I have repeated many times that as Christians, we are called to testify about Jesus, not only in the church but every day and on every occasion: at home, at work, while on vacation, with family members, friends, neighbors, and encountering strangers. I try to practice this, and my trip to Poland last week was no different. There were several reasons for the trip. I visited my father for his 91st birthday. I participated in the celebration of 60th anniversary of my public high school. I gave spiritual presentations and homilies for three days, and a long liturgical music workshop in the monastery. Finally, I made a pilgrimage to Rome for the Jubilee Year. What a restful vacation!
The 60th school anniversary consisted of three events: a special concert in the city’s concert hall, a reception in the high school, and a dance. The following week, I presided at a Mass for high school students, teachers, parents, and visitors. The reception was scheduled from 6 pm until 2 am, and I planned to be there at the latest until 11 pm. Plans are only plans, and I returned home well after 2 am. The reception gathered nearly 600 people. Since I do not dance, I spent all this time with people I knew from high school. In fact, I had more conversations with those I saw the very first time in my life, including current teachers.
Since I was in a clerical suit and easily recognizable, many people approached me and shared their opinions with me regarding the political situation and religious matters. Some of them were atheists, some former Catholics, some traditional Catholics, and some devout Catholics. I tried my best to address their concerns and complaints in a most fruitful way. Some of them who were highly educated presented very simplistic points of view, occasionally married with crippled logic. One can only imagine how much it cost me to properly converse with them. On the one hand, I tried to be delicate and on the other hand, persistent and clear. I used the best of my knowledge, skills, and missionary expertise. The rest was in the hands of God. Some of these conversations were very personal. I was there not for my personal pleasure and for sentimental or culinary reasons. I was there to represent the Catholic Church, to be visible, and to stimulate people’s reflection by my very presence. It was not a restful evening for me — lasting over six hours. But I was very happy — like a person pleased with a job well done — for completing a project and for doing something good. I knew well before these three events for school anniversary that my plan to actively participate in these events was an inspiration from above.
In the same way, I encourage you not to be shy, indifferent or wait for others to do something. If one is open for something good, God himself will work in and through us.
Equally important was my short pilgrimage to Rome. Since I was in Poland, I couldn’t resist flying there in the Jubilee Year. I have spoken many times about the Jubilee Year, about the graces connected with it, about plenary indulgence, and our church as a Jubilee Year Pilgrimage church. Maybe you remember when I was joking that in order to receive a plenary indulgence we can either travel to Rome or visit our church and that the second option will cost us much less. As a pastor of such a privileged Holy Year church, I personally wanted to visit the St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, kneel at the graves of the Apostles — St. Peter and St. Paul — and pass through the original Holy Doors there. I passed through the replica of the Holy Doors in our church at the beginning of the Jubilee Year with you and later during every Thursday evening Mass. Now the time came to do so in Rome as your pastor, and do so on behalf of all parishioners of Corpus Christi. Afterward, I celebrated the Mass at the Basilica of St. John the Apostle in Rome and at the grave of St. John Paul II at St. Peter’s Basilica praying for all of you. I prayed for all those who are strong and those who are weak, for the well and the sick, for your children and grandchildren, for those who are growing in faith and those whose are doubting. I presented all your intentions.
Once again, I invite you to take advantage of the graces offered in the Jubilee Year by visiting our church or visiting … Rome, accompanied by fulfilling all necessary conditions, including a sacramental confession.
Finally, the highlight of the celebration of the Jubilee Year will be here at Corpus Christi with a special celebrant. Bishop Ronald Hicks will preside at the bilingual Jubilee Mass and give the homily on October 19 at 10 am.
Hoping to see you soon. God bless you.
Fr. Mark Jurzyk