This year, due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, many scholarship recipients from this country stayed for Easter in the John Paul II Foundation Home in Lublin. In a large group of about 40 people – also from Belarus, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, we experienced this unique time of hope and Easter joy.
On the morning of the Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord, a meeting took place in the hall with the festive breakfast. Fr Jan Strzałka, the Director of the Home, made occasional wishes and blessed Easter food.
At noon a solemn Holy Mass was celebrated by Fr. Józef Golonka SCJ, the superior of the Sacred Heart Fathers from Leszczyński Street in Lublin. In his homily, he encouraged us, like Peter and John, to run to the tomb and believe that Jesus had risen.
After the Eucharist, everyone sat down to a beautifully set table with delicious food to spend this time together in joy and mutual kindness, as if in a family circle. During this meeting, scholarship recipient, Ania Prosiekova from Ukraine, a student of musicology at the Catholic University of Lublin, played several pieces on the violin. It is worth noting that all scholarship recipients were involved in both the preparation of the liturgy and meals on Easter Sunday and Monday.
May the Risen Christ grant to all the joy and peace of Easter! Alleluia!
Fr. Robert Ptak SCJ
Photo: S. Konan
