The members of this movement divided in 16 groups of some 200 each, walked from the Bydgoscz Old Market Square to the Basilica of St Vincent de Paul. The spiritual animator of the movement, Fr. Dominik Chmielewski, SDB, addressed the gathering: "... God who wants to lead us to find our hearts in relationship with Him, to bring us to our wives, children, so that we can wholeheartedly build God's Kingdom in our homes... and the only model of manhood is Jesus. We must study and imitate the lifestyle of Jesus Christ, which is the greatest adventure of our life, the greatest joy and privilege. Therefore, we give ourselves to you, Mary, so that you would shape us in the likeness of your Son".
The present Bishop of Bydgoscz, Most Rev. Krzysztof Włodarczyk shared his reflection: “Mary ... lead us to Jesus, to the Good News, to the One who leads us to Life: He conquered sin, death, Satan and nothing is impossible for Him. Virgin Mary, help us again in Bydgoszcz… we pray for conversion of heart, so that we may belong completely to Jesus Our Lord and Saviour, so that through your hands we may aid the conversion of all our sisters and brothers whom we know and whom we do not know”.
The bishop also thanked the presence of men at the prayer in his diocese: “I thank your for your testimony..., for your unity in praying the Rosary, for the fact that today you are witnesses of the power of the rosary, witnesses of deep trust in Mary's intercession. Through your witness, you give birth to new Christians, especially among those sisters and brothers who are baptized but are somewhere on the periphery, lost, rebellious. Let us be witnesses for them, in confident prayer, and with courage proclaim our Lord, give testimony, not lecturing, not moralizing, but sharing what Christ the Lord has done for us!”
After walk through the city streets praying the Rosary, their meeting continued in the Basilica, with a input talk by Fr. Dominik, followed by Eucharistic celebration and Adoration.
The Rosary and the meeting in the Basilica were part of a nationwide meeting of the Warriors of Mary, a Catholic community dedicated to the formation of men into good husbands and fathers. The rosary procession in the streets was open to all men, while the meeting in the church was dedicated to those already belonging to the community.
The community organizes rosary processions every first Saturday of the month - a day which in the Catholic Church is dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In Bydgoszcz the community of Mary's Warriors meets at Our Lady of Fatima parish every 13th day of the month and at St Mark's parish (Salesians) on the first Fridays of the month. Other local groups are also being formed.
The “Wojownicy Maryi” is a Catholic Association of Men with more than 6000 members in Poland and other 12 European countries, with St. John Bosco as their patron and Fr Dominik Chmielewski, SDB as their founder (2016). Their Statutes were approved by the PLN provincial Fr Tadeusz Itrych in May 2020, their approval as Public Association of Faithful is pending approval by the Polish Catholic Bishops Conference. Beside their Founder, there are another 8 Salesian priests and some diocesan and religious priests who assist the local (trans-parochial) groups in different cities of Poland and other European countries. The movement is committed to life of prayer, active participation in the parish communities and ongoing formation in the Catholic faith and Preventive system of Don Bosco.
For further information visit the Movement website, the Facebook page and the YouTube channel.
