I’ve received the start number. After a short night… first by train to Florence, then a run to Andrzej and together to the place where the marathon is going to start tomorrow. I’ll run with a Friend who encouraged me to take part in the marathon – and took me to the marathon in Florence two years ago. It was my first one and my first result: 4:34:19. In September I ran from Świnoujście, Poland, to Wolgast, Germany: 4:24:12. this time maybe itill be 4:14? Today I can hardly believe it. It’s been the day of a crisis, but also of a great excitement.

It was nice to receive so much of a positive feedback from other marathon runners, that “it’s great that a priest also runs”. Some of them ensured they would let their parish priests know about it – that they could do it, too. Maybe one day we’ll organize a marathon for priests…

Anyway, the marathon is just about to begin. At 9:00 p.m. European time. Please, bear in mind the prayer-support-for-Father-Jay emergency till 13:30 at least.

I’ll let you know as soon as I’ve made it.

See you then,

Fr Jay

Today I’m flying to Florence. I’ll have to change planes once. It’s easy to say who’s flying to the marathon. Those people are wearing sports outfit, worn-out running shoes and their bodies point to some sort of regular physical activity. We recognize each other quite easily at the airport. Sometimes nodding your head is eanough (we’re from the same “branch,” so words are useless), sometimes you hear a distinct “good luck”.

Each of us hopes to win. To win your life record, to win your weakness, to run using your head, keep the strategy and… experience that incredible joy at the finish line – the reward for all the toil.

And the fever I’ve mentioned? As usual I start feeling pain in all parts of my body and what dawns on me is actally the fear of the distance (42.195 km!!!). So I’m asking myself: will i make it? the question returns in all shapes and forms. Time will tell. The day after tomorrow.

Your Guardian Angels would me more than welcome on the way. Because all those marathons of mine – are offered for you, Dear Families, so that you can make it till the end, despite the pain, despite the questions if its worth taking the toil… And when your marriage turns 42 years and 195 days, I’ll run another marathon. Because we need you. We need your perseverance over the years and your smile as our paths cross on the running routes – as without you, the world will go astray.

See you at the finish. You can view  this one at www.firenzemarathon.it My start number is 9755.

Fr Jay

After several months of slow and painful dying my godmother, my mother’s sister, has gone away to eternity. The one who who carried me to be baptised, now was accompanied to the place of eternal rest by her godchild. The rhythm of holy sacraments. The rhythm of the Church that reveals with its Liturgy the sense of each stage of our lives.

I’ve remembered this tomb since I was little. We would come here to pray for my Gramdma, then for my Grandpa, and later for his sister, Today they are joined by their daughter. The family is united at the tomb. I saw my sister and my cousins for the last time at my sister’s wedding. Today, 12 years later, I learn again the names of their children and the first granddaughter. We are happy about the meeting, although somewhere at the background we are aware of the circumstances. It seems, however, that Auntie does not mind us being joyful as in death there’s also joy of eternity, the joy of meeting Jesus, the joy of a life fulfilled.

Today we also learned that our Dosia’s husband’s mother has gone, too.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. One day we shall meet in heaven.

Fr Jay

So I had what I expected… The plane left Chicago with a 2-hour delay, so I was late for the plane in Munich. Fortunately, there was another plane at 14:30 which I managed to board, but of course it was impossible to make it for the 14:25 lecture in Warsaw. I managed to phone my students and say I was sorry for not turning up.

Since there were more such “delayed passengers” at the airport, we could share our travelling experiences. It turned out that what works best for us is sightseeing in the hotel rooms and conference rooms, together with airports and terminals.  Well, it’s better than nothing.

The last plane was also delayed, so I was back Home later, too. But I made it for the eveing meeting.

And now I can also say “thank You” for this wonderful time together, that we were given. And to thank all who prayed for me during that time. The Lord has done great things, which I could watch in close proximity, and now I’d like to invite you thank Him for that together with me.

It’s good you are there.

Fr Jay

This time I’m going to have to change twice. I set off on the journey by Amtrak (a train) at 6:30 from Springfield to Chicago. 3.5-hour trip. The ticket collector puts a piece of paper above the seat of each of the passengers. Probably it contains some notes on the destination, because the pieces are of different colours and he collects them every now and then during the journey.

In Chicago there will be a short stop, because even though the flight is scheduled for 18, it takes much longer to get through security. And here I am. It’s 16.45 and theoretically in a half an hour they should start letting us in. Theoretically, because the plane hasn’t arrived yet and we heard on the grapevine that we would be leaving half an hour later. The reason? Nobody knows. What I know is that my time in Munich, where I was to have had one hour for changing planes, has just got radically shorter.

So nobody knows if: 1. I’ll get to Munich, 2. I’ll make it on time to Munich, 3. and if the planes land in Warsaw (thick fog has recently been reported – and cancellation of many flights in).

