Polish bishops encourage Poles abroad to attend local parishes - Pastoral Letter text

Our Lady of Chestochowa

Source: Polish Catholic Bishops Conference

The Polish Catholic Bishops have asked Poles abroad to join local parishes rather than seek Polish ones, because they no longer have enough priests to serve the Polish diasphora. The Polish Church runs missions in 25 countries, catering for the religious needs of around 15 million Poles who left their homeland after World War II, during the 1980s Solidarity crisis, and when Poland joined the EU in 2004. In England and Wales there are currently 120 Polish priests serving in 90 parishes and 127 pastoral centres. Worldwide there are more than 2,000 Polish priests and religious sisters working in the diasphora.

In a Pastoral Letter, read this Sunday in Polish parishes, the Bishops write: "Mature patriotism has nothing to do with nationalism and being closed to other cultures and traditions. But, they warn, it also "has nothing to do with today's increasingly fashionable internationalism, blurring the differences between individual nations." They encourage people to pray for the government and the entire Polish nation, to support each other and contribute to the communities in which they are living.

An ICN English translation of the Pastoral Letter follows:

THE LETTER OF POLISH BISHOPS FOR POLAND AND POLES ABROAD on the occasion of the celebration of the BVM Queen of Poland and the 100th anniversary of Poland's independence

The solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated on May 3, is an expression of the Polish nation's faith in God's protection, which he experienced through the mediation of the Mother of Jesus. The Preface to the Feast of the Queen of Poland describes the role of Mary in the history of our Homeland in the following words: "Raised to heavenly glory, she surrounds her with motherly love. The Nation, who chose her as his Queen, defends him in dangers, gives him solace in troubles and supports him in the pursuit of the eternal homeland until the Lord's day full of light. "

The Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Queen of Poland was established at the request of the Polish bishops after Poland regained independence in 1918 .. it has been officially celebrated since 1923. Every year on May 3, we solemnly celebrate Mary's gratitude for her motherly presence and love in the history of our nation, and entrust to her the protection of Poland, the Polish community and Poles living abroad.

That is why, on the occasion of the feast of Our Lady Queen of Poland, falling in such an exceptional time, which is the 100th anniversary of Poland's independence, we send you, beloved compatriots, a word of cordial greetings and assurance of spiritual closeness with you Church in Poland.

A visible and permanent sign of this communication is the pastoral ministry of over 2,000 priests and religious sisters in the Polish diaspora centres on all continents. We give you, dear priests, fathers, brothers and nuns, words of deep gratitude and appreciation for pastoral work devoted to Polonia (the Polish diasphora) With a warm thanks, we turn to all those who work with you in the liturgical, educational, cultural and charitable areas. Thank you for caring for the preservation and deepening of Christian and Polish identity among our countrymen.

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

In the history of Polish emigration, the cult of the miraculous painting of the Lady of Czestochowa and the Queen played a great role. Our compatriots travelled long distances with this image. In this dear heart of the Icon, they took their beloved Poland and all their relatives with them. In the presence of the loving and worried look of the Queen of Poland, they found spiritual and physical strength to overcome adversity and motivation to persevere in faith and love for God and man. They gazed at the image of the Black Madonna, who with his right hand points to Jesus. This gesture is an invitation for all of us to deepen our relationship with Jesus, without whom, as he himself said, we can do nothing (see Jn 15: 5)!

In responding to Mary's appeal, approach Jesus and be in good friendliness with him through personal and prayerful prayer, through reading and listening carefully to the word of God, through the sacraments, especially regular confession and attendance at Holy Mass. Guided by faith, take advantage of the opportunity to participate in the Eucharist in the language of your place of residence. Relatively even a large group of Polish priests working in Polonia communities are not able to reach every place where Poles are in a convenient time.

In a close relationship with Jesus, become his witnesses for others, including our compatriots who, despite the declared faith, forget about God and live outside of the Church community. Encourage them to draw closer to Jesus as an example of their own life corresponding to their faith. This testimony will also have a positive effect on believers from other national groups, especially those belonging to the communities of the local church.

Bishops from other countries count on this kind of help from Catholics from Poland. In a sense of unity of faith and responsibility for the Church, strive to maintain good and regular contacts with Catholics of other nationalities. As representatives of the Church in Poland, we thank the bishops of the local Churches for their openness and understanding of the religious needs of our countrymen, for providing places for worship and catechesis, and for providing conditions for Polish-speaking pastoral ministry!

Beloved, Countrymen!

