AC POLAND

The 10th anniversary of Catholic Action’s revival in Poland Częstochowa, 16 -17th June 2006

“Catholic organisations, associations and movements are an indispensable means of apostolic formation. Catholic Action, which once lived in Poland and brought so many magnificent fruits, deserves a special place amongst those organisations. It needs to be revived, for without it the infrastructure of Catholic movements in Poland would be incomplete.” (Rome, January 12, 1993 – John Paul II to Polish bishops during the ‘ad limina apostolorum’ visit)

 • Friday, June 16

11, 00     Holy Mass in the Chapel of the Miraculous Icon of the Mother of God,
– celebration presided by card. Józef Glemp,

12, 30     Conference in the Pope’s Hall
– introduction
   Halina Szydełko, President of Catholic Action Poland
– decoration of contributors to Catholic Action with the medal “For the Apostolic Work”
– first address
   Bishop Piotr Jarecki, the Warsaw Archdiocese 
   Catholic Action as a hope for active lay people
– second address
  Tomasz Arabski, President of Lay Catholics Council
  Courage and responsibility – two tasks of lay people in present-day world
– summary
   Bishop Mariusz Leszczyński, Episcopal Councillor to Catholic Action Poland

15.00     Meal in the Pilgrims’ Centre

18.00       Concert of the song and dance group „Śląsk” – Concert Hall of Częstochowa

21.00     ‘Apel Jasnogórski’ (Jasna Góra evening-time service) – Chapel of the Holy Icon
– Bp M. Leszczyński

• Saturday - June 17

  9.00       The cathedral
– address to the pilgrims:
   Bp M. Leszczyński, Move forward with hope!
– H. Szydełko, Catholic Action’s mission in Poland and worldwide

  9.45       Leaving for Jasna Góra

11.00       Greetings at the ‘summit’ – Jasna Góra’s walls
– Archbishop Stanisław Nowak, Częstochowa Archdiocese
           
11.30       Concelebrated Holy Mass
– presided by Archbishop Józef Michalik, President of the Polish Episcopate

–after the Holy Mass a delegation of Catholic Action will go to the Chapel of the Holy Icon, where the Act of Entrusting Catholic Action to the Lady of Jasna Góra will take place