Nov 23 – The Polish Church

Fr. Michael LewonFr. Michael Lewon is a participant in our Monastic Center Program this week. He is a Polish priest who immigrated to the United States twenty years ago. After some conversations with out night porter it was arranged for him to speak to us this evening. Fr. Michael presented us with a history of Christianity in Poland, the effects of the Russian Revolution upon Poland and the Church, and the particular form of communism that existed in Poland. The time passed quickly and we were not able to hear about the impact of Vatican II or the current state of the Church in Poland. Fr. Michael’s sharing included the personal experiences of his family, particularly those of his grandfather.

from Ratio Institutionis – The Community as Formative

13.  Communal discussions and dialogues, forms of Gospel sharing and fraternal correction, can be important means in the formation of the community.  In these and other ways, members of the community are trained to listen to others, exposed to different viewpoints and encouraged to develop skills of self-expression.