XXI Papal Day, which this year we celebrate under the motto “Do not be afraid!” is an opportunity to look in a special way at our great compatriot – St. John Paul II. We want to remember and again be amused with awe by his teaching, his life, his holiness. The Pope’s whole life was entrustment to Jesus. At every step he expressed the attitude – “Jesus, I trust in You”. Today, during the Eucharist, through the intercession of the Saint, we ask for all parishioners of Aulnay sous Bois, and in particular for the members of the John Paul II Foundation, for such an attitude in our lives. Facing various situations, these joyful, but also sad or very difficult, we want to be able to trust Jesus as John Paul II did throughout his life.
““Do not be afraid. Open, I say open wide the doors for Christ.” – this famous phrase became the motto of the John Paul II’s pontificate. In the Gospel the words “Do not be afraid” are repeated 365 times. It can be said that God addresses these words to us for every day of the year. Every morning we are to wake up and greet the day according to these words, opening our hearts and entrusting ourselves to Christ, as the parish priest Jarosław Koch SChr said during the homily.
The Papal Day is an expression of gratitude and spiritual communion with the thought, teaching and person of St. John Paul II, but it is also an opportunity for each of us to ask ourselves a question and answer it sincerely, – how much of the Pope’s teaching is left in our hearts and deeds? Does every moment of our lives, every day, every hour, every behavior, every gesture, every thought, lead us to achieve eternal life, for which St. John Paul II prayed and cared for all people around the world?
We are all aware of how much humanity owes to Saint John Paul II. He left so much good behind, but he also obliged us to be responsible and to continue what was created during his pontificate. And, a special and unique, consistently built living monument of gratitude to the holy Pope is the Foundation founded by him forty years ago, bearing his name, and which is such a great help and hope for many young people.
This Sunday we were able to support the Foundation materially through voluntary cash contributions. In addition, in the afternoon, there was another meeting of members of the John Paul II Foundation in Aulnay sous Bois, during which there was an opportunity to discuss future plans of action, and watch another film about St. John Paul II.
Text : Elisabeth Noster
Photographs: Zbigniew Adamek
