Generous in forgiving

September 21, 2014 8:43 am

“Let the scoundrel forsake his way, and the wicked his thoughts; let him turn to the LORD for mercy; to our God, who is generous in forgiving.” (IS 55: 7)

Created by God, we are invited to be with Him for eternity. Part of our life (definitively smaller) is here, on earth. It happens that we forget our destiny where we are invited, but God never does. He is always merciful and generous in forgiving—the only way to bring us back on the path to Heaven.

“I am the salvation of the people, says the Lord. Should they cry to me in any distress, I will hear them, and I will be their Lord for ever.” (Entrance Antiphon)

Direction – to Heaven

July 2, 2014 10:09 am

“Seek good and not evil, that you may live.” (Am 5: 14)

Our life takes us to eternity; it has the beginning but no end. We will only change place from earth to … heaven or hell. Seek good – this brings us to heaven.

“The Father willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of first fruits of his creature.” (Gospel Acclamation)

 

The whole city

May 17, 2014 11:17 am

“… almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.” (Acts 13, 44)

I listen to these words with delight and admiration: “To hear the word of the Lord” and “almost the whole city gathered.” How far our cities are from this? We are more interested to know how many people saw the new movie in its first week in theatres or how to organize ticket for a concert than to gather together to hear the word of the Lord. In His word we can hear about His love, compassion, forgiveness and hope. His word is the Life, the Way and the Truth. Being with Him for a few moments every day means more than we can imagine. And is life-changing.

“If you remain in my word, you will truly by my disciples, and you will know the truth, says the Lord.” (Alleluia versus)

The last day of the congress

November 20, 2013 9:07 pm

This is above all the panel of the leaders of the conference of bishops of the US, Canada, Latin America and Brazil. Also the bishop from the Philippines and Caribbean was included but because of the tragedy he didn’t come, which is understandable.

I will need some more time to put these matters in order but I can see already how important his meetings was and even though it concerned America, many things can be related to our situation.

What was did the speakers stress most? That evangelisation is not only our thing but it is also the great concern of God for all the children to come back to Him.

There is no evangelisation that does not stream from an individual encounter with God so at the first place there is prayer and the personal relationship with Jesus. The church and all of us are missionaries – this is not a post or a title but the identity of each of us. When we encounter the living Jesus, we want to share this experience with everyone.

The Holy Spirit, promised to us, will lead in us in every situation. This requires openness and internal freedom. We must also constantly reflect on things and react to changing reality. The social structure of many countries is changing from rural to urban societies. What was good before is no longer sufficient. For example, in Toronto 50% inhabitants were not born in Canada. This shows that we are in a very happy situation, although in our country we can also see the trend from rural to urban.

A parish is a community of communities, we repeat it often and we must come back to it again and again. Each of us needs a smaller community that gives a sense of closeness and understanding. But our mission is not to serve our community or even our parish but… the world. We need to conquer the world for Jesus. We discussed the need to change our mentality to become missionaries. We need to change our parishes in mission territories. For example: bring every year two new married couples to our meetings – what would happen in 5 years’ time?

Every day we started and ended with a prayer. I was happy that there was ample time for prayer, so it was not theoretical speaking of the need to pray but putting in practice what was said.

Remembering you all

Padre J.

Colourful Mexico

November 5, 2013 9:36 am

Recently I have happened to move through the city in different directions, mostly through poor districts. What has impressed me particularly is that this city is so full of colours.

A typical poor district as we can imagine in our cities: old houses, not renovated for a very long time; plywood instead of a window pane, doors without hinges. But each of the houses is full of life and of a different colour – this is the work of the inhabitants who paint their world blue, red, green, yellow, in all possible shades. All streets are full of colourful houses. I have not yet made pictures but as soon as I Have them, I shall put them on this page.

I remember, by contrast, my quarters with their greyness. I don;t mean the modern part of the city but the places that tourists don;t go to – they are full of warm colours.
It is not about hiding poverty. It is still there but it does not prevail.

I am sure there are many reasons for this but I cannot do here an antropogical study. I’m only sharing what has impressed me again when I travelled through the city.

I am enclosing one interior picture.

Remembering you,

Padre J.

