THE MISSIONARIES
BEN FROM MINNESOTA
The Father`s story who come from Saint Paul
From Minnesota cool like Siberia
I want to pass on because beautiful it is
He asserted sharply as a boy
A son of church assistant, terrible poverty
Nine siblings the boy had
Three sisters went to the convent
Became a priest also the younger brother
After 3 years of study at the seminary
Ben told the Parish Priest
That to the missionary school he wanted to go
The Parish Priest and father were shocked
They said that would not get a penny
But Ben left home just as he stood
Caught a car like a hitchhiker, drunken driver
Handed him the keys, Ben was driving by himself
To New York 3000
This is exactly a three - day cruise
Finally he arrived to Maryknoll
There is a missionary monastery there
BEN – II
Ben was a subdeacon at higher study
When his older brother in Korea died
Asked for permission to work there
Yes, there spent 30 years
10 churches he built
An orphan1s house, chapels very many
To America was appealing
To “war orphans” a passports to give
Orphans black and skittish
Local people didn`t want such to take
“Unwanted children” Ben “adopted”
Established on the island “The Saint Vincent House”
From an army they gave him of demobil
A small ship “Stella Maris”
On this ship he fished fugitives
And deserters from North Korea
During his lifetime a monument for him built
New missions were waiting for him again
I met him on the island of Sakhalin
Many of the feats he repeated here
BUTTERFLY
The son of Katyń officer
Not very acquitted as a husband
Early was abandoned by wife
Around the world without any purpose he wandered
He was for a long time in India in lepers
Worked among them – secular Master
But he felt his calling to the priesthood
“The priests of the Orient” are married
In Lebanon he was ordained late
There is dominates a ritual of Morocco
Such ritual John was leading
Until to Siberia he went
Had there “newspaper for youth”
For pennies published it
He looked like a beggar ragged
But ideas were still there
Once at the airport with him I was sitting
A lame one was tangling guest
John was extremely merciful
That`s how someone killed him
OTTO MESSMER
As many as four of his sisters
Were in the convent and surely are
The mother whereas when widowed
Followed them – such destiny
Three Otto`s brothers – Jesuits
One in Bishkek was a Bishop
Otto of them was the most hardworking
In 30 villages the chapels had
In Astana when he was the Parish Priest
The great church himself built
Today it is the Virgin Mary`s Cathedral
I in person know Otto
I met in Fatima with his brother
Beautifully in Polish he was able
Like many priests from Karaganda
Bukowiński`s “spiritual son” …
For Otto was waiting the destiny of the martyr
After Kazakhstan in Russia he lived
Quickly he shall not wait for the process
Many there die…in broad daylight
OTTO – II
To Moscow he was directed
The Rector of the College he was in the capital city
He had some matters abroad
At home was waited him one chap
First he slaughtered his fellow brother
He knew that Otto would come back
Two days and nights with killed he spent
Was not afraid because he drank and took drugs
A several wounds he stabbed with a knife
Repeat from history. That`s exactly
How Mary Goretti was died in your home
The neighbor did it, well knew him…
And so little known to us the murderers
Liquidate the priests to us
By accident they are parishioners
“The small sentences” are waiting them
Classic texts were in the press
That alcoholic that surely a junkie
And that perhaps also a pervert
A lot of calumny to “erase the trail”
ASTRAKHAN
Was poisoned in the city Astrakhan
Father Krzysztof Niemyjski – my good brother
Came from around Drohiczyn
A Warsaw priest he was for some time
Had in Astrakhan the sisters from Canada
Quite a lot of students had in the parish
He knew many languages. Liked him
Handsome and pious guest
He directed the Minor Seminary
Regained the church, lots of merits
Martyrdom for this he was to pay
That`s how it is in Russia – such a fate
He hired a cook from Kazakhstan
Her name was Rose
She wandered a long time without a home and a job
He really wanted to help her …
Did they quarrel for something or
Was she simply sent?
