From January 31 to February 1, 2023, a two-day meeting for religious brothers took place at the curia of the Province of St. Anthony and Bl. James of Strepar in Poland (Cracow).
The meeting was both fraternal and formative. Eighteen non-priest confreres from Poland, Slovakia and Germany participated.
The friars listened to three lectures. The first, by Father Maciej GUZIK, Prior of the Carmelite Monastery in Cracow, addressed the topic of fidelity and perseverance in religious life. The second lecture was by Father Marcin JELINEK, a physician at the Fatebenefratelli Hospital in Cracow. He explained the activities of health promotion in religious life. The third lecture was by Friar Piotr STANISŁAWCZYK, the Secretary General for Formation. He addressed the pitfalls and opportunities of continuing formation in the Conventual Franciscan Order.
During the meeting, the friars also discussed their concerns and joys regarding their places of life and work.
On the eve of the Day of Consecrated Life, February 2, 2023, the friars prayed for their deceased confreres at two different graves in the Salwator Cemetery in Cracow. One of the graves was the resting place of Friar Józef BAŁABAN who had attended similar gatherings during his lifetime.
The Provincial Vicar, Friar Mariusz KOZIOŁ, thanked the friars for their presence at the meeting and for their fidelity to the vocation that God has given them. He wished that all those gathered might persevere to the end “in fine style.”
The Province of Cracow has forty-five religious brothers: thirty reside in Poland, six are in Germany, three in Uzbekistan, three in Slovakia, two in Italy and one in Paraguay.
Friar Jan M. SZEWEK
