The Assistant General for Northern Europe points out the main challenge in Poland: “The vocational question must be faced with urgency, determination and faith”

The Assistant General for Northern Europe, Father Ian Wilson, together with Father Joseph Farrell, visited the Province of Poland. 

During their week there, both Assistants General were able to accompany and get to know the reality of our 12 friars, spread over three communities: two communities in Krakow and one near Warsaw that recently welcomed Fr. Emmanuel from Nigeria.

“Our Augustinians are working in parishes, hospital chaplaincies and teaching classes,” says Father Ian, who is currently in the Province of Villanova, accompanying the renewal visitation led by Father Farrell during this Advent season. “We see that in Poland there is a growing pastoral activity with a multinational English-speaking community in the center of Warsaw that is energizing the life of the Church here.” Similarly, Father Ian informs us, “there is a community of Augustinian sisters next to our church of St. Catherine in Krakow.” There, thirty nuns with a marked vocation for formation have worked or are working in the same school which they run and which currently covers all grades: from kindergarten to 18 years of age.

Great Polish hospitality

The Assistant General for Northern Europe tells us of the warmth, welcome and great hospitality that the Polish friars, laity and religious dispensed during the visit of the two assistants. “The work meetings went well and we were able to address frankly the greatest challenge we Augustinians have in Poland, which is vocations.” “We hope that as a result of the visit, the friars will see the need to address this issue with urgency, determination and faith.”

“It has been a pleasant few days of giving thanks to God. The weather was kind to us. so we were fortunate not to experience the harshest effects of the Polish winter.”