11.12.2010

When you go another time home, you don’t think which time it is exactly. You just come to those who are close to you. This is how I feel when I arrive to Jeevodaya, that is why in general I don’t know which subsequent visit in the Centre I am paying. Obviously, each visit has its own specificity; a more or less precise reason lies behind the choice of the date of my stay. This time, I am alone and beside joining to the group of people going to Dharamshala, I did not have any intended aim.
The first welcoming words in Jeevodaya were especially moving. For many people, my arrival was associated with the memory of the tragically deceased Janina-Nani. The following days, I was spending time with my close friends and participating in their every day life and cares of the day. The concern of the last few days is the harvest, as the rain, not typical for this period of the year, has soaked the stacks of rice straw, and here and there the corn on the fields. Let’s hope that the sun that appeared after 4 days will dry them up.
Other matters are meetings on the gradual becoming independent of the employees of the Centre. Several families, thanks to our help, have built a house for their children (Lalaram in Champa, Pahunlal in Bhagbahara); Sonauram and Martin’s families moved to their houses which are situated nearby the Centre. That way, they continue their work for Jeevodaya being on their own and leading an independent life. People who have acquired cultivated fields near Jeevodaya pay back slowly their debts from the obtained crops. Their experience encourage others to undertake the effort of working hard and saving money.
Lately, the inhabitants of Jeevodaya who do not have a house, were granted property rights by the community of Gatapar village in the form of small allotments adjoining to the Centre, where they are building their own houses. This is a sign of good cooperation and appreciation of the Centre by the local community that since many years has been benefiting from free medical assistance. Many inhabitants of nearby villages work permanently or temporarily in the Centre, and since not such a long time ago the high school is open for children from the vicinity. This initiative is a commitment so as to settle the allotments in a relatively short time. Now it is high time to decide in what extent and order the assistance should be provided, without neglecting the help in the slow construction of the school. In the latter issue, a representative of the Polish Embassy which this year as well is participating in the building and furnishing expenses of the school, is going to come to Jeevodaya. (AS)

03.12.2010

This week, two employees of the Mission Secretariat of Jeevodaya, Agata and Adam have been hosted in the Warsaw Art School Complex. They conducted in four classes of art secondary school and two classes from art higher secondary school. During the lessons they were talking about Jeevodaya, outlining the everyday life in India.
The young people were listening with interest, sometimes also with disbelief, the accounts from the stay in the Centre. They were depicting the education system, the existing differences between schools in Jeevodaya and in Poland. They were talking also about the fate of leper people. There included information about customs, life conditions and religious denominations in India. The young people were reacting very spontaneously to the presented photographs and counted stories. Some were commenting on them very animatedly, others were asking incisive questions, some others still were covering their eyes at the sight of pictures showing leprosy. The Indian sari and Tibetan monk dress, brought from Asian trips, aroused authentic interest.
The employees of the Secretariat were very warmly greeted by the young people and school staff, all very much interested in the world: Magdalena Hańska, the religion and enterprise teacher, as well as Anna Nasiadek, the ethics teacher. The classes which have been hold for two days showed how important it is to bring to the attention of the younger generation to the fact that several thousands kilometers away there is a completely different world. Different does not mean better or worse, simply other than the one we know and are normally used to. (AK)

30.11.2010

Thanks to the initiative and organization of our Italian friends, we are in Dharamshala. This indian town in southern Himalayas has been a refuge for many Tibetan people since 1959, including Dalaj Lama XIV and the main office of the Tibetan Government in Exile. In several monasteries
nuns and monks acquire their initiation, they learn Buddhist philosophy and art of debating. We have the privilege of staying in one of such monasteries gathering girls and women from India, Nepal, Tibet, Bangladesh and Bhutan. We are also taking part in their life. It is here, in the modest rooms, that we had carried out examinations of more than 150 nuns, their teachers and inhabitants living in the vicinity. It is the first aid of this sort organized in this monastery. Our help turned out to be very needful, and the Italian benefactors bought the necessary drugs. The kindness that we meet at each step, the nuns prayers and the sight of the majestic Himalayas are an extraordinary prize for the work and hardships of the journey – it took us 14 hours by minibus from Delhi, as the plane did not take off due to bad weather. (AS and HP)

12.11.2010

Our younger co-workers encouraged me to place some information about Jeevodaya on Facebook. For a few weeks now, you can join us, view our photos from the Centre; both those from the albums of the Secretariat and those placed e.g. by our volunteers, who this year came in big numbers to Jeevodaya. This form of communication, more and more popular in Poland and worldwide, makes possible a quicker and more interactive exchange of thoughts, information on organized and lanned meetings, sharing photos, movies, links to articles placed by Internet users. You can find us under “Sekretariat Misyjny Jeevodaya” and join our group and follow all addend information. We have also a website Jeevodaya and Heart Adoption.
I warmly invite our constant readers, especially those who use this form of communication, to join us. Of course we will be also up dating our website www.jeevodaya.org and place the most important information there. (AS)

4.11.2010
 
 Christians and Hindus: towards greater mutual respect, trust and cooperation. That is the title of the yearly address of Papal Council for Interfaith Dialogue to the Hindu followers. It was announced on the occasion of Diwali feast, which this Year is celebrated on November 5.
  Addressing himself to ‘dear Hindu friends’, the chairman of the Council, cardinal Jean-Luis Tauran and his secretary, archbishop Pier Luigi Celata are thinking on the best way of strengthening friendship and cooperation between Catholics and Hindu people. They seek this through showing to themselves greater mutual respect and trust.
They explain that respect is due to everyone because of his/her human dignity which means the right for protection against violence and indifference. Mutual respect is so one of the bases of peaceful and harmonious coexistence, as well as social progress.
The authors of the address write: trust, itself, leads each relation truly human, both in its personal and community dimension. Mutual respect, together with creating an environment allowing for development and joint good, shapes common belief that we can rely on each other in achieving common goal. They underline that this conviction gives rise in people and communities the wish and readiness to establish fruitful cooperation not only in creating good in general, but also in taking care of serious, but irresolvable challenges of our times.
   Cardinal Tauran and archbishop Celata indicate that respect and trust constitute the basis of dialogue and all interfaith relations, which have as their goal, as the pope Benedict XVI preaches, becoming creators of peace in mutual understanding, respect and love. As a consequence, the bigger is our commitment in interfaith dialogue, respect and trust are more full, leading us to the growth in cooperation and joint action. Such relations, as John Paul II said, have a basic significance for solving problems linked with human suffering.
   The Vatican address ends with a call for showing culture as promoting respect, trust and cooperation, and seasonal greetings linked with Diwali feast.
     Based on Indian mythology, Diwali (Deepavali) feast expresses the victory of truth over lie, light over darkness, life over death, good over evil. Three day lasting celebrations designate the beginning of the new year. They constitute also an opportunity for reconciliation in families, especially between brothers and sisters. (KAI)

