On the 17th anniversary of the death of John Paul II, on Saturday, April 2, 2022, the Patron’s Day was solemnly celebrated at the Polish School of Native Subjects in Munich. Two academies were held separately for students of younger and older classes. At the beginning, the audience sang the school anthem. Opening the ceremony, the priest from the Polish Catholic Parish Fr Stanisław Pławecki in his speech set the Polish Pope as a model to follow in the diligence to learn the Polish language and love for the homeland. Then, under the direction of their teachers, the pupils presented a multimedia presentation of the life and pontificate of Karol Wojtyla under the title “Smiling Saint …” Its motto was the joy of the Pope of Smiles, which was also indispensable to his own path to holiness. There was poetry, quotes, photos with little Lolek and adult Karol, the melody of his beloved “Barge” and songs related to St. John Paul II. During the academy for younger students Mrs. Danuta Ramczykowska, vice-president of the Munich Chapter of the Foundation was the special guest. She presented to students the tasks and goals of the Foundation established during the Pope’s lifetime. She also encouraged children to persevere in learning their native language and subjects related to Poland. Danuta expressed her appreciation to the teachers for their efforts to educate the young generation in the spirit of religious and patriotic values. The academies were accompanied by an exhibition of artistic works by SPO students prepared especially for the competition entitled “Different faces of John Paul II” from 2020. The authors of drawings and collages received Polish sweets as a special gift. The decoration of the hall was full of Papal accents, flowers and flags in white and yellow colors, as well as portraits of the Saint. At the end, everyone received magnets with the image of the Polish Pope funded by the John Paul II Foundation Munich Chapter. On this special joy spreading among the student community and the pedagogical group was felt.
It is worth mentioning that on Friday preceding the Patron’s Day, students of the senior classes of the John Paul II School of Native Subjects read meditations based on the teaching of their great Patron. The meditations were read during the Stations of the Cross.
Beata Tomczyk-Paniak, secretary of the Munich Chapter of the JPII Foundation
