Forty pilgrims accompanied Fr Andrew Southwell and Fr Anton Guziel to Poland from May 29 to June 5, on a trip organised by the Latin Mass Society, writes Peter Clarke.
They are shown in the photograph above outside the Church of Ss Peter and Paul in Kraków. The pilgrimage included visits to the site of the concentration camp at Auschwitz, the Shrine of Our Lady of Cz_stochowa, the Divine Mercy Shrine at _agiewniki, as well as many of the beautiful churches in Kraków.
The group was present among many thousands of people on the Feast of Corpus Christi for the traditional procession from the cathedral and around the streets of Kraków. Latin Mass Society pilgrimages usually go to Rome or Lourdes. This was the first time that Poland had been selected.
The group were fortunate in that Fr Anton Guziel is fluent in Polish and familiar with most of the churches in Kraków.
It was clearly evident to all those on the pilgrimage that Catholicism in Poland is vibrant.
Polish Catholics have a great sense of devotion and reverence. On the other hand, sadly, our own seminaries, convents and monasteries here in England are declining and, in many instances, closing.
Vocations to the Holy Priesthood and the religious life in Poland are plentiful.
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