On October 23-28, the formators of the Franciscan Sisters of Poland conducted a meeting in Kalwaria Pacławska, Poland. The theme of the meeting was “Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord” (Eph 2:21).
Friar Mariusz KOZIOŁ, the Vicar Provincial of the Province of St. Anthony and Bl. James of Strepar in Poland (Cracow), presided over the opening Mass of this first ever meeting, which had been organized by the Federation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Immaculate and Blessed Salome of the Order of St. Clare in Poland.
Nearly forty sisters attended the meeting. Together they represented the Federation of the Poor Clares, the Mater Ecclesiae Association of the Capuchin Poor Clares, the Federation of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration and the Federation of the Bernardine Sisters. The meeting gave the sisters an opportunity to hear from specialists in the field of religious formation, to draw on their spiritual wealth and benefit from their knowledge and experience. The daily program included Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours, Adoration, the Way of the Cross, as well as lectures, workshops, a visit to the local basilica and learning about the activities of the Father Wenanty KATARZYNIEC Center. One particularly important moment was a prayer for peace recited on the border with Ukraine.
Some of the topics presented were “Formation and Deformation” by Friar Piotr STANISŁAWCZYK, OFM Conv.; “The Fragilities of the Formator” by Agata RUSAK; “Formation and Spiritual Direction” by Father Krzysztof DYREK, S.J.; and “Maternal Birth, Intercessory Death and Other Gifts of the Holy Spirit, Necessary in the Service of Formation” by Friar Andrzej PRUGAR, OFM Conv.
Sister Joanna DŁUGA, OSC
