Ostra Brama – Holly East Gate
I got permission to work in Russia from Bishop Edward Kisiel 1-th June 1992. This time we was building “illegal chapel” in Wrocen in Dolistowo parish, the last classes in the schools. I started last month as vicar priest in Poland. I got mixed feeling, from one hand thankfulness to Bishop which took his promises, given to young priest a year before. After this time my “missionary dream about East” seamed to happen. From another hand working in Dolistowo was so fascinating, that I had no words to explain my parishioners, to say them “good bye”. Most difficult was to tell this to my mother. She was unhappy that I am not going to Lithuany or Byelorussia, as she supposed. I got phone call, which finished just one request: to come and take my clothes and other private belongings home. Everything was packed to so called “Big Fiat”. I took my guitar, books with me but even these things I has deposed in Klimowka, thinking: some day I may take it with me.
Fr. Kulikowski took me on the Lithuanian border. Marianpol, Trakai, Vilnius. Such was my travel, hoping to meet pilgrimage which enter Lithuanian capital 16-th of July. So it was Holly May of Scapular day. My 10-years long adventure which took me to Caucasus, Siberia etc. started. I was walking same places as polish patriotic prisoners in the past, but in my case it was free decision and deep joy in heart.
Moscow etc.
In Moscow I came one day later in so called: „plats kart”, in means II-nd class sleeping wagon. As the only one I was not preparing my bad, because I was not knowing how to prepare bad and from where take shirts. It was my first trip by soviet train an first visit in Moscow in my life. I started visiting the city. I had 200 rubles in my pocket, which I got in Vilnius, so the city trip was costing 60 rubles, some lady with hand mega phone was kindly inviding everybody. She informed the group about Pozarski and Minine, who made “Polish soldiers” go home 400 years before. These two heroes have nice monument on the Red Square near Kremlin. She showed to us many crosses which were decorating foundations of many monuments representing before some communist heroes but now damaged after “Moscow august 1991 pooch” .
She showed also „Wagańkowski cemetery” and the burials of famous singer and actor Wysocki she gave me advice to go on Lubianka, because just there vis-à-vis KGB headquarters I may find Catholic church. I took taxi, it coasted 100 rubles, so when I came to the Lubianka Church I had 40 rubles in my pocket and big wish to “conquest Russia” to Jesus, but local Bishop and his chancellery had now idea about my coming. I realized that my polish Bishop letter permitting me to come to Russia just came same day by mail, after about 2 month being send before.
Very famous Armenian humorist Petrosian says: “you wish to send some letter to Ulan-Ude, you have to go with him yourself”. These days archbishop Kondrusiewicz was in the southern Russia with pastoral visit in Wolgograd (Stalingrad) and in 2 days he had to visit Rostov. He asked his chancellor to organize train ticket for me to be in the pastoral visit in Rostov with him.
Rostow-on-Don
We met each other 20-th July 10 am. Short question, short answer: “do you wish to be a
pastor here?” . “Yes” I said, and only in the night I understood how much painful such decision was. The day was hot…40 grade Celsius typical humid wind from Azow See made moving in dressed in cassocks (sutana) priests a torture. We were 5 clerics: Archbishop, fr. Severynik, 2 seminarians from Grodna and Siedlce and I “Missionary orphan” visiting Rostov city offices.
Everything was happening very fast. In the City Hall I was introduced as pastor to some 2-class officials, to the main architect and to Orthodox Bishop. At 6 pm was very important celebration in… Museum in the middle of temporary exhibition of religious life in Rostov on Don before October Revolution. Some details were from destroyed in 1952 Catholic Church for ex. Statue of Holly Mother the Helper which has destroyed hands. Archbishop Kondrusiewicz with shaking voice explained to us that we will give her own hands, helping restore of destroyed church. Afterwards I was talking: short, humble and afraid words. I was studying Russian for many years, but Holly Mass in Russian I was praying first time in my life. I was feeling like being on my first Mass so called ”primice” , but the people present there were not enthusiastic at all. In the group of 100 people only 30 were parishioners all the rest were tourists and they was looking us with same surprised faces like they visit “Kabuki theatre”. Bishop explained to to present people tragic past of local catholic community and encouraged the people to come on the weekly Mass which now will be possible. Myself I was shaking in soul and very afraid if I will not escape such conditions, I started to understand.
Sisters Missionaries, Silesians , etc.
One month later sisters Missionaries of Holly Family came and I was again depressed. The reason was lack of house. I was living as a gipsy in private flats, student houses or hotels, and very afraid asked myself: “did these sisters really come and where they will be living?”. During this time I got convinced that I can count only on myself, parishioners have no wish or gift arranging anything, and I am practically alone as orphan. “Kind advisers” which accompanied bishop and took me from the train, in fact were good actors but bad Catholics, just expecting that collaboration with foreigners may be good business .
