On July 22-28, 2018, the annual “Franciszkańskie Spotkanie Młodych” (Franciscan Youth Meeting), took place in Kalwaria Pacławska near Przemyśl in Poland. Traditionally called “FSM”, the event was hosted by the Province of St. Anthony and Blessed James of Strepar in Poland (Cracow). This year, the young people enjoyed a week of leisure and reflection under the meeting’s theme, “Breath”, which directly refers to the Third Person of the Holy Trinity: the Holy Spirit.
“We have tried to rediscover the Divine Breath, that is the Holy Spirit in ourselves, in the Church and in the world around us,” said Friar Marcin DRĄG, the Meeting’s director. “We wanted to rediscover the Person of the Holy Spirit who is close to every baptized person”.
Each year, the participants get to meet guests of honor. They could be role models for living the faith or models for dealing with the struggles of everyday life. This year’s guests of honor included the director Krzysztof ZANUSSI; the writer and evangelizer Father Rafał JAROSIEWICZ; the musician and poet Tomasz BUDZYŃSKI; the charismatic Marcin ZIELIŃSKI; the publicist Tomasz TERLIKOWSKI and the athlete Andrzej TOKARZ. They each spoke to the participants as a whole and also made themselves available for personal meetings with interested parties.
An important element of FSM is its paraliturgical prayer (devotions) which is appreciated and expected by all who come regularly to this event. Every year these prayers are led by the Franciscan Youth members. Each liturgy focused on one aspect of the Christian faith, to more deeply explore the mystery of the Holy Spirit.
The participants broke into fifty small groups to discuss and exchange opinions. Each group had about twenty members and was led by an animator.
In addition to the traditional elements of the meeting, the young people enjoyed some surprise attractions. Things that were on offer included participation in daily fitness training and other sports activities. There were also movies “under the stars”. Mainly, however, the young people spent their evenings at music concerts. Some of the groups they saw included: “Nie Ma Go Tu”, “Rock & Fire”, “Warszawska Orkiestra Sentymentalna”, “Teatr A.”; and the musical ensemble “Fioretti” composed of the Franciscan clerical students at the post-novitiate in Cracow. The “Fioretti” celebrated their 50th anniversary this year. To celebrate the occasion, “Fioretti” put on a great final concert which everyone enjoyed. (To find out more, visit: www.fioretti.pl).
This year, 1124 people, from Poland and abroad, attended FSM.
“Franciszkańskie Spotkanie Młodych” is the longest running meeting for religious youth in Poland. The first meeting took place in the summer of 1988. Friar Ryszard WRÓBEL was the Meeting’s creator and would serve as its director for the next eighteen years. The focus then was on reflection, prayer and joy und the theme “With Francis and Clare”. The Meeting’s director for the next ten years was Friar Piotr REIZNER. During this period, the original theme changed to “The Messiah Project”. The current director is Friar Marcin DRĄG.
FSM is the high point of the “Franciscan Summer” – offering pastoral and Franciscan activities for young people over the summer vacation. It is promoted by the Province of St. Anthony and Blessed James of Strepar in Poland (Cracow). The organization of the event is managed on behalf of the Province by: “Biuro Franciszkańskich Spotkań Młodych” (FSM Office). To find out more, visit: www.fsm.franciszkanie.pl.
Marta GÓRKA FSM Spokesperson / Editor
