Walimah Invitation Wording

Testament Relation to the beautification of the pilgrimage

meetings with the Holy Father were to us with his wife Always a great experience - we never met in life, nothing is more sublime. Practically grew up and shaping their personalities in the shadow of the pontificate of the Polish Pope. We could not, therefore, fail during the beatification ceremony in Rome. Hence our participation in the pilgrimage to Italy.

Trud pilgrimage began on the night of 27 to 28 April. Media effectively scared big crowds of volunteers, so that our group pilgrimage is a combination of three to be produced initially. The bus takes us from the church, therefore. Nicholas at Gdynia. 23.15 and goes to Rumi, where riders are pilgrims of the two Salesian parish. A short prayer and everyone is trying to sleep in the bus ...

Mariazell - Verona - Pisa

We go through the whole of Poland and the Czech Republic on the first night in the beautifully situated nearly 1000 m above sea level, the alpine town of Annaberg. Here captivate us stunning views of the Alps at the Austrian Grand Canyon, also participate in the Mass in the magnificent Gothic church, which secured the keys of the owner of small hotel Sporthotel - Pole from Krakow.

the morning on Friday, April 29 wake up and hilly route the Via Sacra, go to one of the most important centers of Marian devotion in Europe - Austria Mariazell. admire another picturesque town situated in the mountains and the Sanctuary of the Madonna called the Great Mother of the gracious Austria, Hungary and Ms. You Mother Slavic Nations. Celebrate a solemn mass at the altar of the miraculous statue, at which for nearly 30 years, prayed for liberation from the yoke of communist nations of Central Europe. Most take their miraculous water from the spring renowned for miracles, the last pictures at a somewhat modernist monument of John Paul II, which towers over the local park and we set off on his journey to Italy.

We sleep from Friday to Saturday at "La Carica" \u200b\u200bin the Italian town of Pastrengo. Here we meet another group of Gdynia pilgrimage church. Andrew Bobola. Besides, the route continues to pass the Polish coaches on their way to beatification in Rome. Service, but also accidentally runs Italians are very friendly, greeting us also provide about his love for the Pope - our countryman.

Morning drive another several hundred miles, the road we visit Verona and Pisa with its leaning tower and the magnificent cathedral. In one of the side aisles of the cathedral celebrate Mass and then we go on our way to dinner at the hotel only 180 km away from Rome. There, go into their rooms only in order to change and pick up breakfast packages. At. 21.15 embark on his journey to the Eternal City.

Beatification and Thanksgiving

To Rome, we arrived late on Saturday, April 30, 2011 and immediately went in the direction of St. Peter's Square. Peter. But it turned out that the entrances are closed, and there were only open from the Castello Sant'Angelo . When we got there already encountered multitudes of pilgrims. As for Piazza San Marco. Peter, no one could get "pitched up" camp in the middle of the street. Before the second night, the pilgrims gathered, however, began to move and as it turned out it was the beginning hours of walking along the road via Conciliazione. Many spent the night standing. Among the pilgrims (see photo) Catholic and monarchist flag of France with a symbol of the heart with a cross - a sign of resistance to the idea of \u200b\u200bthe French Revolution.

But time passed and dawn came, and our group torn apart by the crowds of pilgrims from different countries just to get ahead ... But in the morning, on Sunday, May 1, 2011, our patience was rewarded. After hours. 5. 30 goals in the Piazza San Marco. Peter were opened and we managed to get quite close to the altar, where, after several hours of waiting we took part in the ceremonies of beatification.

