The Final Day - Wadowice

 Our final day was spent visiting the home of St. John Paul II in Wadowice, Poland.  JPII grew up right next to the church where his parents rented an apartment.  It is now a museum and we spent an hour or so visiting the museum, then toured the church and celebrated Mass there.  We saw the baptismal font in which the saint was baptized and we spent time enjoying this small town where Pope John Paul II grew up and cherished.  We also learned a lot about his life and his family.  

John Paul II’s bedroom (which he shared with his brother), faced a sundial on the church with the inscription; “ Time Flies, Eternity Waits” This phrase definitely influenced JPII from his early childhood and would help give his life direction, meaning and purpose.

Our final night in Poland we had dinner at a local restaurant and it was wonderful!  Besides enjoying one another’s company and our great tour guide, Philip, we had the opportunity to listen to a polish concert and dance show and some of our priests even participated in the dancing (who knew they could dance so well).  We were grateful for each other’s company during these days together and will cherish the thoughtful and inspiring discussions as well as our prayer together.  

John Paul II Center and St. Faustina

JP II Center and St. Faustina

On Saturday we had the great privilege of touring the JP II Center here in Krakow as well as a trip to the St. Faustina Divine Mercy Center here in Krakow.  Remarkably, these two saints have greatly impacted the life of the people of Krakow and the entire country of Poland.  We had the opportunity to have mass here and to celebrate these important saints here in Krakow.

Later in the afternoon we toured the famous Wieliczka salt mines about 30 minutes or so from Krakow.  It was in operation for more than 400 years.   The men who mined there were exceedingly religious and carved monuments and chapels for workers to pray there throughout the day.  It was a long myriad of tunnels and passageways underground and was a fascinating way to see underground Krakow.

Auschwitz-Birkenau

Today was a sobering day reflecting on the tragic killing of over 1.2 million human beings at the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp.  We saw photos of the denigration, humiliation, hardship and suffering of those who were sent to this prison camp.  On average, Russian prisoners lived here for only 3 weeks, Catholic priests for 2 weeks and Jews who could gainfully work, 6 months.  The conditions were repugnant, lacking any sense of human dignity or worth.  Many people were rounded up on trains, told that they were going to be relocated but, once they arrived, they were stripped of all personal property, clothing, shoes and even combs and brushes.  Their hair was cut and over 3 tons of human hair was used for the weaving of fabric.  
Labels were used to distinguish political prisoners (among them, priests), Jews, Russian prisoners, gypsies, homosexuals, etc.  Each prisoner, early on, was photographed from 3 positions.  Later, when that proved to be too expensive, prisoners were tattooed with numbers to distinguish them.  

Edith Stein, (Sr. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross), Viator Frankl, and St. Maximilian Kolbe, all died in this camp.  We stopped and prayed at the very spot where Maximilian Kolbe stepped forward to sacrifice his life for Franciszek Gajowniczek, a Polish prisoner, husband and father who was spared from starvation because of Kolbe.  Today in the homily, Fr. Richard Samide said that when Kolbe offered to starve and die in his place the man asked, “And who are you?”  Kolbe responded, “A Catholic priest.”  Kolbe would die about 2 weeks later from starvation.  His cell is depicted below.

We also visited Birkenau which was often referred to as, “Auschwitz II.”  This was a much larger camp with several cremation ovens most of which were destroyed by either Germans trying to hide evidence or by local authorities.  

We concluded the day with Mass at a Franciscan friary close to Birkenau where we prayed for all those who suffered the atrocities at Auschwitz-Birnekau and for all victims of violence. 

 

The Monastery of Jasna Gora - The Black Madonna

 We arrived this morning at the beautiful monastery of Jasna Gora - the home of the Black Madonna.  This depiction of the Blessed Mother is said to have been painted by Saint Luke.   However, history would deem otherwise - probably dating back from the early 1300’s.  She has been venerated in this same spot since 1320 or so.  Each day a silver door hiding the painting and protecting from corrosive elements, rises up amidst trumpet blares and drums.  It’s a very dramatic and inspiring tribute to the value the Polish people place on this devotion to the Blessed Mother.  At one point invaders stole the painting and other valuables from the monastery.  The painting was cut into three different pieces and disposed of along the side of a roadway.  While artists worked to restore it, two cuts from the face of the Madonna remain - as a reminder of the theft.  