The land promised as place for building church, finally was given in march 1993 after many adventures and we were defending this territory many times. Except big cathedral which I was dreaming for I got as a gift small wooden church from Germany. Exactly same day when the church was made I took from the train station my follower: a Salezian priest fr. Mackiewicz. He took document telling that from now he is a pastor in Rostov and he will be building big Salezian Center and Cathedral which I was dreaming for. From now he was responsible in main city and I was village pastor taking care about all the big province of River Don between two Seas Black and Caspian See . I was organizing small basic communities in Nowoczerkassk, Taganrog, Elista, Batajsk, Leningradskaya and Azow. With God help I became initiator or 13 parishes in the region during 7 years. On that territory new elected bishop Pickel made a Rostov Deanery in 1999.
In meantime new congregations were helping us by coming one by one: Franciscans, Carmelites, Capuchins, because being exhorted, and inexperienced by traveling ever as a gipsy I was unable to serve permanently communities I started. Number of communities really was growing as champignons after the rain. Secret of such blessing was presence of humble and powerful sisters Missionaries of Holly Family, which ever helped me in my travels, by presence or prayer. Some day I was hearing in Poland very stupid rumor that such strategy is very uncomfortable for Russian bishops because they cannot find so many priests to continue the job started by myself. I was bit confused but I got inspiration that possibly my time this region is finished and better to go Siberia which has very small number priests and also smaller number of communities. It was providential inspiration and my Bishop in Bialystok gave me his blessing to move to Siberia.
Syberia
Archibishop Szymecki gave his permission in May 1998 and in November 1998 I was in Usolye near Irkutsk on Patron Day of st. Rafal Kalinowski in the place of his former Siberian prison. Cold was 30 degrees below zero Celsius. One day before we spend with Bishop Mazur looking for new wheels which are used in winter time. I was shocked a bit that the Bishop of the biggest diocese in the world is caring by himself such a thing. More shock I got when he start driving car to Usolye and four other man were just passengers including myself. In fact Bishop Kondrusiewicz and Clemens were similarly simple and humble people just bp Mazur after being some 4 years in Africa had extremely exaggerated missionary simplicity.
Three years which I spend under that Bishop in Far East in the middle of very exotic Asiatic nations as Buriats (Czita), Itelmen(Kamchatka), Nivkhi(Sakhalin), Koreans or Russians – is for me the time of big grace and wonderful adventures. Mission is a risk and I was risking many times. My car was 3 times in big accident, my house was burning from gas explosion and myself also. I was loosing my health and money, but same way as Hiob I was getting them back.
To the very far settlements during half a year I was traveling transsiberian railway monthly, to Kamchatka, Khabarovsk and other places I was flying regularly during 2 years with very uncomfortable planes. It was also a risk knowing how old is Russian aviation. I got Asiatic customs in the kitchen preferring vegetarian food, eating with sticks, also started studying some Korean and Japanese with big pleasure, dreaming some day it may be useful. I am praising God without stop for he showed me so many beautiful Asiatic nations and ever between them some polish, which need to be more organized in so far Diaspora.
Religious extraemizme
I know everything has own price. My so big activity was all the time under suspicious eye of secret service. They were looking for long time some excuse to hurt me. One of excuses appeared when we successfully under my control have made short time beautifull church in Sakhalin. Church was started by fr. Benedict Zweber, he guarantied finances, but got cancer and died. Bishop realized how much tired I was controlling the business which was out of my understanding. He said to me: now you may rest, please make a break, you are looking depressed.
I took holydays, bishop also. My old friend from Rostov finished his church and took the rest same time. Nobody from such team cannot return to Russia. There are so many rumors why unexpectedly Russians proclaimed us “persona non grata”. All of us was “sinful” same sin by building big churches. For politicians it is extremism, for orthodox hierarchy is proselytism!
Epilogue
At the end of my story I will possibly surprise you, just let me tell you one story more from Novosibirsk. It happened to fr. Świdnicki. He was imprisoned in 1984 for some 4 years, just with one stupid excuse. He was blamed because of his „political talk” in the church about Fatima. He made just short comment: “I know the reason is not a sermon but a church I built before, but telling the truth it was worthy to go prison for such beautiful church”.
Yes, many month waiting for opportunity to return on mission. Big pain, but in fact I am also praising God for all communities restored, and all the churches built in Russia after so many years of persecution. Thank you my Lord for Rostov, Sakhalin and Irkutsk churches. It was really worthy to come on black list of mr. Putin or orthodox leaders.
Amicus Putin sed multa amica Ecclesia!
Fr. Jarosław Wiśniewski