On October 1, 2020, the new academic year at the Major Seminary in Łódź Łagiewniki, Poland, got underway with the solemn singing of the hymn Gaudeamus igitur.
The inaugural Mass was presided over by Friar Grzegorz BARTOSIK, the Minister Provincial of the Province of the Immaculate Mother of God in Poland (Warsaw). Friar Wojciech KULIG, the Minister Provincial of the Province of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe in Poland (Gdańsk) provided the homily.
After the liturgy, the participants gathered in the seminary’s lecture hall, where, after singing Gaude, Mater Polonia, the Rector of the seminary greeted the invited guests. Among them were the Dean of the Theological Faculty of the Cardinal Stefan WYSZYŃSKI University in Warsaw; the rectors of three major seminaries in Łódź; the vice-rector of the seminary in Łowicz; and various teachers, priests and lay faithful.
Later, the secretary of the seminary read a report on the previous academic year, after which, some students were given awards for earning the highest grades in their studies.
Next a group of friars were enrolled into their first year of studies and received certificates of matriculation. A total of nine new confreres were added to the seminary’s rolls: seven clerical students and two lay brothers.
An inaugural lecture was presented by Friar Karol ADAMCZEWSKI. He spoke on the theme: “The Biblical-Roman Roots of the Trial Principle: Testis Unus Testis Nullus” [one witness is no witness].
Starting this academic year, the governance of the seminary has changed. The new Rector is Friar Piotr ŻURKIEWICZ; the Vice-Rector is Friar Jacek KORSAK; the Secretary of Studies is Friar Jan OLSZEWSKI; and the Spiritual Directors are Friars Edward SOBOLEWSKI and Grzegorz PAPUGA.
We wish everyone an abundance of God’s grace and the protection of the Immaculate as they carry out the services entrusted to them.
Friar Grzegorz M. ŚWIERKOSZ