All of that is of course some portion of adventure that one should experience during such a long journey. Only my students may be disappointed, because I’m expected to arrive for the lecture – and chances are I will, provided that all 3 of the above-mentioned conditions are met. But as you know, I like travelling, so I’m putting up with all those obstacles not only with a smile, but also enthusiastically. Each adventure makes our lives more diverse.

If I don’t write for a couple of days to follow, it means I am nobody knows where. Maybe then our Dear “Harbour” Team will let you know, what’s going on.

See you soon!?

Fr Jay

houses a truly beautiful Chapel on the last storey, actually in the attic. Next to the Chapel there is a meeting room with a library, and from there you can also participate in the Holy Mass. But this happens very seldom. Because the opportunity to take part in a Mass is rare here. There is a daily Service, for years faithfully celebrated by Deacon Tom. Traditionally, while I’m in Omaha, there is the Eucharist for all the staff.

Today we also had the Mass and then the visits to all the departments, with prayer over each staff member, together with blessing the Institute. Everyone here is very moved by the good things which have happened here and they all know it is a gift of God’s Love. And they ask for prayer, for God’s protection over the Institute, over their families and themselves. They too know that in all the places where good things happen – also the difficulties and hardships come along. As anywhere else.

It was good to be here.

Tomorrow I’ll have to be on the move again. It’s time for a “sentimental journey.” But I’ll tell you about that – tomorrow…

Fr Jay

is so neccessary to let go of everything which is redundant, accidental, not worthy to be taken to eternity. And the other way round. In the silence of the Adoration you may express and re-collect all that is especially dear to the heart and valuable.

Fortunately, in the close proximity of our hotel where the first part of the NaProTechnology Programs takes place (called here in short EP1, Education Phase 1), there is a church with the chapel of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. It’s such a joy to discover that so many share the same longing for staying in His presence, who treasure those moments as necessary and important. I’ve counted as many as 5 such places in the vicinity.

That is not so in Poland, you can hardly find a place where you can adore the Holy Sacrament during the day, not to mention the night. Here, in the US, being a catholic is not so obvious as for the Poles (98% of the society declare to be catholic). Here you become a catholic, catholicism is a choice.

Fr Jay

I would like to thank you all for the gift of your friendship. It was you who made that month so extraordinary. Your hospitality, generosity, kindness and warm hearts enabled me to experience this much. I’d done many things for the first time in my life. And even though those experiences they gave me so much joy, what makes them even more beautiful is the consciousness that I owed it all to real people.

I am not going to list your names. They are written in my heart. Although here you’ll stay anonymous, I believe our Lord will reward you in Heaven. “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me”.

I’m going back Home. I’m taking with me all your Homes, which were so hospitable and invited me to become part of them. When you are invited to a place, you bring in peace with you, but you also take with you the important matters of that place. My visits to so many Homes during this month showed and taught me a lot, and they touched my heart. I am taking all you’ve taught me to share with the others. Much of your wisdom has already appeared here, in “The Harbour”. Thank you – and let me thank you in the name of our Readers.

I also thak you, Dear Friends of “The Harbour”, for inviting us to your Homes on your computer screens. We would like to bring you always peace. Sometimes – to inspire, provoke, motivate you. But we are also taking you and the matters important to you in our prayer before the Holy Family.

With heartfelt prayer, full of gratitude,

Fr. Jay

I was asked to write something about the sunset.

I was getting ready for that task all day long. In fact, I didn’t do any literary exercise like for example: “Ths sun is slowly descending to the horizon, giving a reddish hue to the sky, which is farther shimmering with all shades of orange. As the sun is withdrawing from our sight, it’s leaving behind a colourful streak of light, above which the sky is growing dark, with the sun slowly sinking in the ocean below. In the end, it disappears completely, leaving the sky at the disposal of the night” (not so black, actually, because we’ve had the full moon these days.

I was planning, however, to write about it in front of the house where I’m living at the moment, with my eyes fixed on the sky, and my fingers tapping the keyboard, to be able to catch up with the beauty of the sun setting in the subtropical zone. I wrote “I’m living at the moment”, because I’ve been roaming from place to place for several days – as human being is known to be homo viator. But even such a rolling stone like me needs a home from time to time (at least for the night), though here, under the Tropic of Cancer, you appreciate a piece of roof above your head also during the day – like the trees which you call here “umbrella trees”.

Seeing that the twilight started falling, I made one more phone call (looking for a home for one night in another city) and I was just about to go out of the house. It turned out to be too late. It was already the night. Because this is how it looks here: the day breaks wide awake and ready to live a life of its own – and so does the night.

So I don’t know if I manage to describe the sunset in the following days, because life is moving really fast in here. And I have to rest, because this is my vacation. So I’m quickly going to bed, maybe I’ll manage to catch the sunrise.

Fr Jay