Its simple and harsh beauty (no electricity, no bathroom, no tap water, and you have to make fire to get warm) efficiently restores my desire for being radical and free from gadgets. 😉

Even the wrist-watch is no longer necessary: it is enough to follow the rythm of the day marked by the light falling through the windows. The whiteness outside helps one see the world in its pure version. The tiny chapel, surprisingly, is capable of storing not only all the angelic choirs and my beloved Saints, but also so many of You, whose place is constantly in my heart and my prayer.

See you after.

xj

I don’t remember when I was at Home during the weekend (apart from holidays). Or perhaps I should say that I am at home but each time it is a different home. And in this way I get to know you. And I must say – I like visiting you.  

xj

There’s so much life, history, joy and fun in them! About the Saviour of the world with joy, about human weaknesses with a tongue in cheek, about the holiest things in such a human fashion.

Sometimes I’d like to preach a sermon like a Christmas carol, but in everyday life I’d like to speak in the language of bucolics. To speak about God humanly, to people. Those who are normally very busy in everyday life and are not at all less pious because of that. As these shepherds who had to leave their ewes and leave their rams to honour Babe Jesus.

Let’s sing a lot because who sings prays twice. And if we can smile, Heaven smiles as well:)).

xj

An extraordinary place.

I’ve seen so much of them over so many years of service. They are so different. Ranging from less than 20 to several hundred square metres. I remember this tiny flat where kitchen was arranged on the bathtube and then dismantled for the bath of the little son and later –  of the parents. I remember those small flats where parents and children could only be squeezed in thanks to bunk beds. Those different houses and villas where there was space for a small or bigger room for everyone. Today they all open for a special Guest. And I think to myself that if they opened so beautifully to an ordinary priest, it will be much more so for Him.
I’d like to give special thanks today to all those who have hosted me in such a wonderful way  and to ask Little Jesus to bring even more grace and love into your houses when visiting them, so that it radiates at everyone around. Thank you.

xj

In our world we so often love things and use people. When need to understand anew the true meaning of the terms: person – thing. Perhaps that is why the Saviour comes almost completely deprived of things that should accompany birth: instead of a house – a shed, instead of a cradle – a manger, instead of down – hay. But soon He is surrounded by persons. Their meaning grows whereas the meaning is things falls. Christmas presents make sense when they are an expression of love. that is why even the smallest ones are so valuable.

xj

Not only for the following anniversary (it’s unbelievable how the time flies!), not only for the meetings with families on the retreats, for Programme 1 with 14 couples but also for the fact that I have spent all these years with families. It’s good to be with those who are responsible for the future of the Church and the world. 🙂

So far I managed to go to Szczecin for anniversary meetings with my colleagues. This year it was impossible, But it was good because… in this way I could spend this anniversary in the way I put into practice God’s invitation to be His priest: for families and with them.

Thank you for your kindness and prayers and that you remember me. The prayers give me strength and perseverance, they bring ideas into my head.

With my sincere blessings

Father Jay