On September 6-8, 2024, a unique series of meetings took place in Gdańsk called the Feast of the Word. The friars conducted the event in thanksgiving for being able to provide Conventual Franciscan retreats to the faithful for the last ten years.
The Feast of the Word meetings were conducted at the Church of the Holy Trinity and at the St. Maximilian House. The program included a rich variety of spiritual experiences, biblical catechesis, musical meditations and the use of modern technologies for a deeper immersion into the mysteries of the Gospel.
Biblical catechesis was provided by two eminent Conventual Franciscan preachers: Friar Tomasz SZYMCZAK, Doctor of Biblical Studies, and Friar Mateusz STACHOWSKI, Rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity and creator of the popular FranciszkanieTV channel. On Saturday, Friar Tomasz SZYMCZAK presented a series of catecheses entitled “Four Stories Taken from Exodus.” The topics covered in the series included a variety of spiritual issues, such as the beginning of spiritual life, gratitude and freedom from addictions, and how to deal with crises. On Sunday, Friar Mateusz STACHOWSKI gave a catechesis on “The Viewpoint of Blind Bartimaeus,” showing how the experience of spiritual blindness can lead to an encounter with Christ.
Mass was celebrated every day. The opening Mass on Friday was presided over by Friar Piotr PLISZKA, Director of the St. Maximilian House. The highlight of the celebration was Sunday Mass, presided over by Friar Jan MACIEJOWSKI, the Vicar General of the Order. Those concelebrating included Friar Wojciech KULIG, the Minister Provincial of the Province of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe in Poland (Gdańsk); and the government of the Province of Gdańsk.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament was an integral part of the event. Friday evening was enriched by a meditation led by the I Am the Word Foundation (Jestem Słowem in Polish), which combined deep reflection with music, creating a unique opportunity for a personal encounter with God. Saturday evening ended with a prayer of praise led by Maja SOWIŃSKA and the band Live Experience. This musical prayer project, in which the songs have a free-form nature, invited the participants to deeply experience God’s presence. The songs provided an opportunity for personal prayer and an encounter with God in a free-form and praise-filled context.
The musical highlight of the event was Saturday’s Gregorian chant concert entitled, “Verbum Caro factum est.” It was performed by the Monodia Caelestis women’s choir under the direction of Susi FERFOGLIA. The ensemble, consisting of graduates of Postgraduate Studies in Liturgical Monody in Cracow, introduced the audience to the world of traditional liturgical music, emphasizing the sacred dimension of the encounter.
Another unusual moment of the Feast of the Word was the screening of the “Last Supper VR” produced by the Place of the Word Foundation [Miejsce Słowa in Polish]. Thanks to advanced virtual reality (VR) technology, the participants had the feeling of witnessing the events of two thousand years ago. VR headsets allowed them to fully immerse themselves in the scene of the Upper Room where Christ met the Apostles. The impression of participating in the events of the Gospels transported the viewers into the midst of biblical events, creating a bridge between the past and the present.
The Feast of the Word concluded Sunday afternoon with refreshments and a book fair in the courtyard of Holy Trinity Church. The organizers stressed that the event proved to be a great success, both in terms of participation and spiritual dimension. They also announced their intention to continue this initiative, making the Feast of the Word an annual event that will bring together faithful from all over Poland.
Maja STUDZIŃSKA
