Wola Wielka & Straszecin - Poland Pilgrimage 4a

Wola Wielka by Debica - you must specify "by Debica" as there are four or five towns in Poland called Wola Wielka. This small town is where Arlene's cousins live. It is small, non descrip, and very rural. I like it - quiet and peaceful - a place where you can be alone with your thoughts - your family - yourself. The family is warm and - as much as we could understand - very content in this little space in Poland. They are very welcoming - greeting us with the traditional "three kisses on each cheek" and big hugs. It is very special when greeting and talking with relatives who do not speak the same language. Body language and sign language take an active part in your attempt to communicate. Through it all - we do communicate - we share stories. - answer questions and leave knowing just a little bit more about our common interests - our history - ourselves.

When we come to God - He knows us better than any family member ever could. He listens to our stories - our hopes - our dreams - our expectations. Always He smiles - hugs - and gives us His three kisses - Father - Son - Holy spirit. Take time today to visit God's family.

Deacon Dale

Birkenau - Poland Pilgrimage 3b

Also known as Auschwitz-Birkenau - Birkenau was the largest Nazi death camp located in Poland. When Nazi forces took over control of Poland and the Polish people, they forced the Poles into slave labor with the promise that if they would cooperate, they would be saved - one of many lies told by the Nazi. The Poles were forced to dismantle their own brick homes in order to supply the bricks needed to construct the "dormitories" in the death camp. Once the buildings were constructed - these very people became the first inhabitants. When viewing the entrance to the camp - one immediately recoginizes it from all the World War II movies. The first time I saw that entrance, I was shocked that it really existed - I had always thought it was a Hollywood invention - yet, here it was in real life! If I had ever doubted the reality of the death camps - this was more proof than I needed. As we walked around this war memorial - you could sense the pain - the grief - the sufferings - that happened here.

The only thing anyone can say once here - is "Oh, my God!" Anyone of faith who enters here has to say a silent prayer for all those who lost their lives here - the Jews - the Poles - the Italians - and all the others - and even the Germans (yes even Germans who disagreed with Hitler) - were all killed here. The fact that anyone could have survived here and lived to tell about it is a miracle - proof that God never abandons us - rather it is we who abandon Him. If you have been distant from God lately - if you have never made a personal commitment to Jesus - today would be a good day to do just that.

Deacon Dale

Auschwitz - Poland Pilgrimage 3a

Auschwitz is possibly the most famous death camp that the average person is aware of. The terrible things that happened there are denied by some as fiction - you only have to be there to know that it is not a faleshood but the truth. As bad as Auschwitz was - Birkenau was a hundred times worse. The magnitude of the atrocities committed at Birkenau are just incomprehensible. Where Auschwitz had some 45 "dormitories" Birkenau had 450! Very few war crimes come close to those committed by the Nazi.

As you walk through these death camps you have to ask where God was in all this? If you listen to the stories shared by those who were held captive there - you will find God in their stories. Things that happened - prayers answered - hearts changed - all those still occurred in the midst of all the bad things. We do not understand why God allows bad things to happen - but they do. On many occasions I have been told that God does not allow bad things to happen - we do. Through our complancy - turning our eyes and heads the other way - not wanting to get involved - these are the things we do that allows bad things to happen. God calls each of us to be activists - not bystanders - in the world around us. God calls each of us to live out our lives and faith as if He was standing right next to us - because He is.
Deacon Dale

Rynek Główny - Poland Pilgrimage 2c

Rynek Glowny is Polish for the main market square. Located in the Old Town area of Krakow - it has been a principle place of business since the 13th century. At 430,000 square feet it is the largest medieval town square in Europe. The square is dominated by the Sukiennice or "Cloth Hall" which was rebuilt in 1555. It is surrounded by townhouses and the Town Hall Tower, the 10th century church of St. Adalbert's and 1898 Adam Mickiewicz Monument - which is a popular place for people to sit around and relax.

Rising above the square are the towers of St.Mary's Basilica which has the largest Gothic altar in the world.and is a national treasure of Poland. 

Praying Vespers (Evening Prayer) with my deacon companion was a very special treat for the both of us. Being able to pray Vespers in churches such as this makes it even more special and a definite way to feel God's presence in one's life. Prayer is always good and always the best way to keep close to God.

Deacon Dale 

Wadowice - Poland Pilgrimage 2b

Wadowice is a town about 30 miles south of Krakow in Poland and the birth home of Karol Jozef Wojtyla who later brought fame to this town as Pope John Paul II.  Karol lived with his parents and brother in an apartment situated next door to the parish church in which the family worshiped. Karol served as an altar boy at the church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the town's central square.

Located almost next door to the church is the building in which the Wojtyla family rented a small apartment. It is here that Karol grew into a young man. Today the entire building has been purchased and is being converted into a museum dedicated to John Paul II.

At the time of our visit the renovation of the building had been completed and was waiting for the artifacts and memorabilia to be brought in and set up for display. The museum should be completed by the end of 2012 if not sooner. Buildings such as these are important to Catholics as it brings the ordinary into the extra ordinary - it gives us hope that although our lives may seem ordinary today - what they may become in the future is filled with great possibilities - if we allow God room in our lives.

