22–24 October: 406th Plenary Assembly of the Polish Bishops’ Conference in Zakopane
A report on the meeting of presidents of episcopal conferences at the Vatican marking the 10th anniversary of the publication of the apostolic exhortation Amoris laetitia, the Commission of Independent Experts to Investigate the Phenomenon of Sexual Abuse of Minors in the Catholic Church in Poland, and current issues will be among the topics discussed at the 406th Plenary Assembly of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, which will take place in Zakopane from 22 to 24 October this year.
https://episkopat.pl/doc/254137.22-24-pazdziernika-406-Zebranie-Plenarne-Konferencji-Episkopatu
https://episkopat.pl/doc/254286.22-24-ottobre-406-Assemblea-Plenaria-della-Conferenza
The Secretary General of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Marek Marczak, announced that during the proceedings, the President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda SAC, will present a report to the bishops on the meeting of presidents of episcopal conferences at the Vatican marking the 10th anniversary of the publication of the post-synodal apostolic exhortation Amoris laetitia, which took place from 7 to 14 October this year.
One of the main topics of the autumn Plenary Assembly will also be the work related to the Commission of Independent Experts to Investigate the Phenomenon of Sexual Abuse of Minors in the Catholic Church in Poland, established in March this year, with a view to preparing for the start of its work. “The bishops, who will address this issue both in working groups and in plenary session, will discuss all aspects arising from the consultations on the Commission’s Statute, particularly its legal dimension concerning the granting of legal personality to the Commission under state law,” Bishop Marczak noted.
The Secretary General of the Polish Bishops’ Conference announced that the bishops will also address the reform of the media entities of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, including their funding arrangements. “At the last Plenary Assembly, the so-called Media Fund was approved. It will provide funding for media entities established by the Polish Bishops’ Conference, namely the Press Office, the Catholic Information Agency (KAI) and the Opoka Portal,” he explained.
Bishop Marczak noted that many other topics would also be discussed during the Plenary Assembly. “The bishops will once again discuss the situation of religious education in schools and the formation of values among the younger generation, also in the context of the current crisis involving acts of aggression in the school environment. The proceedings will also include an evaluation of the implementation of the Synod on Synodality in dioceses across Poland. The agenda also includes a vote on the adoption of the Directory on the Life, Formation and Ministry of Permanent Deacons in Poland,” he announced.
The Plenary Assembly will also receive updates on preparations for the celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady in Gietrzwałd and the 300th anniversary of the canonisation of St Stanislaus Kostka, as well as on the organisation of the Taizé European Youth Meeting in Łódź and World Youth Day in Seoul.
On the first day of the Plenary Assembly, the bishops will celebrate Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Krzeptówki. The principal celebrant and homilist will be Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, Archbishop of Łódź. On the second day, the bishops will celebrate the Eucharist at St Hyacinth’s Church in Chochołów. The Mass will be presided over by Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś, Archbishop of Kraków, who will also deliver the homily.
Press Office of the Polish Bishops' Conference
