Poland Day 3: Krakow, Nowa Huta, and Wadowice

February 20, 2011

Before we went to Mass at the Cathedral (which was in Latin and Polish), we went to the field right outside the hotel where John Paul II met the 3 million or so people when he came back to visit Krakow as Pope. After Mass, some of us had the opportunity to go to Nowa Huta, which was to be the ideal communist city without God. The steel workers there did not want a city without God and built a steel cross which they fought to defend. Today, there is a replica of the cross (as well as a chapel) and we did praise and worship at the cross, which was super neat just to realize God’s greatness and strength—more mighty than the communists. We also visited a Church which looked like the ark, but I don’t remember the significance.

           

Finally, we went to Wadowice, the birthplace of JPII and visited the museum, the Church where he was baptized, etc. and heard the call to the priesthood. We also got Pope cake which was delicious, but I wouldn’t have minded splitting it with someone.

Then we came back to Gaming, arriving at 2 am. So far, this trip has been my favorite. Not only because I’m Polish, so I was really excited to be in the land where my people came from, but just the whole nature of the trip. I don’t think anything can top it.

Poland Day 2: Krakow and Divine Mercy

February 19, 2011

After getting lots of sleep, we had breakfast and a tour of Krakow (where we were staying). During free time, Sr. Carrie Ann and I walked around the town center and went into some churches: St. Mary Magdalen, a very tiny church, one we didn’t know the name of, and the Franciscan Church, which was my favorite. First of all, it was Franciscan. There was a gorgeous stained glass of God the Father and a plaque where JPII prayed inside. There was a copy of the Shroud of Turin as well as a Eucharistic chapel with the image of Matki Bozej Bolsenej (Our Lady of Sorrows) which I have a copy of at home. Sister and I decided to do a holy hour there and it was beautiful.

Afterwards, we met up with Sr. Joan Paule, Julie, and Claire and got perogis for lunch. Then we boarded the bus and headed to the Shrine of Divine Mercy. The first chapel we went to had adoration and we said the chaplet at 3pm in English, Polish, and French (there might have been one more language, but I couldn’t really tell…). Then one of the sisters from St. Faustina’s order gave us a talk about Divine Mercy. Afterwards, we went to the gift shops and had Mass at the Church (a modern-style church which was just consecrated in 2002 by JPII).

Back in Krakow we had dinner and had delicious chocolate covered ice cream for dessert. Back in the hotel, we watched some Polish television, but nothing has topped Salzburg television.

Poland Day 1: Czestochowa and Auschwitz

Praised be Jesus Christ!

So, now that I survived my midterms, I can finally blog about all my adventures in Poland!!

February 28, 2011

We left at 8:30 pm for Poland and arrived in Czestochowa at 5:30 am. On the 9 hour bus ride, we watched Karol Wojtyla, which is an excellent movie about John Paul II’s life from the time of the invasions of Poland at the beginning of World War II, up to his election to the Papacy. However, it was a long ride, so we tried to do some homework as well. And we got very little sleep, but the Lord most certainly granted us the grace to get through the day.

When we arrived in Czestochowa, we dashed off for the Shrine of Our Lady of Czeshtochowa in the frigid pre-dawn air to see the unveiling of the icon. It was such a beautiful ceremony. At 6 am, trumpets and timpani began to play a fanfare as the beautiful icon of the Queen of Poland was unveiled. It was such a moving experience.

Hitler tried to have this basilica destroyed several times, but each time, something happened so that it stayed intact. God is so mighty!

After a brief tour, walking around the altar on our knees (as the pilgrims do—and we got to see JPII’s stole which he wore during the assassination attempt), and Mass (which I was fortunate enough to play for) we made our way to Auschwitz.

One’s life is never the same after visiting a concentration—I can’t even image what it must have been like to have survived being an inmate and adjusting back to what you could maybe call ‘normal’ afterwards. It is a place of degradation and despair and evil.

We were first greeted with the infamous gate which says “work makes you free” (which is of course truly wrong) and then went into some of the bunkhouses which now have displays: the collected belongs of the inmates, their hair, pictures of them and their life. Then we got to see what the rooms looked like, the place between two buildings where many were tortured and shot, St. Maximilian Kolbe’s cell where he died, the gas chambers and the crematorium. Then we went to Berkenau where they would arrive by train through the gate of death to the unloading platform where their fate was determined. Many were sent immediately to the crematorium (which is now demolished). Surrounded by barbed wire, the bunkhouses, no bigger than a very small house, held 400 people.

It was a dismal day when we went which matched the mood of the camp. Before we left, I had some time to reflect on what we experienced: the hatred which the Nazis had and the truth, beauty, and goodness which they did not know. We also prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet by the memorial on the grounds.

Poland: Coming Soon

Praised be Jesus Christ!

So, I did get back from Poland alright and it was definitely my favorite thus far. I honestly don't know if anything can top it.

Unfortunately, I don't have time to give you a detailed update right now (except that we went to Our Lady of Czestochowa, Auschwitz/Berenau, Karakow, Divine Mercy Shrine, Nowa Huta, and Wadowice) because next week I have five midterms in two days, which equals lots of studying. I'm staying back during this two day weekend, so hopefully I'll get something posted before we go to Rome and Assisi. And yes, pictures will be coming.

God bless you!

To the Czech Republic! Anglika?

Praised be Jesus Christ!