1.11.2010

Today the Catholic Church celebrates All Saints’ Day, the patrons of each one of us, and the day after we will recall all our dead. This year, God has called: s. Barbara Birczyńska, the co-founder of Jeevodaya; Ms Janina Michalską, the organizer of the Mission Secretariat of Jeevodaya, but also little Pushpa, a pupil from 1 standard and Shyamlal, the chhokkidar (watchmean), who – illiterate – was calling patients summoned for examination by their name.
Also among our Benefactors some were called in front of the Highest One, who – as the Word of the Lord ensures us – will tell: “I was hungry and you fed me, I was naked and you dressed me up”. In November, as every year, in the Centre of Jeevodaya, father Abraham will celebrate a Holy Mass for the deceased Benefactors. (AS)

25.10.2010

The VI Pilgrimage of Helpers and Friends of Jeevodaya to Jasna Góra ended on Mission Sunday. We lived it through under the watchword ‘Jeevodaya a witness of love’. Around 70 people, participants of the pilgrimage, were praying in a cordial atmosphere of a big family of Jeevodaya and meditating how one can become a witness of love in a place, where God sends us every day. We were getting acquainted with the history and the present day of the Rehabilitation Centre, which everybody helps as far as he is able.
Father Stanisław Kozik was helping us to understand that help is a mutual gift, and its significant dimension is to have time for others. He underlined that Christian bond invites to enter into relation of a donor with the one receiving the gift. In this light, the confession of many participants of the pilgrimage ‘I have a son in Jeevodaya’, ‘I have a daughter in Jeevodaya’ shows the depth and beauty of the action Heart Adoption.
Mutual integration and better knowledge of the country of our friends was enhanced by ‘a joyful ,funny evening’, as well as common meals, including the taste of Indian cuisine. We had the possibility of seeing archive films about Jeevodaya and listening to the programme on the Centre with the participation of the late Janina Michalska, the founder of the Mission Secretariat and the participant of the first pilgrimages of the Helpers of Jeevodaya to Jasna Góra. Going on pilgrimages to Jasna Góra is giving to the Mother of Beautiful Love all our worries and listening intently to Her voice: ‘do everything that my Son will tell you’. Some of the most important points of the programme included participations in the Eucharist in the Chapel of the Miraculous Icon of the Mother of God and in the Jasna Góra calling. The Assembled recent secondary school graduates from the diocese of Zamość and Lubaczów showed how many young people go on pilgrimage to the Mother of God, so as to entrust her with their future. Strengthened with spiritual gifts and enriched with new knowledge and relationships with people met one more time, we came back home, saying goodbye to each other just for a short time: we all really wish to participate in the next year pilgrimage in which dr Helena, who is expected in Poland in spring 2011, will probably take part. (AS)

20.10.2010

Just a moment ago, 2 college students bid me farewell, setting off for ‘holidays’. Not officially. Today there are lectures, but only 3 eager students came to class, the rest did not turn up. This is one of the reasons why I so frequently talk about the low level of teaching: there are no much time for studies. Last week, there were many sport competitions. It is a big happiness that our children and students have big achievements, as for example the football team is the best in the whole area. Quite often, however, participants of sport activities have difficulties at making up for the school programme.
And now, there is a string of feasts and most of the children went home. First, the feast of Durga, which usually lasts the whole octave; on Sunday there was Dusserha; in 2 weeks time, there would be the celebrations around the biggest spring feast, Divali. So our students have additional, more than 3-week-holidays, and in the Centre it is quiet and silent.
Our priests took advantage of this free time: first father Vijay, and now father Abraham went to their yearly retreat. I myself will take a short break, although the ‘working’ one only next month. (HP)

19.10.2010

In India usually funerals take place just a few hours after death – not all relatives come to the celebration on time. That is why there is a habit of meeting the deceased person’s family members some time after death, so as to commemorate him or her. The family has to organize a feast in honour of the deceased person, so that all may remember him well.
Yesterday, the Jeevodaya family gathered so as to commemorate our Nani, Janina Michalska. At the morning Eucharist, we were praying for the everlasting joy in the arms of our Heavenly Father, and in the evening we gathered all together for dinner. We all felt the seriousness and uniqueness of this moment – this was another reminder that Nani will not sit with us anymore, but she is already at the Heavenly Feast. We trust that she would have been happy that we commemorated this date in this way. (HP)

Dear Helpers and Friends of Jeevodaya

        We invite you to the VI Pilgrimage of Helpers and Friends of Jeevodaya to Jasna Góra. The meetings so far were an occasion for mutual getting to know each other and the beginning of forming a body like a big joint Jeevodaya family, constituted of people to whom the idea of helping the poorest of the poor is very dear. In our community there are benefactors, volunteers and students from India.  
        People, who visited our  Centre in India and those who help it, and thanks to our unique meeting may experience its atmosphere. Each year we are united by some topic and the prayer in collective intentions.
        In Poland, the pastoral  year which is going past goes under the heading: Let ‘s be witnesses of love. More than 40 years ago, fr Adam Wiśniewski and sr Barbara Birczyńska, in the name of Jesus Christ, founded the center for lepers in Central India, so as it may become the dawn of life for those who did not have any other hope. The service, undertaken with unusual determination, brings effects , and we can observe them today. Both of them gave a real witness of love,  dying in Jeevodaya (fr  Adam in 1987, sr Barbara on June 8 2010). They woud not have done it on their own, without the help of thousands of benefactors. It is they, who out of their money, very frequently not having themselves much, were sharing and still do share their means so as to help others. This is also a witness of love. They would not have done it either without the co-workers, cured patients serving their brothers, as well as people, who out of christian faith, decided to spend their life in Jeevodaya.
        The work of Jeevodaya lasts and serves the needful thanks to their followers and serves the people in need thanks to followers who undertook the mission of the founders. Dr Helena Pyz has been serving in  Jeevodaya for more than 20 years with her knowledge and love. The Mission Secretariat in Warsaw supports the Centre, and still new and new people join the work of Jeevodaya
 
VI Pilgrimage of Jeevodaya Helpers to Jasna Góra
Jeevodaya a witness of love
23 - 24 October 2010

Venue : House of Memory of Cardinal Wyszyński, Częstochowa, ul. Wyszyńskiego 12

Start: 23.10 at 12:00 (reception from 10.00). End: 24.10 at 14 :00.

In the programme:
joint prayer, meditation, conference bringing the history of Jeevodaya and its present issues, community meeting with volunteers and students from India, possibility to visit and pray in the Sanctuary of Jasna Gora and to learn prayers in hindi, to taste Indian cuisine.

