Since 2001, Papal Day has been celebrated across Poland as an expression of gratitude and spiritua connection with Pope John Paul II, as well as an occasion to promote his teachings. It falls on the Sunday preceding the anniversary of Cardinal Karol Wojtyła’s election to the Holy See. This year, the observance took place on October 13th. At the John Paul II Foundation House i Lublin, a Mass was held at 11:00 a.m., presided over by Father Francis Nyaming, a doctoral student from Indonesia. During the Eucharist, a Pastoral Letter titled John Paul II: The Gospel of Old Age and Suffering, prepared by the Polish Bishops’ Conference for this year’s observance, was read. October 13th also marked the 30th anniversary of the opening of the John Paul II Foundation House in Lublin and the consecration of its chapel. This consecration was performed by Archbishop Szczepan Wesoły, then Chairman of the Foundation’s Administrative Council The many gathered scholarship recipients expressed gratitude to God for the life and sainthood of John Paul II, for the benefactors of the Foundation House, its builders, and all its supporters, through whom the Foundation’s scholarship program has been realized in Lublin for over 30 years.
ks. Jan Strzałka
Photo: Yana Oliinyk