Anglika-- not Anglican. That's how I asked people (if I remembered) if they spoke English. Thanks Regina for teaching me that-- it doubled by Czech vocabulary! (The only other word I knew was Nonka, which means no, if I remember correctly from junior high...)

After trying to go to bed early, we woke up at 4:30am to hop on the bus at 5am which the university graciously provided for us to go to Prague! (They also gave us a map, but other than that, we were on our own.) We stopped at a gas station on the way and remembered that none of us know Czech. But we slept on the bus and did some homework, so we were ready to go once we got there.

First we went to find the Jewish part of town and on the way we found the Astronomical clock (well, we thought it was, but it turns out it wasn’t) and a Hussite Church, which looked just like a Catholic Church, except for the Blessed Sacrament being absent. Then we found Jewish Town, but since it was Saturday, their Sabbath, most everything was closed. But there was a Slovak store with beautiful handmade wooden Matruska dolls and eggs. Then we walked across the river and got lunch at café. From there we went to the Prague Castle and saw the changing of the guard (which we missed in London). We didn’t go in the castle, but we went in to St. Vitus Catholic Church.

Then we tried to find out way to Our Lady Victorious where the Infant of Prauge is; however, we were directed in the wrong direction/ there was a language issue, so we had to walk in a big circle back to where we were before, but we got to see some beautiful shots of the city. When we finally made it there, we found a Christian store with beautful, cheap religious statues. After stopping in the Church, praying in front of the Infant, and looking and the Church museum (which featured different outfits of the Infant), we went back across the river for dinner.

Along the beatiful St. Charles Bridge, there were artists and vendors. We at dinner in a Jewish town at Restaurace U Vltavy and got to eat Fried Cheese, which is like a giant mozarella stick (it’s a Prague specialty). Afterward we went back to the bus and headed toward Gaming.

A couple of interesting occurences:

1)      We saw peacocks and peahens up close and personal when we took a “shortcut”, which was just a garden/courtyard area.

2)      We found a store called Shakespeare!!! And it had books in English and French in it!!!

3)      They have a fake.. well… I’ll be nice. It’s an Eiffel Tower Replica.

4)      We did not go in the 5-floor discotech/dance club place, but we saw it.

5)      Claire…. She took another picture with a street performer.  When does she not!?!?!

Although we enjoyed seeking the beautiful city of Prauge, we were so exhausted and glad to get back to the Kartause-- and hear German again!

Skiing in the Alps

Praised be Jesus Christ!

Today was our optional ski trip and it was lots of fun. I've never been skiing before in my life, but Fr. Brad and some other experienced skiers from FUS helped us with some basic moves and then took us up to the beginner slope. It was harder than what I expected, and I took a couple tumbles and lost my ski a couple times, but no harm done. And I was very glad for my skating skills, because they were very similar as far as turning, stopping, and fighting to stay up to keep from falling. After lunch, Fr. Brad took Jenn, Maryanne, Mary, and me up to another beginner slope which I guess was more of the next level slope-- but we were in the Alps, so that means it's harder than it is in the US. But it was so much fun-- definitely a good challenge. Then we did the first beginner slope one last time and turned in our skis and everything.

Needless to say, we are a bit worn out-- it takes a lot of knee and thigh strength. We will definitely sleep well tonight, which is good because we have to leave at 5 am for Prague!

London

Praised be Jesus Christ!

I'm sorry I'm so behind on posting pictures and updates-- it does take up good chunks of my time to post and post pictures. And, my plug for my computer has decided that it doesn't want to work anymore, so my access is a bit more limited now.

So, another very quick update.

London. I really don't mean to sound like I'm complaining, but it was not Salzburg-- aka, it is not your fantastical European city full of beauty. It is more like visiting a historical city in the US, such as Boston. But I did have a grand time with Julie, Claire, Regina, and Markita. We missed a couple trains, and almost had to pay a fine on one of them, and flew over France. The sisters we stayed with were from Malta and they were very sweet. We learned a bunch about how God provides for us. Claire and I went to see King Lear by the Royal Shakespeare Company (last showing-- it was fantastic, by the way), but we had to walk back to the Tube (metro) at night. We were waiting for the players to come to sign my program, and we ran into a young Christian english man about our age who was also waiting to get his signed. And we were all going back to the Tube station, so we had a male escort to walk with us back through Camden Markets (kind of a scary place-- at night).

The next day we went to the British National Museum, the Globe Theatre (huge highlight!), Westminster Abbey for Evensong (Anglican version of Evening Prayer), and then sightseeing after we went to a pub and ordered fish and chips. We went to see Big Ben, London Bridge, St. Paul's Cathedral (the little old bird woman from Mary Poppins), Tower of London, and Westminster Cathedral. On our way to the Cathedral, we ran into 3 Franciscan Friars who also had the same destination as us, and they were giving us suggestions as to where to visit in Poland and Italy.

On Sunday, we said goodbye to the sisters (Franciscan Sisters of the Heart of Jesus), and headed toward Westminster Cathedral for Mass, but stopped by Buckingham Palace on the way, where we saw some of the regiment on horseback with red capes and swords. Mass was beautiful. It was sung by the boys' choir and it was a solemn Mass, so some was in English, some was in Latin. Then we grabbed some food at a grocery store and got on our bus for the airport. Again, we barely missed the train, but we weren't expecting to make it anyway, so it wasn't a huge loss. But we got back to the Kartause at 2:15am on Monday after providentially meeting up with a group from Vienna at the same train station.

This weekend: Ski trip Friday and Prague on Saturday.