Deacon Dale 

Where O' where?

Just checked the statistics for this blog - it is always nice to see who is reading. In descending order - United States - Russia - Poland - Germany - Brazil - United Kingdom - Australia - Canada - France - Hong Kong.  When you visit my blog it would be nice if you would click the "comment" button and just say hello, if nothing else. Thanks and enjoy!


Deacon Dale 

Wieliczka Salt Mine - Poland Pilgrimage 2a

The Wieliczka Salt Mine is located in Wieliczka, a small Poland town about 30 minutes outside Krakow. The salt mine began operation in the 13th century and produced table salt continuously until 2007. Commercial mining was discontinued in 1996 due to low salt prices and mine flooding. Today it is a visitor center with approximately one million visits annually. The mine's main attractions are dozens of statues and an entire chapel that was carved out of the rock salt. The salt mine is often referred to as "The Underground Salt Cathedral of Poland". The original carvings were done by three men, none of whom was a trained artist, but their works rival those of more modern professional artists. One special feature is a banquet hall located deep within the mine that is rented out for weddings and other occasions. To gain access visitors are led down a wooden staircase with 378 stairs - the return to the surface is accomplished by a mining elevator that holds 36 people and rises to the surface in 30 seconds. One of the first things carved out of the rock salt was a chapel where miners attended morning Holy Mass before beginning their work day.

Working in the mine was very dangerous because the shafts were filled with lethal methane gas which is odorless and colorless. The first man in carried a torch to burn off the gas before anyone else entered. Modern ventilation corrected that issue - but in the very early days many men lost their lives because of that silent killer. The Holy Spirit or "Holy Wind" is also odorless and colorless and undetected by normal means - exists around us everywhere we go. God does His best to make us aware of His Holy Spirit - but all too many people ignore His promptings. The Holy Spirit moves and acts in the lives of believers constantly to inspire and inform them about God's ways and commands. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that Christians are able to accomplish the many tasks that they do. If you are not aware of the Holy Spirit in your life - then you need to pray "Come Holy Spirit Come - Thy will be done."

Deacon Dale  

Saint Faustina's Grave Site - Poland Pilgrimage 1c

While in the tower of the Basilica you can see everything all around you - the convent buildings, the green areas and the grave site for deceased sisters. On our visit, once we were at ground level, we noticed that the gate to the sister's grave site was open which allowed us the chance to walk around and read the names of sisters buried there. In the back corner was a large area that was dedicated to the burial site of Saint Faustina.  When she was canonized her remains were moved to a reserved space inside the convent chapel. Although her remains are no longer outside, the grave site still gets special treatment to let pilgrims know that this was her original burial place.

Saint Faustina is not the only person who cannot be found in her grave. On the morning after, when the women went to the grave to see Jesus, they found the burial stone moved and Jesus nowhere to be found. Graves are the final resting place for ordinary people - for Saint Faustina - who was canonized - her remains were removed to a special place where she could be venerated. Jesus - the Son of God - the Holy One - needs no place for people to visit - since He is always with us in a very special way. He exists beyond time and space and therefore nothing can contain Him - except in the depths of our hearts.  

Deacon Dale 

Saint Faustina's Convent - Poland Pilgrimage 1b

Helenka Kowalska known as both Maria Faustina Kowalska and later as Saint Faustina was born in 1905 near Lodz, Poland and died 1938 in Krakow, Poland. She was a Polish nun who is described as a mystic and visionary. She is venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church and is known as the Apostle of Divine Mercy. Throughout her life she recorded numerous visions and conversations with Jesus. Eventually she was accepted into the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy.  It was during this time that the visions which had begun at an early age as a child developed. Today millions actively participate in the Divine Mercy devotion because of her efforts to promote it.

On our visit we were given the opportunity to reverence her relic and attend Holy Mass. Although in Polish - which I understand only a bit - my wife and Deacon Jerry were able to recite the prayers in Polish which made this experience more meaningful for Deacon Jerry's wife and myself. No matter where Holy Mass is celebrated - Jesus is always the same!

Deacon Dale 

Basilica of Divine Mercy - Poland Pilgrimage 1a

The Basilica of Divine Mercy in Krakow, Poland is dedicated to the Divine Mercy devotion as promoted by Saint Faustina Kowalska the "secretary" of Jesus. St Faustina was cannonized in 2000 the same year that Blessed John Paul II declared the Sunday following Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday. The basilica is very modern and at the time of construction drew criticism that it was too modern. That being said millions of pilgrims visit every year. Both Blessed John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI have visited the basilica. 

Upon entering the basilica you view a very wide open space - simply designed. The basilica can hold about 5000 people with seating for about 1800. Immediately upon entering you feel that this is a special place - a place filled with believers - not spectators. Groups of pilgrims as well as individuals can be seen praying everywhere. Holy Mass is celebrated daily and multiple times on the weekend. The Divine Mercy Chaplet is recited daily at 3:00pm - quite often just prior to Holy Mass. Surely the presence of The Lord is in this place!


Deacon Dale