We kindly ask you to report until October 8 (by phone call, regular or electronic mail): 
- the intention to take part in the pilgrimage
- the need to have an accomodation
-the wish to participate in joint meals

All of you are lkindly requested to prayer on behalf of the Centre and the Jeevodaya Pilgrimage.
Manager of the Mission Secretariat of   Jeevodaya  - Anna Sułkowska

27.09.2010

On September 25, 2010 we bid farewell to the late Janina Michalska. At the Holy Mass in the Warsaw Archicathedral were present : the community of the Institute of Primate Wyszynski, the members of her family, friends, and among them several dozens of priests, sisters from different congregations, representatives from public institutions. We all had the feeling that we are biding farewell to a person who loved much and made a lot, and today went to take the deserved prize.
The Eucharist was led by the Primate senior, Joseph cardinal Glemp. At the beginning the responsible for the institute of Primate Wyszyński, Stanisława Grochowska, presented the most important facts from the life of Helena Janina Michalska and her silhouette. Father Adam Wójcikowski, presented Janina in reflection of Jesus blessings and the one, which became a particular programme of her life Blessed are those poor in the spirit as it is to them that belongs heaven.
The body of late Janina Michalska were deposed in the tomb of the community of the Institute in the Brodno cemetery. She herself will remain for ever in the memory and hearts of those among she lived and whom she served. (AS)

21.09.2010

I thank all for the warm words of compassion, those told and untold, or rather expressed in their hearts. We feel one with you despite the distance. I ask on behalf of all in Jeevodaya for prayers for our Janeczka.
We, personally, cannot bid her the last farewell, we will however join in prayer with all participants of the funeral. We will be with our thoughts and prayers in the Warsaw St. Johns Cathedral on September 25 at 1pm on the funeral mass and by the Institute tomb on the Brodno cemetery. Let join our hearts in common prayer of gratitude for the beatiful life of Janeczka, for her service and work to the Church and the Institute of Primate Wyszyński, for all the kindness that lepers have received through her hands on the Indian land.
We trust that her prize in heaven is great. (HP)

18.09.2010

Janina Michalska, known to everybody in Jeevodaya as NANI (grandma), has died today in a car crash. I got the news in the evening, but it spread instantly throughout the Centre. It is always difficult when close person die, every such event is a blow. We would still have so much to talk about, there were still some issues to take care of and You had promised to come for the blessing of the new school building. And now we can only say: goodbye in heaven.
But we have to say that You were Nani, somebody very close to so many of us in Jeevodaya Nagar. From the very first visit all knew that you belong to us. You came to see on your own eyes the people and places which you started to love when you got to know our life, troubles, needs. At first, you tried to make up a deficiency of them, then you wanted to get to know the realia, so difficult to imagine. You did not speak any of the languages, you were not scared by the conditions and uncomfortable changes: of time, climate, diet. The long trip turned out to be very easy: that is how one follows God’s paths.
Do not say: don’t cry! We will cry, we will suffer because of the parting, we will miss your presence. But we will also thank God for You, for your wonderful life, for giving your attention to our problems, your presence in the problems of the untouchable people, which you were not afraid to touch. For your courage of crossing barriers we will thank God and we believe that we can still learn a lot from You. We trust with all the might of our hope that one day we will meet in the place where all tears will dry and there will only be LOVE. (HP)

27.08.2010

We warmly recommend to all teachers, especially catechists the workshops: Asia closer than you think, organized by the Pallotine Mission Secretary. One of  the topics discussed at the workshops will be Jeevodaya Centre.
The workshops will be held on the 1-3 October 2010 in the House of Mission Activation in Konstancin Jeziorna.
The aim of the workshops is:
- to familiarize the participants with the knowledge on mission activity of the Church in the Asian continent,
- to confront the knowledge of the participants with the experience of mission volunteers, scientists and specialists in mission science, tropical hygiene and testimony of Asian Christians invited to cooperate in the organization of the workshops,
- transmission of Synopses of Meetings of Missionary Circles concerning Asia.
The cost of the workshops is 100 zł (organizational costs. The stay and meals are free of charge). The deadline for applications is 19.09.2010.
Applications and detailed information at: www.salvatti.pl (AS)

On the 26 August we celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the birth of the founder of Missionaries of Charity of the blessed Mother Teresa from Calcutta.
The anniversary will be celebrated in many places all over the world: in Calcutta, in Rome, in Her place of birth - Skopje, everywhere where spiritual children of Mother Teresa work and live: sisters and brothers of charity.
The government of India announced this day National Day of Orphans and called the United Nation Organization for the 26 August to be the National Day of Orphans. Its aim is to turn the attention of the public opinion to the dramatic situation of children in many parts of the world. The birthday anniversary of Mother Teresa, who remains one of the most popular person in India, will be also honored in this country by the emission a special coin with the effigy of the Blessed. In the Archidiocese of Calcutta takes place a prayer novena and a series of meetings accompanied by a touring exhibition devoted to the life and message of the founder of the Missionaries of Charity.
Blessed Mother Teresa, in fact Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, was born on August 26, 1910 in Skopje, in present day Macedonia, in an Albanese family. At the age of 18, she entered the congregation of Loretan sisters and went to India. In 1937, she made final vows taking the name of Teresa. After coming into contact with extreme poverty in Calcutta, she decided to fund a new apostolic order, whose task was the care over the most needy and rejected people in society. Missionaries of Charity was founded in 1950, when and where Teresa changed her habit to a saree, the traditional indian dress. In 1979, she received the Nobel Peace Prize for her charitable activities for the poorest.
She died from heart attack in Her home house in Calcutta on September 5, 1997 in the reputation of holiness. The pope John Paul II beatified mother Teresa on October 19, 2003 in the 25th anniversary of his pontificate (AS)

1.08.2010

23 years have passed from the death of father Adam Wiśniewski SAC. As in previous years, apart from common prayer by the tomb of the Founder of Jeevodaya and the Holy Mass, we celebrated this day with the action of planting trees. Hopefully, a few days earlier regular monsoon rains started to fall – let hope that this work will benefit in luxuriant greenery in our Centre. For the first time, we were praying for eternal rest for both Founders: father Adam and sister Barbara.
On the same day, we hold the yearly general meeting of Jeevodaya Association members.
Today, on the other part, the families of Jeevodaya children visited them. As every year, some of our newly admitted children have difficulties to adapt to new rules and regulations of the Centre. The visit of the closest parents and relatives often bring relief in living through partings, but also recall visibly lost privileges of home life. And this time as well, one girl decided to come back home and we weren’t able to convince her to stay. One other candidate to be a nurse, a student who passed her final exams this year, discouraged with first difficulties, decided to come back home: she doesn’t want to take the chance of acquiring a good profession.
At present, we have here with us the second group of volunteers from Poland. The medical students take part in the work in the out-patient clinic and undertake independent tasks. During prophylaxis tests, they have the possibility to get skills of examining children and adults, they get acquainted with the technique of examination towards leprosy, they get experience in detecting different diseases. I hope that the stay of many young Polish people this year in the Centre will bring mutual benefits. (HP)

