Bishops on catechesis, synod, and the 25th anniversary of St. John Paul II’s visit to Zakopane (Communiqué after the Plenary Meeting)

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Catechesis, the synod on synodality, the closing of the Amoris Laetitia Family Year, and the 25th anniversary of the visit of St. John Paul II to Zakopane – were the main topics of the 392nd Plenary Meeting of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, which took place on 6-7 of June in Zakopane.

The main theme of the plenary meeting was catechesis. The bishops emphasized the need to revitalize parish catechesis and evangelization, which allows experiencing faith, prayer, and the community of the Church. They acknowledged that pre-sacramental catechesis and the preparations undertaken to introduce the ministry of catechists and pastoral group animators are cause for hope in this context. “The call for parish catechesis, however, does not mean abandoning religion classes at school. Indeed, parish catechesis and religious instruction are two complementary realities,” the bishops wrote. “Thanks to the presence of religion in schools, the Church has the opportunity to reach a wider group of children and youth with the message of the Gospel,” the bishops emphasized in the communiqué.

Concerning the diocesan phase of the synod on synodality, the bishops thanked all those who have been actively and creatively involved in synodal work. “Inter alia, these meetings enabled the participants to get to know each other better and to present new and valuable initiatives,” the communique reads. A national synthesis will be developed based on diocesan data and guidelines from the Holy See.

Summing up the concluding Amoris Laetitia Family Year, the bishops appealed to pastors, consecrated persons, and lay faithful in Poland to join in living the 10th World Meeting of Families with Holy Father Francis. The central celebrations will be held in Rome from June 22 to 26. “It will be a time of special prayer for marriages and families and witnessing to the value of marriage and family life,” the bishops wrote in the communiqué.

Referring to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the bishops thanked Poles for the help they have given to war refugees and asked that “we continue to help and show generosity toward our sisters and brothers who are still suffering, because without it many of them will not be able to survive.”

The bishops also heard a report from the PBC’s Delegate for the Protection of Children and Youth on the training provided to delegates, pastors, guardians, and those responsible for prevention by the Child Protection Center. “The necessity of further cooperation in caring for the abused and the effectiveness of the proceedings was emphasized,” the communiqué reads.

The Plenary Meeting of the Polish Bishops’ Conference was held on the 25th anniversary of John Paul II’s visit to Zakopane and the highlanders’ homage paid in his presence. At the foot of the cross on Mount Giewont, “the bishops asked the Saint Pope to intercede in the difficult matters of our homeland and commended to his intercession all Compatriots in Poland and abroad”.

 

Press Office of the Polish Bishops’ Conference

 

We publish the full text of the communiqué:

 

Communiqué from the 392nd Plenary Meeting of the Polish Bishops’ Conference

The 392nd Plenary Meeting of the Polish Bishops’ Conference was held in Zakopane on 6 and 7 June 2022, under the presidency of Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki.

The main theme of the meeting was catechesis, which was analyzed from different perspectives. During the discussion, the bishops stressed the need to revive parish and evangelization catechesis, which allows experiencing faith, prayer, and the community of the Church. Pre-sacramental catechesis and the preparations undertaken to introduce the ministry of catechists and pastoral group animators are hopeful in this context. The call for parish catechesis, however, does not mean abandoning religion classes at school. Indeed, parish catechesis and religious instruction are two complementary realities.

Aware of the challenges that arise from dynamic social changes, the bishops recognize the tremendous catechetical work done in religion classes at schools over the past thirty years. To all who carry it out, gratitude is due for their selfless service. Thanks to the presence of religion in schools, the Church has the opportunity to reach a wider group of children and youth with the message of the Gospel.

In the context of the ending school year, the bishops thank the teachers, educators, and catechists for their efforts in teaching and educating, as well as for their openness in welcoming children and young people from Ukraine to schools. May the upcoming vacation season be a time of rest filled with God’s blessing for teachers and students.

The bishops discussed the diocesan phase of the papal synod on synodality. It was emphasized that in the past months thousands of meetings of synodal teams have taken place across Poland based on the model of common discernment, listening, and sharing of one’s own experience of the Church. The bishops thank all those who have actively and creatively engaged in the synodal work. Inter alia, these meetings allowed the participants to get to know each other better and to present new and valuable initiatives. A national synthesis will be developed based on diocesan data and guidelines from the Holy See. The bishops strongly encourage the continuation of meetings in synodal teams and the systematic growth of the synodal Church at all levels.

Summing up the Amoris Laetitia Family Year, the bishops appeal to pastors, consecrated persons, and the lay faithful in Poland to join dioceses, parishes, and families in living the 10th World Meeting of Families with Holy Father Francis. The central celebration will take place in Rome from June 22 to 26 this year. It will be a time of special prayer for marriages and families and witnessing to the value of marriage and family life. Marriages based on love and mutual support, strengthened by grace and open to life, are a natural environment for spiritual growth, and they are a gift to the Church and society.

Concerning the ongoing war in Ukraine, the bishops also addressed the problem of refugees residing in our country. The bishops are stirred by the cruelty of the war, which brings suffering to many people; and the experience of violence, that destroys human lives, dwellings, life plans, and dreams. The attitude of Poles deserves recognition; it is expressed in the assistance to people coming to our country, as well as in generosity towards those who remained in Ukraine. The pastors extend their thanks in a special way to Caritas Poland, diocesan and parish Caritas and other Catholic organizations, diocesan seminaries and religious communities, governmental and non-governmental institutions, and local governments. They ask everyone to continue to help and show generosity towards our sisters and brothers who are still suffering because without help many of them will not be able to survive. They emphasize the importance of a systematic approach to this assistance. Therefore, it is necessary that state institutions, local governments, NGOs, and parishes work together.

The bishops also heard a report from the PBC’s Delegate for the Protection of Children and Youth on the training provided to delegates, pastors, guardians, and those responsible for prevention by the Child Protection Center. They emphasized the need for further cooperation in caring for the abused and the effectiveness of the proceedings.

The Plenary Meeting of the Polish Bishops’ Conference took place on the 25th anniversary of John Paul II’s stay in Zakopane and the highlanders’ homage in his presence. So, at the foot of the cross on Mount Giewont, the bishops asked the Saint Pope to intercede before God for the country in difficult matters, and commended to his intercession all Compatriots in Poland and abroad. They also entrust these same intentions to the intercession of the Elizabethan Sisters who will be beatified in Wroclaw on June 11. The bishops give their pastoral blessing to all.

 

Signed by the pastors of the Catholic Church in Poland present at the 392nd Plenary Meeting of the Polish Bishops’ Conference.

 

Zakopane, June 7, 2022