An important way to get closer to Jesus is to love your neighbour. Therefore, follow the commandment of love, beginning with care for the good of your loved ones. Maintain and deepen your marital and family relationships by seeking to educate your children with the wisdom and teaching of Jesus. Take care of their systematic catechisation. May the desire to achieve a better material existence not cover you with much more important needs of spouses and children, such as physical and spiritual closeness, time spent together, sharing the hardships and joys of life, showing mutual interest and help. Keep sobriety and avoid at all costs the risk of breaking marriage and family ties. Make sure that your love is marked by the blessing and presence of Jesus!

We ask you to be in solidarity with our compatriots, struggling with the burden of disease, loneliness, poverty and homelessness. In Polish communities and in cooperation with local institutions, try to develop methods of systematic and effective help.

The commandment of love left to us by Jesus includes not only people from our immediate environment. It goes beyond the boundaries of the family connected with blood ties and also includes the family that we call Homeland. From it grows, like a tree from the root, our identity. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of regaining independence, we want to remember and pray for all those who, living far away from their home country, built Poland's independence. We remember with gratitude our compatriots who both the dream of a free homeland and national traditions passed on to the next generations through the testimony of life as well as through literature, music and art. In this way, Polonia contributed largely first to regaining independence by Poland, and then - despite being enslaved by totalitarian systems of Nazism and communism - to preserve the spiritual freedom of Poles.

With great appreciation we think about our compatriots behind the eastern border, whose care for the preservation of religious and national identity bordered on heroism and was often associated with the devotion of life. Remembering them, showing them spiritual and material support is our collective duty!

Thanking God for the gift of independence, we realise the duty of respecting and imparting to the next generations the heritage from which we grow. Many times he spoke about it. John Paul II - "I am asking you, that all this spiritual heritage, which is called Poland, once again received with faith, hope and love" (Krakow, June 9, 1979). "Stay true to this heritage! Make them the foundation of your upbringing! Make them a subject of noble pride! Keep this heritage! Multiply this heritage! Give it to future generations! "(Gniezno, June 3, 1979).

How to do it? Among other things, we can find the instructions in the letter of Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz, addressed to the American Pauline 200 years ago: "Let me give you some advice as coming from an old man who knows the country and draws on experience. Start everything with God. Before you can build a church, pray in the shade of trees for freeing our homeland from the yoke, for our brothers who are in it and for those who are scattered all over the earth (...) Be diligent and behave in a way that earns respect and love citizens and ensure independent living. No community can live without an organisation. Choose from among you those who deserve and have the ability to be the caretakers of your settlement. Fraternal consent and unity of purpose are as necessary in the beginning as those that will be hard (...) Do not give in to hardship (...) Remember that we are all among strangers, who will judge the whole Polish nation out of our deeds. How sacred is our duty to preserve the honour of Poland, our good name from the smallest flaw! Keep the language of our fathers as a defence of our nationality. "

Brothers and sisters!

The words of the Polish emigrant, despite the passage of time, remain valid until today. Following the example of those who preceded you on migratory roads, cultivate love and attachment to the Homeland. Support school and educational establishments to communicate the knowledge of Polish and history as best as possible. In a way available to you, promote Polish culture and defend the good name of Poland. Make contact with our homeland at the personal and institutional level. Respect also the country that welcomed you, gave you a job and the opportunity to grow. Mature patriotism has nothing to do with nationalism and being closed to other cultures and traditions. On the other hand, it has nothing to do with today's increasingly fashionable internationalism, blurring the differences between individual nations. The proof of patriotism is also readiness for reconciliation and cooperation in Polish diaspora, despite ideological, political, historical or personality differences. We put emphasis on the hearts of those who lead and engage in Polonia institutions and associations.

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

Father Piotr Skarga said that "who serves the Homeland, he serves himself." For people who believe in a specific manifestation of this service there is, among others, prayer. Therefore, we ask you, individually and in the community of the Church, to pray for Poland, for the rulers and for our entire Polish nation. Do not cease from the depths of hearts to plead to God through the intercession of Mary, Queen of Poland: "Take care of the whole nation that lives for your glory; let it grow wonderful. "

With faith in Mary's further intercession, we place the fate of our nation, including your present and future, into her motherly hands. Let them put you, like Jesus, in your motherly and loving heart.

To these wishes, we join prayer and pastoral blessing. We draw the sign of the cross over each one of you with the intention that you would stay in Jesus like the vine in the vine (see Jn 15: 1-11), united with him and with each other with the same faith and love!

God Almighty Father, Son and Holy Spirit bless you!

Signed by:

Shepherds of the Church in Poland present at the 378th Plenary Meeting of the EPP in Warsaw, on March 14, 2018.

For more information see: http://episkopat.pl