6.07.2010

As we could hear in the Polish Radio and read in some information portals, Helena is in Delhi. She is taking care of many matters and that is why she doesn't have time to share information with our
Jeevodaya website guests.
Polish people are voting abroad. Even 1000 km away in order to get to the polling station.
The Polish doctor Helena Pyz, taking care of leper people for more than 20 years in a place far away from the capital of India, came to the polling station in New Delhi. She came to Delhi on purpose, in order to take part in the voting.' (Polish Radio, KR, 2010-07-04, 11: 12)
The last few days were extremely tense. The school year in this part of India, where Jeevodaya is situated, begins on July 1. The youth from the older classes (9-12) came a bit earlier, so as to be on time with the exams that will start in early spring. On the last days of June, parents come with their children that they want to place in Jeevodaya. It is a time of deciding whether the children can stay, of seeing whether the parents and distant relatives tell the truth or whether they want to get rid of their costly offspring. In the meantime, our students from Poland came to Jeevodaya. Sadly, they lost their luggage. A few days have passed before they got them back at the airport in Raipur. The visit in Delhi is also a good time for meetings and formalities. The home of our friends in Delhi has already hosted the first group of students from Poland arriving as volunteers and many other people, who took the opportunity to meet dr Helena for the first time or after a long break. In the Polish Embassy, dr Helena was discussing the issue of the continuation of the studies program of
our three students from Jeevodaya in Poland and the subsidy from the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the construction of the school in the Centre. (AS)

18.06.2010

Sister Barbara's farewell was divided into a few stages. The funeral took place on June 8, in Jeevodaya, India. The body was buried in the local cemetery in its central part. The funeral ceremony was led by archbishop of Raipur Joseph Augustine and 10 priests assisted him. A group of nuns was also praying. Many adults, brought up in the Centre, came for the ceremony. They came to help and bid farewell to their benefactress. They were saying that they experienced a lot of goodness and love from her and she deserved these last offices. I saw many people whom I haven't seen for many years. The news about sister Barbara's death spread around very quickly.
In Poland, in the House of the Institute of Primate Wyszyński, father Grzegorz Młodawski SAC, the Secretary for missions of Christ the King province led the requiem mass. He admitted that although he personally did not know sister Barbara, yet he heard a lot about her from his co-brothers. Besides the members of the Institute, workers of the Secretariat and the youth from Jeevodaya, the closest co-workers, friends from Maitri group and sister Barbara's family members: her brother, niece and nephew were praying with us. In the posthumous tribute, we quoted dr Helena's words written shortly after sister Barbara's death as a reflection on the Deceased. Sita presented a short reminiscence from the last period of sister Barbara's life. Mr Birczyński recollected the childhood and the shared games with the one-year younger Barbara.
In Cracow, the memorial Mass for the late sister Barbara Jacenta Birczyńska was celebrated in the Saint Barbara's church nearby the house where the Deceased was brought up. Many people took part in it, among others the members and friends of the family, the Sisters of the order of Saint Michael and the representatives of the Missionary Secretariat of Jeevodaya. After the Mass, a posthumous tribute meeting was held in the family home. All got acquainted with great interest with the history of the Jeevodaya Centre, in which sister Barbara played an active and significant part. The participants were exchanging comments on the remembered facts or the personality traits of sister Barbara. It is worth mentioning that sister Barbara, during her 44-year- stay in India, payed a visit to Poland once and was then, in 1999, in her home Cracow. She received post in form of 1-2 letters a year.
During the whole month of July, Gregorian masses will be celebrated for the peace of sister Barbara's soul. (HP, AS)

8.06.2010

The late Barbara Jacenta Birczyńska lived 83 years, 44 of which in India.
Barbara Birczyńska was born in Cracow on 16th September1927. She graduated from Maths Department of the Jagiellonian University. From her young age she wanted to serve children and especially those who were the most aggrieved by fate. After World War II, she joined the order of the Sisters of Saint Micheal the Archangel, who were running orphanages. When the sisters were deprived of all their caring institutions by the communists she found that she was not able to fulfill her vocations in these circumstances. After 11 years, she stepped out of the order and was looking for another place where she could fulfilll her vocation. In 1966 she set off to India, in order to join father Adam Wiśniewski SAC, who had already been planning to found a Polish centre for lepers. “He was 'for the lepers' and I was 'for the children'. In that way the idea of the centre for leper children was shaping itself”, sister Barbara Jacenta was recollecting after many years. In central India, at present state of Chhattisgarh, in 1969, they founded Dżiwodaja (Jeevodaya) Nagar, 'a town of dawn of life'. Since father Adam's death in 1987 to 1996, sister Barbara had been the President of Jeevodaya Society administering the Centre. In 2006, after over a decade-lasting stay in south of India, she came back to Dżiwodaja (Jeevodaya) for a well-deserved pension, where she was warmly greeted by the inhabitants of Jeevodaya.
The requiem Mass will be celebrated in the chapel of the Institute of Primate Wyszyński at 61 Marsa street in Warsaw, on 14th June at 6 p.m. After the Eucharist, posthumous tribute to sister Barbara, the Leper Missionary (AS)

Today, on 8th June 2010, in the morning hours, s. Barbara Jacenta Birczyńska died at the age of 83. She was the co-founder of Jeevodaya. The funeral ceremony begins at 5 p.m. Her body will be buried at the Jeevodaya cemetery. (HP)

6.06.2010

The riotously inaugurated third millennium continues, the development of civilisation very often exceeds our imagination. The shocking inventions that one has to take responsibility for. And the reality of the everyday life struggling with the simplest diseases, known for a long time and curable. It is still a painful contrast, as everything is in this part of the world where I have been living for more than 20 years.
A few days ago, I diagnosed at first glance a leper case – leprosy which had already mutilated the leg of a four-year old boy. Treated for two and a half years by private doctors, he finally landed in our clinic. Nothing will bring him back the complete use of his feet, but at least we can cure the disease.
This fact made me think about the effectiveness of our actions. Why does leprosy still exist? This question is often being asked at different meetings. Not diagnosed cases, wrong diagnoses, this is only one of the reasons. The most frequent one is the fact of hiding the disease for a maximum possible time due to fear of social ostracism. And this is the time until the disease is diagnosed when the patient spreads the disease wherever he appears. We can add to this the low resistance of people being malnourished for generations.
The most painful for me however is giving up treatment by patients, as it is a sign of small effectiveness of our efforts. Why the slightest obstacle in getting on time to the clinic justifies the patient of not keeping the schedule? How difficult it is to explain to simple, not educated people that leprosy does not hurt, but requires systematic treatment! Here everybody receive medication for free, and giving up treatment causes resistance to drugs. Why, however, a university student comes always in the afternoon, just before the closing of the clinic and brings to me his medical file in a document case? What makes that an educated, independent woman, although it seemed that she
understood, does not report for the second portion of drugs? How is it possible that somebody who himself showed me changes on his arm and to whom I enable the most discreet giving out of medication, stops coming to the clinic? What makes that the seller with visible leper changes, although encouraged to come to the clinic, does not turn up and by the following meeting pretends not to know us? I don't know the answer for so many other questions and I know that there are much more not solved treatment issues ahead of us. It hurts and I feel sad. (HP)

26.05.2010

We present you the new logo, which we would like you to associate with our Centre from now on.
The original logo shows three tents winded around with a rosary. Behind the tents there is the rising sun. Around the inscription “Let’s both you and me fight leprosy”. This logo alludes both to the name of the Centre “dawn of life”, as to its beginning when 3 military tents were placed and constituted the Centre in its beginning. The translation of the inscription into Polish is quite loose: “Pomóżmy pokonać trąd”. At present, we added to this symbol well-known to you, the name of the Centre written in the original language (in dewanagari) and in Polish as well as the website where you can find the English name of the Centre.
We decided to write the Polish name of the Centre for several reasons: we wanted to adjust to the Act on the Polish Language, to introduce uniform spelling and pronunciation of the name of the Centre and the need to reach children.
As the word “Jeevodaya” functions as a proper name (both for the Centre and the Secretariat), we will use both names (in English and Polish) for some time. If the second is accepted, we will aspire to use it as the only binding form.
We have also prepared a colourful stamp-sticker, on which apart from the above-mentioned details, there is the face of a girl with a visible leper spot (this face has already appeared in our posters) and a Christian greeting in hindi “Dżaj Jesu”, used by all Jeevodaya inhabitants. (AS)

24.05.2010

The Mission Secretariat of Jeevodaya is invited by the Papal Missionary Works of Children (Papieskie Dzieła Misyjne Dzieci) to take part in the VIII National Mission Congress of Children in Jasna Góra on the 28-29 May. The motto of this year Congress is: Let’s tell the world – God is Love!
Together with the fathers from the Sacred Heart (Sercanie) we will propagate knowledge about Asia to the group of children from the dioceses of Częstochowa, Drohiczyn, Legnica, Lublin, Łowicz, Przemyśl, Sosnowiec and Zielona Góra/Gorzów. In the programm: religious missionary lesson, the Eucharist, musical and dance programme and the Final of All-Poland Contest “My classmate from the Mission”.
The whole will be an opportunity for good, instructive game, but also shaping an attitude of responsibility for the mission work and solidarity with the most needy world-wide. We invite religion instruction teachers and children to participate in this event, and we ask all to pray for good weather.
You can find the detailed programme here: http://www.missio.org.pl/150/index.php (AS)

18.05.2010

On Sunday, 30 May 2010, between 10:00 and 20:00, along Krakowskie Przedmieście Street in Warsaw, there will be an exceptional tents town in which more than 80 non-governmental organizations will display their works and invite passer-bys to get involved in helping the most needy.
By this charity festival, Center of Thoughts John Paul’s II would like to encourage helping others and bring back the words of the Polish Pope expressed 21 years ago on 2 June 1979 in Piłsudski Square (then the Victory Square). The stand of our Secretariat, whose aim is to introduce the Leprosy and Rehabilitation Centre Jeevodaya, will be situated in Krakowskie Przedmieście Street on the side of the odd numbers of houses, next to Hoover Square (more or less vis a vis no 37). We kindly invite
all of you to visit us and our stand and to taste Indian tea.
You can find more detailed information on the planned attractions, programme and the organizations taking place in the Town of Mercy on the website: www.centrumjp2.pl/miasto (AS)

6.05.2010

We spent a really nice long weekend in Krynica: the workers of the Secretariat, students from India and a group of students preparing themselves to voluntary work in Jeevodaya. It was for sure an
integration trip: we were doing everything together: excursion to the mountains, expeditions to the pump rooms in order to benefit from their magical power, games in the park, prayer in the parish church, shared singing, and even dancing and talks: about India, studies, about what is important and interesting for us. Every day we were studying a bit of hindi. We, Polish, have mastered the prepared material in a satisfactory level. Our teachers (students from India) turned out to be demanding and very helpful: they were checking our knowledge during our walks and everyday activities. We do hope that we will continue this short Hindi course in the near future, and draw up some Polish - Hindi phrasebook, which none has published so far. The hospitable house of the Institute once more turned out to be a real “Anchorage”. (AS)

3.05.2010

For separate groups of our children, holidays have already begun since the beginning of April – after taking the exams, our young people had the right to leave the Centre. We speeded up the internal exams due to water supply difficulties in the Centre. Heat waves struck us around 1,5 months earlier than usual and affected its excessive use, and the garden necessitates constant irrigation. All children are free apart from a few children who began treatment requiring our control (tuberculosis and leprosy), our own 'from the centre' and those with special needs.
The exam results (lack of results from 5, 8 and 10 standards) present a good level of teaching in our school. We can not only see the teachers' devoted work but also the strenuous endeavors of our 'students' as well. 22 out of 29 this year' s students of 12th standard passed the exams with the highest grades (above 60%), 6 passed within the second grade scale (above 45%) and only one student has to retake one subject – political science – after holidays.
However, in the 11th standard, big surprise: all 27 students passed above 60%. The result seems so unbelievable that all are going to be examined again, all the more so because only the English test
outcomes were lower and these examination sheets precisely were prepared separately.
Another surprise, although explicable, is in the 9th standard. All Jeevodaya pupils passed sufficiently well and those who come from outside got less than satisfactory marks. Out of 23 students coming from outside of Jeevodaya, only 3 crossed (minimally) the Rubicon 60%, 7 were promoted despite the low result from one subject, and 8 have to retake the exams: 4 from one subject, and 4 from two subjects.
This shows that neighboring schools have a very low level of teaching. Although we accept young people after 8 standard with the best results, they have difficulties in managing on our level. We can't after all lower the requirements. All are having the opportunity to improve the results. (HP)

13.04.2010

The places and the date of 10 April 2010 will remain forever in our hearts as a painful wound. On that day I was in Delhi with Anna from the Mission Secretariat and Beata from the Vatican Radio with some Polish friends. We were following the news on the Internet and radio. In the evening, we were participating in the Holy Mass, then we gathered in the Embassy with some of our friends. There we wrote in the book of condolence of the Embassy. I am grateful to God that I went through
these events together with my close friends. My India friends reacted immediately to the news about the tragedy that affected the Polish nation. By phone, text messages and e-mails, they tried to show their solidarity, ensure their sympathy. They were spontaneously organizing prayers, celebrating Holy Masses for the casualties of the plane crash.
In the days of national mourning in Jeevodaya all were treating my partial 'absence' with understanding. I received a national flag, so that I could cover it with a pall and place over the entrance of my home. On the day of the funeral of the Presidential couple, a Holy Mass for Poland and Polish people will be celebrated. (HP)

5.04.2010

Once again I spent Easter in Jeevodaya. I was here for the first time five years earlier when the pope John Paul II was leaving to the house of our Father. This is always a different experience. Jesus Christ
- Alfa and Omega. Winner of the death, hell and the devil. Worldwide, the liturgy of the universal Church takes place in different cultural and social contexts, in different languages. The same liturgy readings, gestures of the same significance bring closer to the human being the mystery that Christ died for us and for our salvation.
On Maundy Thursday, the symbol of washing feet takes upon itself a clear nature, when the priest leans over and kisses the mutilated feet of the lepers, who endured in life humiliation and rejection. On Good Friday, one can feel here an accumulation of suffering, as the echo of Paul words “I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions…” (Kol 1,24).
The Paschal Eve expresses with joy and loudly that Jesus lives and no longer dies. The sacraments of baptism and consecration given to the so-prepared people show that the Church is an open society and still bears fruits. Although the majority of participants of the liturgy (hinduists) cannot take part
in it fully, all consider themselves as a big family of God's children. This time, together with Jeevodaya inhabitants, former alumni, who came for the celebrations in great numbers, a representative of Vatican Radio was there, thanks to whom the account from these days could reach
listeners of this broadcasting station. (AS)

India: the Way of the Cross in the Centre for Lepers
In India the Ways of the Cross do not take place on the streets of the cities. They are mainly held in churches, and very rarely on the open-air – always in the area belonging to Christians. The Way of the Cross has been held today among others in the Centre for Lepers, Jeevodaya, founded 40 years ago by a Polish Pallotine, father Adam Wiśniewski. Jeevodaya in hindi means ”the dawn of life”. The mutilated hands with leprosy carrying the cross – this view will always remain in my mind. The Way of the Cross began at the hour of Christ death in a heat of 50 degrees. The Stations of the Cross led through the most important places for the inhabitants of Jeevodaya: the clinic – where many were
diagnosed with leprosy, or with tuberculosis and AIDS, the school – where they get education allowing them to overcome the barriers of prejudice and start a normal life; and finally the houses of the inhabitants of the Centre. The white Cross – as the white colour symbolizes the mourning – and colourful saris of the Hindu women gave the Way of the Cross an extraordinary setting. As it is accepted in India, women and men were standing in separate raws, and between them the people carrying the cross. It should be underlined that catholics, hindu and islam believers were praying together – this is a specific multiregional flavour of this center for lepers, where one can listen from different followers that Christ heals here. The adoration of the Cross ended the Good Friday celebrations during which donations were collected for Church needs, what in India happens only few times a year due to the poverty of local Christians. The majority of them are so-called the untouchable.
B.Zajączkowska, India (rv) 02/04/2010


India: Paschal Eve in the centre for lepers
The Easter Sunday Eve in India is a time of traditional giving of sacraments. As Christians are scattered far away from churches, quite often they have to cover hundreds of kilometres in order to come for a liturgy.
In the Centre for Lepers in Jeevodaya, an islam follower Pravin Maria was baptised, given holy communion and confirmation, and the daughter of a leper was given confirmation – Aruna Roshni decided to become a Franciscan sister. However, in India, the Paschal Eve is not only the most important liturgy in the year, but also a time of meetings with relatives and an opportunity to present newly-bought clothes for that special occasion e.g. colourful saris. The girls wear their Sundays' best, they paint their palms and feet in flowery designs and put on bracelets with little bells. All this aims at underlining the special character of Easter. The liturgy is made even more joyful due to many a times singing of Alleluja by the faithful and thunderous applause for Christ. In order the feast to be complete, it should be accompanied by many colours and lights, that is why the facades of the churches are colourfully illuminated with lights, and inside them there are decorations with bands in the favourite colours of Hindu people. In small communities there is no anonymity, that is why after the liturgy all people wish themselves all the best “Pascha mubarak-ho”, and the
celebrations end with drinking sweet tea and milk.
B. Zajączkowska, India – Jeevodaya (rv) 04/04/2010

"So we know and rely on the love God has for us" (1 J 4, 16)
The Pascal celebrations, a keepsake of the Suffering, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. Let it be for each one of us an experience of love, happiness and hope.
One can be a witness of love only when he or she experienced it. We are so much loved; God has called us to life, out of love he has redeemed us through the death of His Son. Jesus, in order to show how much He loves each human being, leant over the feet of the Apostles and washed their feet. This gesture of love and service is 'set as an example' to us for all generations: " Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet". (J 13,14)
Let remember in these feast days about all these people, who in their life do not see and do not feel that they are loved; about those who experience rejection, violence and acts of injustice, which cover Love.
Let our joyful ALLELUJA embrace all our humankind and each human being, our brother, towards whose feet we want to lean over with the Christ.
On behalf of the Jeevodaya community in India and Poland

22.03.2010

Thanks to Elżbieta and Krzysztof kindness, I was travelling across India, trying to make out what is and how this country – continent appears to a person from Europe in all its diversity. The contrast of images, the frenetic aspect of Indian life, its sharpness and constant operating on the edge are simultaneously exhilarating and tiring. They hold the mind in an incessant need of entering into the surrounding world and at the same time of a hurried escape from it. I found reassurement and time for thought in a place where one wouldn't expect to find. Jeevodaya – Centre for the Rehabilitation of Lepers – is situated 30 km from Raipur and both the Centre and the only local doctor, Helena Pyz from Poland, are fairly known – also for those who are interested in her work and have access to the Internet. However, even a short stay here allows to get a knowledge and awareness other than
computer-based. Dr Helena wrote to me that for a leper, despite embarrassment in face of wounds, somebody's visit is interpreted as taking interest into the other's fate, the improvement of his lot. I think that there is also the reverse of the medal: the interested visitor, benefactor or volunteer gets something invaluable for him or herself. The lepers – rejected by their own community, the disadvantaged and the mutilated, deprived of everything, sometimes thrown out to the waste heap (however much this sounds unusual) – as soon as they get proper conditions for it, manifest what
was so much underlined by John Paul II – human's dignity as God's creature. One should come here to see it in the trusting smile of small children, kind word of greeting of the girls going to school, hard Saturday cleaning, in the laborious shelling of rice by women with mutilated hands or in the lively music during a Sunday mass. The regained dignity (both of the catholics and hinduists) constitutes this invaluable gift for everyone who could, wanted or was given the chance to contribute to it. It increases his own dignity as well.
Maria Magdalena

9.03.2010

This morning God called little Pushpa to Himself. On the last day she was completely unconscious and felt asleep quietly, so that she woke up in another Kingdom. Her parents wanted to take the little body to their remote village, many kilometres away. We were discouraging them to do so
due to high temperature and the long way home. Finally the funeral of Pushpa, who was baptised just before her death, took place in our cemetery in the late hours of the same evening.
Only yesterday we were asking your for a prayer on her behalf: let's pray with the intercession of God's servant cardinal Wyszyński for the sustaining of life and healing of the disease. (HP)
Here is the content of the suggested prayer:

PRAYER FOR THE BEATIFICATION OF STEFAN CARDINAL WYSZYŃSKI, PRIMATE OF THE MILLENIUM
God One in Holy Spirit, in your unspeakable kindness you are constantly calling new apostles so that they bring your love closer to the world. Be adored as you gave us the providential Shepherd Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński, Primate of the Millenium. Lord, you are the source of all holiness, we ask you that He be ranked among the saints of the Church. Look at his heroic faith, complete devotion to you, his bravery towards adversities and persecutions that he was bearing in your name. Remember how much he had loved the Church of your Son, how faithfully he loved the Fatherland and each man, defending his dignity and rights, forgiving the enemies, fighting the evil with kindness. Cover in glory your faithful Servant Stefan Cardinal, who had been counting on Mary and trusted her without measure, seeking help in Her when defending the faith in Christ and the freedom of the Nation. Infinitely good Father, please make Him the proponent of our causes before you. Amen.
I humbly beg you, God, to give me with the intercession of Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński this favour, for which I especially ask you ...

4.03.2010

Dr Wanda Błeńska, Dokta, is 99 years old and had a beautiful life full of respect. For 43 years she was working in Uganda, in a hospital for lepers in Buluba, where she was curing her leper brothers and formed a whole generation of doctors. She got a nickname Mother of Lepers for this unusual work. Her nomination for the title of Wielkopolanki Stulecia (The Lady of Greater Poland of the Century) is so justified. At present Wanda is on the 4th place. The voting is taking place until 6 March only, it is possible to give 10 votes every day from each available computer. Please, do join us!
Her candidacy can be supported on the website http://poznan.naszemiasto.pl/inne/specjalna_galeria/6397.html

21.02.2010

The exhibition about Jeevodaya which was for the first time presented in the basement of the Warsaw-Prague cathedral on January 31, 2010 is of an information and educational nature. Short catchwords tell about the most important aspects of Jeevodaya, recall its history, and outline contemporary times. The photographs illustrate the discussed topics. On each banner there is the face of a person related with the main idea of a given banner which functions as a guide to this exhibition: a child with a leper patch on his face, father Wiśniewski – the founder of Jeevodaya, a woman with hands damaged by leprosy, Jagbandhu – a pupil in Jeevodaya, Mary Jyotsana – the daughter of Christian workers in the Centre, Anjulata – a teacher, the wife of the doctor's helper who live in the Centre and Devkumar – the child of leper parents.

The banners were prepared in such a way so as they are easy to carry in transit and can be displayed in different spaces. Each banner is of the size of 1: 2 m (40:80in) and is put on a portable stand.
At present, the exhibition is being shown at one of Warsaw schools. We will be glad to make it available in other places. There is also a possibility to make copies of these banners in smaller size so it was possible to put them e.g. in school or church newsletters. People and communities interested in borrowing the exhibition or receiving its copy are requested to contact us by phone or e-mail. (AS)

17.02.2010

I would like to share my joy of hosting my fellow countrymen in Jeevodaya. There were years when nobody came, when I was forgetting how to speak my mother tongue. At present it is completely different. Those who have ever participated in night discussions of Poles at my porch they very well know what I am talking about.
At Christmas time, Justine who was travelling around India visited me: she worked a bit and then went to Calcutta in order to serve in institutions founded by the blessed Mother Teresa.
I celebrated the New Year's Eve in the company of Elżbieta and Krzysztof. They visited me again in February for a few days bringing with them their friend Maria Magdalena. Next, they went to Bastar, which is very brave as the territory is inhabited by indigenous tribes and it is not very safe there. I hope to talk them into writing what they saw there and experienced.
A group of young people from a Pallotin school in Lublin visited us with their minders in the beginning of February. I hope that they will have good and long-lasting memories from their stay here although it was an extremely short visit.
Tomorrow Maciej a photographer is coming with a short visit. He already visited us last year. On Saturday one of the benefactors Konrad is coming for three days.
The hot period is starting and it used to be a period with no visitors, however still before Easter I am expecting Beata and Anna.
I enjoy the meeting with each person and I am grateful for all these visits. (HP)

01.02.2010

On Janaury 31, in the Warsaw-Prague Cathedral we were praying for lepers, for those who are helping them and we were recollecting places dedicated to lepers in Jeevodaya and Puri. The celebrations started at 10.30: Archbishop H. Hoser opened the exhibitions about Puri and Jeevodaya. He availed himself this opportunity to recall the history of evangelization of India and showed the activity of father Marian Żelazek, father Adam Wiśniewski and dr Helena Pyz and the Christian mission in this big country.
'Such exhibition is a good initiative', said our Archbishop.
Anna Sułkowska presented the recollections memory of 40 years lasting history of Jeevodaya and ways through which our Lord led to ministry in this place father Adam Wiśniewski, s. Barbara Birczyńska and dr Helena Pyz.
At 12.30 there was the Eucharist which was at the centre of the celebrations. It was transmitted through radio Warsaw. It was celebrated by the Cathedral parish priest father Marek Solarczyk, father Jerzy Limanówka, a Pallotine, the president of the mission foundation 'Salvati', and at the same time a friend of Jeevodaya as well Andrzej Łukawski, as the father of the Province of the Polish congragation of Secred Hearts, co-brothers of Saint Damian. In the sermon, father Andrzej underlined that only love can lead a man to a service such as the one undertaken by Saint Damian and many of his followers. For the Thanksgiving, our young people sang a song in Hindi.
After the Mass we went to the basement of the cathedral where we could see the exhibitions, watch a film about father Marian Żelazek and drink the Indian tea prepared by our students from India and our volunteers.
We stayed together until late afternoon, talking and spending a good time together. It is a pity, however, that the media (not even the catholic ones) did not present these celebrations properly and the Day did not find reflection in them.
The Mission Secretariat of Jeevodaya would like to thank very much father Marek Solarczyk for the warm hospitality we received in the Cathedral and for the common prayer for our brothers affected by leprosy. (AS)

VATICAN CITY, JAN. 29, 2010

"The Fate of the Leprosy Sufferer Is to Be Marginalized"

Here is a translation of the message released today by the president of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry, Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, on the occasion of the 57th World Day of Leprosy Sufferers, which will be observed Sunday, Jan. 31.

* * *

To the Presidents of the Episcopal Conferences,
To Bishops in Charge of Health Pastoral Care,

The "World Day of Leprosy Suffers," instituted in the first half of the 50s, thanks to the commitment of French writer Raoul Follereau, is not only a day of reflection on the victims of this devastating disease but above all a day of solidarity with brothers and sisters that are affected by it.