Too many cases make up
Such suspicions
CZESC NOG
Grześ my fiend lecturer
At the Moscow Seminary
Had at first little slips
With the pronunciation of Russian words
When at a picnic with the clerics
Asked if anyone has maybe “CZESC NOG”
Then it became clear that
He only wanted to taste garlic
He liked funny situations
Privately he could be severe
But for the seminarians was like an angel
For them he could stand on his head
It was 1995
He broke into the Moscow church
Part was turned into an office building
He threw out the window the whole stall
A scene like from the Bible – bargained
And still many temples are
Changed to marketplaces in all of Russia
Sports halls … or pigsty
Although there are cosmetic changes
The fate of Catholics does not change
The St. Peter`s and St. Paul`s Cathedral
Still a Russian office building is …
GRZEGORZ CIOROCH
Grzegorz was a doctor of theology
He has many works on his
The monastery in Moscow, the publisher
The encyclopedia and cathedral…Then a crash
The court pulled him: “Whence he has offering?”
For these numerous projects
Jeered by “paid journalists”
Was hiding during for some time
Until one day a truck
In the midst of a white day
Drove to him sharp
From the car was a wreck
Those who knew him don`t believe in coincidence
The militia confreres don`t ask for help
Like that communists killed the priests
Russia continues tradition
It could happen also to me
I have suspicions that were lurking
The God gave me a chance that I would describe
Everything as it was, so I am trying …
FOR THE MOMENT ABSENTEE
The fellow brother my, Darek in Siberia
Was a youth priest
Too young he died. And it was night
He drove hurriedly after the Christmas Visit
Ikarus rammed him
Died with together a catechist
At home was a recorded text
When people called the Parish …
Could hear still when he died
His voice young dynamic
“AT THE MOMENT I AM NOT AT HOME
DON`T WORRY – RECORD THE MESSAGE” …
Made with him the Catholic studio
A few months before the accident …
Quite long and carefree interview
Most recorded just in the car
Told that when driving he does not get tired
That he has tremendous distances
That he strong and happy is
In his the Parish Kemerowo
Several times “I had him on live”
In Moscow, Irkutsk, even in Rome
The smile did not leave his lips and a slogan
That “BEAUTIFUL IS LIFE” …
THE EUCHARIST AT BAIKAL
In Ełk has lived for many years
The Bishop from Irkutsk – Eastern Siberia
The jubilee year was approaching
The Bishop of Baikal gathered his priests
A tasty omul there swims in the lake
For everyone the Bishop bought a few
The biggest gift, however, is The Eucharist
Amid a large lake on the ship
This day of recollections was so beautiful
Some of the impression jumped into the water
Although very cool it is
Well, not shallow 1000 meters …
HOLY GROVES
Many shamans in Siberia there are still
Does not disappear the legend of Rasputin
A lot of there “marked trees”
Like the New Year`s “Russian Christmas Tree”
It`s just that the year round
There are no baubles but garlands
Of cords, cloths and fringes
Somewhere shirts or shoes
The natives stop
Every car doing a stop
Under the tree puts vodka, bread
Sometimes candy, cigarettes
To these Christmas trees come
Also on foot hungry beggars
They are fighting for food with a herd of dogs
Sometimes also among themselves …
CRYPTO – CATHOLIC
Tsar Alexander when he was young
Attacked Paul, his father
Paul who was disliked
For his Catholic tendencies …
On day he “was Orthodox”
Privately was “Maltese Champion”
Many assumptions still there are
In heart was a sincere Catholic
Imitators he had always – they still are
Among Russian intellectuals
Fashionable still were and they are
Pilgrimages to Rome and France
That is still today – there are few
Catholics according to statistics
And yet, the demand was always
For status of Crypto - Catholic
RICHARD FROM ALMALYK
Richard with him six brothers had
He was going to manage Central Asia
Nestorian there many was still
But they were willing to convert …
He started missions in today`s Turkmen
In Old Urgencz – There was beaten up
From there quickly they moved
Today it is the Sino – Kazakh border
The Bishop there has fallen, brothers too
The mission apparently failed
The grave, however, survived, memory too
3 kilometers abroad Chinese
Is anyone trying to announce their holiness?
I asked the Bishop of Astana
He was surprised by this question
Then took place the process of beatification of Father Bukowiński …
If the tradition lasts for so many years
There were witnesses and documents
In order to confirm martyrdom
Miracles now do not need any more…
This Polish poem of Father Jarosław was translated by an amateur volunteer