On Friday, June 24 2022, Friar Andrzej HEJNOWICZ of the Province of St. Anthony and Bl. James of Strepar in Poland (Cracow) took his doctoral oath and received a diploma during a ceremony at the Catholic University of Lublin. A number of friars were present together with relatives and friends of the new doctor.
Doctoral ceremonies at the Catholic University of Lublin are usually held twice a year: on the opening day of the academic year and on the University’s patronal feast day, which falls on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The ceremony for conferring degrees began with a Mass in the University church.
In his homily, Father Mirosław CHMIELEWSKI (Redemptorist) stated, “Ovid’s famous saying: Finis coronat opus (the end crowns the work), also applies to doctoral dissertations. Therefore, the fitting end after many years of work is being awarded one’s doctorate, along with the publication of his dissertation, in many cases.”
Friar Andrzej HEJNOWICZ wrote his doctoral dissertation under the direction of Friar Roland PREJS, OFM Cap. The dissertation was entitled, “The Evolution of the Identity of the Friars Minor between 1209 and 1279.” Due to the pandemic, Friar Andrzej defended his dissertation online, on September 30, 2020. However, his doctorate was finally being awarded now.
During the same ceremony, another Friar from the Province of Cracow, Friar Marek FIAŁKOWSKI (Chair of Pastoral Theology at the Catholic University of Lublin), presented doctoral diplomas to two other students whose dissertations he supervised.
Friar Jan M. SZEWEK