On Sunday, January 26, 2025, the two-day International Christmas Carol Festival concluded in Kalwaria Pacławska. Seventy-five out of 125 performers qualified for the competition.

Amateur performers and music school students performed in different categories. The festival was broadcast on the YouTube channel of the Kalwaria Pacławska Shrine. The event can still be viewed online.
The performances were evaluated by a panel of four judges: Elżbieta PRZYSTASZ – conductor, choirmaster, and university lecturer; Ewa SIEMBIDA-JACHYM – vocalist, teacher and vocal coach; Paulina MUZYCZKA – vocalist, violinist, composer and teacher; and Lucyna RUDAWSKA – musician, gospel music instructor, and presenter.
The jury selected nearly forty first, second and third place winners, as well as honorable mentions in all categories. The best ensemble of the festival was “Faustyna” from Rivne in Ukraine, which received the grand prize. Winners were awarded material and monetary prizes, as well as invitations to attend a day of music workshops on February 8, 2025, in Kalwaria Pacławska.
In addition to the festival competition, music lovers were treated to special concerts by the Sanok Chamber Choir and the Lviv Schola, which is based out of the Conventual Franciscan Parish of St. Anthony in Lviv, Ukraine.
On Saturday, January 27, 2025, the Most Reverend Adam SZAL, Archbishop of Przemyśl, Poland, presided over the Mass. On Sunday, January 26 Friar Mariusz KOZIOŁ, the Minister Provincial of the Province of St. Anthony and Bl. James of Strepar in Poland (Cracow) presided over the Mass. Others present included the Minister General, Friar Carlos TROVARELLI, the Assistant General for the Foederatio Europae Mediae et Orientalis (FEMO) Friar Tomáš LESŇÁK, and the Superior of the Friary, Parish and Shrine of the Passion of Christ and Mother of God in Kalwaria Pacławska, Friar Marian GOŁĄB.
The 10th International Christmas Carol Festival in Kalwaria Pacławska was organized by the Wenanty Katarzyniec Foundation in cooperation with the local friary, the Przemyśl Cultural Center and the Przemyśl Precarpathian Gospel Association.
This year’s festival was co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage through the Culture Promotion Fund. It is a cultural event of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The event was held under the honorary patronage of the Archbishop of Przemyśl, the Minister Provincial of Cracow, the President of the Voivodeship of Precarpathia, the Mayor of Przemyśl, the President of Przemyśl, and the Mayor of the municipality of Fredropol.

Friar Jan M. SZEWEK