Obrazek

Goodbye Omaha, Buenas tardes Mexico

October 26, 2013 12:33 pm

Time passed so quickly! I arrived lat at night on October, 9 and now the new stage of this journey is about to begin. The flight is scheduled for 6:00. Which means I should leave before 4 o’clock. A two hours’ flight to Houston, TX, and there I’ll have to wait two hours and a half for the final part of the trip – to Mexico. From Omaha, with 400,000 inhabitants, I’ll be moving to Mexico City with population of 22,000,000. What’s interesting, as far as territory is concerned, Poland is similar to the state of New Mexico (USA), and Mexico, which is my destination, is 6 times as large as Poland.

It’s my third trip to Mexico – however, for the first time for such a long time. Until now my stays used to last about a week. I’ve heard some place is being prepared for me, but the emotions which encompany this journey are great, of course. Which is normal, I guess. All the more so, I hope to be supported with your prayers.

And I surround you with my prayer,

on the move

Fr. Jay / Padre Jota

Travel journal

October 9, 2013 9:02 pm

Today I’m going on a long journey – for a year. I have one aim: to be everywhere where the Holy Family wants me to be and only there.

The beginning is Omaha, NE and a NaPro course. At the end of the month I shall move to Mexico for 3 months. Then further stages will follow. I spend the last night packing. How can you pack for the whole year, given that airlines limit your luggage to 23 kg?

I shall spend this day on airports and in airplanes. I will get to Omaha only on Thursday morning (Polish time). I have so many questions and emotions. Please remember me in your prayers.

Best wishes

Father Jarosław now, soon Father Jay

Travelling again

August 6, 2013 8:26 pm

Yesterday’s journey began at 1.50 pm and finished at 4 a.m. and all went well thanks only to the assistance of friends from the Poznan group. First Zosia and Ryszard and then Mariusz, who took us by car to Łomianki so that I could be on time for my flight. There was not much time for sleep byt today the journey continues and perhaps I’ll be able to sleep.

This time I’m going for the meeting of  FertilityCare Centers International – an organisation that coordinates all world activities related to NaProTechnology. Apart from the creator of this method, doctor  T. Hilgers, there are there the representatives of all the continents and some more people who form together the Board of Directors. The meeting take place oonce in a year and is very intensive. And just afterwards there is the meeting of the American Association for FertilityCare Profesionals. Everything comes to an end on Sunday. And I come back immediately after that. The meeting this year seems to be particularly important bacause new centres appear that require particular attention. A lot will be happening and I will keep you informed about everything.

Now the flight to New York, then several hours’ waiting for the next flight to New Orleans (although this is the US, there is very European and French atmosphere there). I ask my Guardian Angel to take care of me and lead me there.

I remember you fondly

Father Jarosław

The leader

August 1, 2013 7:45 am

Countryside. I decide to take the children to the forest on bikes. Although Grandpa says it is dangerous like like the whole life, because a branch can fall down and kill you without a warning for example. We go.

Karol, the 7-year-old son of the neigbours, takes the lead, my children call after him in the dust of gravel road. I go at the end. Karol suddenly turns and disappears. When we reach him, he says he will lead us because he knows here everything. I oppose a bit as after the rain it night it is wet so it can turn out that the road will be impassable further ahead and we’ll have to go back.

At the folliwing, pictoreaque turn Karol stops again, waits for us and explains: “There will be a big pool but we’ll manage to go through the middle. Then two big holes on either side. But we’ll manage. Going through the middle”.

We go, the pool is enormous, the mud unbelievable, but we go through. In the middle. And I am full of admiration. If I should ever be responsible for people in any kind of undertaking, I’d like to have Karol’s style. Not Grandpa’s with the vision of a catastrophe. And neither being left in the dust behind the leader. I’d like that devoting time to telll about things ahead and ways to conquer the obstacle. And the encourage “we’ll manage”.

Such leaders are so needed in life. I was to take the children for a bike, but the children have taken me.

M

The lighthouse

July 19, 2013 3:30 pm

“What are lighthouses for?”, I ask our children when we try to reach the top of the  Lyngvig Fyr lighthouse.
“To warn the ships that they come near the land.”
“To show the way!”

“The lighthouse does not move so that the ships that get lost can choose their way again when they see it.”
I must say I have liked these answers very much.
And then the light coming from Christ came to mind, the light that warns against the danger and shows the way. It shines always strongly, so that regardless of how muddled and winding our life paths become, we can find our way again. The way to Him!
Greetings from the top of the lighthouse,

Dosia

ObrazekObrazek