Divine Mercy on Sunday, the feast established by Pope John Paul II, the first time in more than 1000 years the pope stood on the altars of his immediate predecessor. Quoted: "We agree that the Venerable Servant of God John Paul II, Pope, from that time was called Blessed, and his feast could be celebrated in places and in accordance with rules established by law on October 22 of each year" - said the pope Pope Benedict XVI. On the square in front of the Basilica of St. Peter joy reigned.

expressed the feelings of those in various ways. Along with our group attracted tens of thousands of pilgrims from around the world. Right next to us enjoyed a group of Polish-American from the U.S. dressed in traditional highland dress. Still, we met different friends from the Polish. Pictured with Fr. Nikos (formerly vicar of the parish. Nicholas in Gdynia), who as a missionary was walking pilgrimage from Gdynia to Rome. Currently working in the Diocese of Kielce.

that day, an ambitious plan to explore the beatification Rome was not burned because of fatigue and sunny all-night vigil in the glow of St. Peter's Square. Peter at the beatification. I could hardly leave the square and close to an hour to pierce his appointment in place for about km journey to the subway and go for a well deserved rest at the hotel Palacavicchi at Via Campino on the outskirts of town.

next day on Monday, 2 May. about 150 thousand. people gathered in St. Peter's Square. Peter to thank for the beatification of John Paul II. Dominated by Poles, among them our group. That day is no longer such a crowd. Children climb on almost seamlessly, although being closer to the solemn mass, the crowds get bigger. After the liturgy, we are trying to get into the Basilica to give tribute to Bl. John Paul II, whose coffin on Sunday became the tomb of Saint. Peter.

There is a traditional Italian chaos, no one knows which way law enforcement officers decide to let the faithful to St. Peter's Basilica. Peter. Several times we move along with the crowd on the square, but this time we are trying to make our group was tight, though, and so we are in the crowd smashed into smaller groups. But this time, we are equipped with radio, through which we hear our lady guide and we can see in the crowd raised her black umbrella.

succeeds in most of us to gather after screening at the stairs to the Basilica, to which we enter precisely in the chair. 15. 00 (hours of Mercy) to honor the great pope and a Pole. Monday afternoon to honor gave him about 350 thousand. people. Evening, the coffin was transferred to St. Sebastian. Rested for a white marble slab with the inscription "Beatus Ioannes Paulus PP. II "(Blessed John Paul II, Pope).

hour later, our whole group in the set went on a tour of Rome, passing through the queue (several kilometers long) of the faithful who wish to still get into the Basilica. By evening walking tours of Rome among the crowds of pilgrims, still meet Polish groups. We admire the wonderful monuments, such as Pantheon and the Coliseum. In total, went close to 10 km unfortunately lacked the forces to reach the English steps.

Orvieto - Rimini - Venice

After another night we leave on Tuesday 3 May. Eternal City by going way back to the Polish. But the way we're going to located in Umbria - the green heart of Italy - Orvieto. We visit the beautiful medieval town in which to commemorate the Miracle of the Eucharist from a nearby Bolsa, on orders from Pope Urban IV in 1290 began to build the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in Italy (construction lasted almost 300 years) and established the feast of Corpus Christi. Then we drive another 150 km and we head back to the hotel beautifully situated on the Adriatic coast of Rimini. Along the way, we admire from the windows of the bus a few km away in San Marino is located on the characteristic hill.

stay even those few hours on the sea beautifully regenerates power pilgrims. On Wednesday, 4 May. we go out again, this time in the direction of Venice. there beyond the traditional walk through the narrow streets on the water, exploring the St. Peter's Basilica. Mark, in the basement where we celebrate Mass, we manage to also take boat trips on the two islands surrounding Venice: Burano and Murano. Late in the evening (this time without accommodation), we go way back through northern Italy, Austria and Germany to Polish. To reach Gdynia evening on Thursday 5 May.

Most routes throughout the pilgrimage we spend sleeping, watching movies about St. Francis, St. Antoni and other or jointly, and sometimes praying individually. We have great spiritual care three priests: Maciej Sobczak of Gdynia and the two priests of the Salesians of Rumi, Joseph and Michael Balawandera Kollek, accompanied by a Salesian Sister: Mariola Osemlak beautifully sung leading the Rosary and Devotions. Huge thanks to the gentlemen drivers: Martin and Thomas (with a company called Euro Tours), who served the ranks us hot and cold drinks. Special thanks to Ewa Giszcz, to chair our, well acquainted with Italian language - sometimes very useful at times.

recommend three very short films that show:

Preparing for the beatification ceremony in Rome, see below: