A meeting of the contact group of the Polish and German Bishops’ Conferences in Płock
From April 28 to 30 this year, the annual meeting of the contact group of the Polish and German Episcopates was held in Płock. The host of this year’s gathering was the Bishop of Płock, Szymon Stułkowski.
https://episkopat.pl/doc/246236.W-Plocku-odbylo-sie-spotkanie-grupy-kontaktowej-Episkopatow
The main topic of the meeting concerned the process of building mutual relations, which is the fruit of the exchange of letters between the Polish and German Bishops’ Conferences. The 60th anniversary of this historic event was commemorated last year in Wrocław. Referring to this anniversary, Archbishop Stanisław Budzik once again appealed for the courage to extend a hand to others.
Another topic discussed was the pastoral and spiritual situation of the Church in Germany. Members of the German delegation presented a report on Church affiliation based on a comprehensive study commissioned last year by the German Bishops’ Conference. They also summarized joint activities from the past year and outlined prospects for the future.
On the Polish side, Bishop Szymon Stułkowski presented a project of a walking pilgrimage following the footsteps of St. Stanislaus Kostka from Vienna to Rome, organized by the Diocese of Płock on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of his canonization. The pilgrimage is addressed to young people and has a vocational character. Polish bishops will also take part in it. Bishop Tadeusz Lityński presented a topic related to the situation of schools and universities in the face of the demographic crisis.
Between working sessions, members of the contact group visited the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Płock, which is being established at the convent of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. St. Faustina Kowalska stayed there from June 1930 to November 1932 and experienced her first apparition of the Merciful Jesus there on February 22, 1931, during which she was instructed to have the image painted.
The participants also visited the local centre of Caritas and learned about its activities in support of refugees and victims of the war in Ukraine, as well as migrants arriving from South America, especially from Colombia.
Members of the contact group also celebrated the Eucharist in the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Płock.
The meeting was attended by: from the German side – Bishop Bertram Meier of Augsburg, Bishop Wolfgang Ipolt of Görlitz, and Secretary Markus Grimm; from the Polish side – Archbishop Stanisław Budzik, Metropolitan of Lublin and Chairman of the Theam of the Polish Bishops’ Conference for Contacts with the German Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Tadeusz Lityński of Zielona Góra-Gorzów, Bishop Szymon Stułkowski of Płock, and Rev. Jarosław Mrówczyński, Deputy Secretary General of the Polish Bishops’ Conference.
Press Office of the Polish Bishops' Conference
