(ANS – Krakow) – On 12 August  “Salesian Missionary Voluntary Service ” (SMV) “Młodzi Światu” in the Krakow Province celebrated its  15th anniversary, with a special Thanksgiving Mass  at which Fr Marek Chrzan, Regional Councillor for North Europe presided and other priests and missionaries from distant places concelebrated, and with other events.

The Krakow SMV has taken part in many projects in various parts of the world . The President, Fr Adam Parszywka, said: “We have undertaken hundreds of missionary projects in the poorest parts of the world; but this is not the most important thing ; the world needs love, and with our  Volunteers we try to bring this to the people. ” In his homily, Fr  Dariusz Bartocha,  PLS Provincial spoke about the need for a  task-force of kindness, “men of passion,”, since in every activity what matters are the people : in addition to material assistance there is a great need for volunteers in places lacking hope, faith and love . 

The anniversary was an occasion to thank all those who had made their own  contribution to this work of evangelisation and  human development: the missionaries, the volunteers and their families, the benefactors, all the friends of the  missions. After the Mass a  documentary was shown about the  15 years of the activities of the SMV and Fr Mariusz Skowron, a  missionary in  Zambia, spoke about his experiences and the needs of that country. 

Then in the Education to Development Park , a complex of  2 hectars containing typical structures from the five continents – there was  a special celebration  various attractions and  work-shops. Ricky Lion, from the  Congo, with a demonstation of African Drumming  captured the attention of the children and then of their parents who joined in the traditional dancing and in some workshops on pottery making, the “Twi language ” and other things.

Fr Marek Chrzan inaugurated “Euroman”, a statue made of metal with a stone heart - a metaphor for modern man who, fully absorbed by  technology, becomes imprisoned by the  structures around him.

The  celebration of the 15th anniversary of   Krakov Salesian Missionary  Voluntary Service reminded people of what had already been done but also of what remains to be done. 

Published 17/08/2012