Leprosy, known also as Hansen's disease, in reality continues infecting annually hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. According to the most recent data published by the World Health Organization, in 2009 more than 210,000 new cases were recorded. Moreover, innumerable in fact are the people who have been infected but of whom no census has been taken or are still deprived of access to medical care.

From a statistical point of view, the countries that are most affected are in Asia, in South America and in Africa. India has the greatest number of affected people, followed by Brazil. Numerous cases are recorded also in Angola, Bangladesh, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nepal and Tanzania.

An "ancient" illness is Hansen's disease, but, because of this, no less devastating physically and also morally. In all ages and civilizations, the fate of the leprosy sufferer is marginalization, being deprived of any type of social life, condemned to seeing his body disintegrate until death comes.

Unfortunately, still today, those who suffer from it or are cured, bear the unmistakable mutilations, and are too often condemned to loneliness and fear, to being almost invisible in the eyes of others, of society, of public opinion. In countries that are more economically advanced it seems that this disease has been forgotten, as well as the people affected by it.

When it is remembered, when the word leprosy is expressed, different feelings are aroused: Incredulity on the part of those who wonder how this pathology can still continue to exist, fear and repugnance and a no less grave display of indifference but also the mercy and love that result from the attentive and merciful attitude of Jesus towards these sufferers (Mark 1:40-42).

Follereau's commitment, the numerous endeavors of institutions, organizations of an ecclesial nature and/or non-governmental entities that fight against leprosy, the exceptional work of Saint Damian de Veuster and of so many other Saints and men of good will have helped to overcome negative attitudes to leprosy sufferers, promoting their dignity and rights and at the same time more universal love of neighbor.

Today there is effective care against leprosy but, despite this, Hansen's disease continues to spread. Among the factors that foster its perpetuation is, certainly, individual and collective indigence, which too often implies lack of hygiene, the presence of debilitating illnesses, insufficient nutrition if not chronic hunger and the lack of timely access to medical care. Persisting in the social realm at the same time are fears that, in general generated by ignorance, add a heavy stigma to the already terrible burden that leprosy entails when it has already been cured.

Hence I appeal to the international community and to the authorities of every State, inviting them to develop and reinforce the necessary strategies to fight against leprosy, making them more effective and capillary above all where the number of new cases is still high. All this without neglecting campaigns of education and sensitization capable of helping persons affected and their families to come out of exclusion and obtain the necessary care.

At the same time my heartfelt thanks go to the local Churches and the different religious realities, whether or not missionary, for all that so many of them have done, consecrated men and women, lay men and women; for all good that the World Health Organization has also done with its considerable commitment to eradicate this and other "forgotten" diseases, the anti-leprosy associations and NGOs, as well as the numerous volunteers and all persons of good will who, with their commitment marked by love for our brothers and sisters affected by this disease, are dedicated to their care in an integral way, restoring their dignity, joy and pride of being treated as human beings, so that they can safeguard or, according to the case, take up against their just place in society.

May Mary Salus Infirmorum sustain the sick in the difficult struggle against suffering and the penury caused by the disease and be able to tear the veil of silence with an always growing number of acts of true solidarity in favor of persons affected by leprosy.

[Translation by ZENIT]

27.01.2010

This first month of the New Year was full of events. We began it very ceremonially with a Holy Mass and my ball lasted almost till the crack of dawn, as I was hosting guests: 3 Polish friends.
On Sunday 10, a group of Poles and Germans visited us from 3 Pallotine schools. To celebrate the end of their stay in India, I went to Dongargarh where they stayed to see a beautiful artistic show performed by school students. Our Father Director celebrated his 62 birthday on January 14: there was a prayer and a big feast. On this day, there was also a holiday in our State. Two days later, next celebration: the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Karsh wedding, who have been living and working with us for last 22 years: Lala as the assistant of the chief doctor, Anjulata as a teacher. They have four sons, who prepared the jubilee celebrations beautifully.
The next feast in Jeevodaya was on January 22, celebration of Saint Vincent Pallotti. The celebration lasted 3 days: first at the Pallotine Fathers' in Raipur, then at the Pallotine Sisters’, and finally on January 24 in Jeevodaya.
Yesterday, we were celebrating the Republic Day with a patriotic and artistic programme prepared by our children.
There is still the Leprosy Day, here in India on January 30, on the anniversary of Mahatma Ghandi death, in Poland and all over the world on January 31. And this would be enough as for celebrations and feasts, as it is last time for intensive study time. In a month, the 10th and 12th classes are taking their final exams. The children have already partly passed the practical exams, and now there is time for the revision of the material from the whole year.
Let's hope that all will pass despite such abundant celebration. (HP)

15.01.2010

In the face of the tragedy that occurred in Haiti, the Mission Secretariat of Jeevodaya (in accordance with its statute, allowing for emergency aid to victims of cataclysms and natural disasters) has transferred today 10 000 euro to the account of Caritas Internationalis, which has immediately undertaken energetic activities of help to the aggrieved in the earthquake. We encourage all our Friends and Helpers to pray for those alive and dead and to take up acts of solidarity with the Haitians. Caritas Poland has already announced long-term help to this poor country. You can transfer donations to this organisation. For more information, look at www.caritas.pl. (AS)

5.01.2010

We came to Poznań on Tuesday afternoon, on the 29th December. After fixing preliminary formalities on the area of MTP, where most of the meetings were held, we went to our family host the Benedyk: Marta and Mariusz with their parents, who extended a cordial welcome to us. That evening and during the next days, we participated in chanted prayers with deliberations on fragments of the Gospel and the Letter from China written by brother Aloise and in afternoon thematic meetings. On the New Year's Eve, we went to the nearby parish church in order to pray, together with other participants of the Taize meeting, in spiritual contact with suffering nations, for peace in the world. During the shared gatherings, we were accompanied by a volunteer, Tomek, whom we got to know at our meeting of Friends of Jeevodaya in Warsaw. Every day, we were assembling at shared meals on the MTP area. On the 1st January, we had a New Year's lunch at our hosts' house.
Our Indian friends appreciated very much the chanted prayers, and also the thematic meetings that they chose according to their own interests: missionary and economic topics, testimonies of young people from India, the Phillipines, Chile. Our friend from Saudi Arabia who was with us was attracting general attraction. At this ecumenical meeting, she was a special sign of reconciliation and peace. She was testifying by her attitude that we are all children of one God. It was a great joy to see the young people engrossed in prayer, gathered around the cross of the Christ, listening to the Word of God, at the same time the youth was well organized, cheerful and spontaneous. It is a sign of great hope for the modern world, and for our friends from Jeevodaya a confirmation of the fact that present-day youth cared for higher values, ideals, solidarity etc.
It was a great pity for us all to come back home and realize that the meetings have already come to an end. I think we will come back in thoughts to our stay in Poznań many times. We may also attend these meetings in real, next year. I hope that this Taize meeting held in Poznań will bear fruits in our social and spiritual life. (MW)