Our Mass today was in the St. John Paul II shrine.  Fr. Marty Dober, a priest of Cleveland now studying in Rome, presided.  We went on a walking tour throughout the monastery and we were deeply moved by a Polish artisan’s depiction of the Stations of the Cross.  Each towering painting depicting not only the horrific scenes of Jesus’ last journey to Golgotha but depictions from the history of the Polish people transposed into the works of art.  It was amazing to see St. John Paul II and the Black Madonna depicted in the scenes of the crucifixion. 

The shrine welcomes 6 million visitors every year and provides the Mass and Sacraments for hundreds of visitors each and every day.  For us on retreat, the sun finally shone today!  We’ve had rain each day up until now so to wander outside and not avoid raindrops was a bonus!  

The faith of the Polish people is nothing short of miraculous.  Through invasions by the Swedes, the Lithuanians, the Germans and the Russians the Catholic faith of this nation remains strong and vibrant.  

Cleveland Priest’s Retreat - September 2025 - Diocese of Cleveland

Today we toured the wonderful city of Krakow.  We toured the Wawel hill castle and the Archdiocesan Cathedral where Saint John Paul II lead the people of Krakow.  We saw the tomb of St. Stanislaus, patron saint of Poland and made our way to St. Mary Church where we celebrated the Mass.  In the afternoon our group took a tour of the Oskar Schindler Ceramic Factory where Schindler housed, fed, employed and saved thousands of people during the Nazi occupation of Poland from 1939-1945.  The role of the church also played a significant role in helping to save lives.  Religious sisters forged baptismal certificates and even bleached the hair of children to convince the Nazi’s that the children were Christian.  This saved countless children from extinction in the gas chambers or from starvation.  When anyone was caught trying to save the Jews they were either shot to death or hung in the town square for everyone to see.  Often the bodies stayed hanging for several days to create fear and warning to others who risked their lives trying to save the innocent lives of Polish Jews.  

When we returned home, we prayed evening Prayer together at the hotel.  The words of Psalm 67 haunted us as we reflected on the day’s tour:  “Their plan is only to destroy; they take pleasure in lies.  With their mouth they utter blessing but in their hearts they curse.  In God alone be at rest, my soul, for my hope comes from him.  He alone is my rock, my stronghold, my fortress: I stand firm.”  These words seemed fittingly appropriate to what we had seen and experienced in today’s haunting yet hopeful tour. 

 Both Yours and His  

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord 

February1/2, 2025 

St. Raphael – 4:30 p.m., 8:00 a.m. 

1. Long before a child is even born, parents learn to fear the world in a whole new way - will the pregnancy go alright? will the baby be okay?  

- it’s a beautiful time – pregnancy – but it’s also 40 weeks of worry! 

- newborns inspire a sort of apocalyptic anxiety – a simple cold may elicit parental  nightmares! A cough or the sniffles or colic can produce stress and agony - the pediatrician says not to worry but the fears never abate, but grow and evolve - as soon as the child begins to crawl or walk, you look at your home differently to make  sure it’s “kid-proof” – that latches are placed on cupboards, and gates are put on stairways - when the child goes to school you worry about parents, strangers, bullies, depression,  hormones, grades, goals, driving, college, careers and so on 

- the fact is that these never really end – my brother’s short illness and death witnessed to this - not a day goes by that my mom doesn’t miss Rick or pray for him or remember him - if she could have wrapped him up in bubble wrap to protect him she would have - we worry about everything because, let’s face it, we worry about our children, a gift given  by God himself  

2. Today is the feast of the Presentation 

- 40 days removed from the feast of the Nativity, today’s celebration brings the Christmas  cycle to an end 

- today we recall the Holy Family as they made their way to Jerusalem so that Mary could  fulfill the Law regarding purification and to offer the infant Jesus to God, in according with   the law set forth in the book of Exodus 

- today we celebrate this poor, Jewish family, finding in their devotion the fulfillment of   something bigger – the fulfillment of Israel’s hope, salvation and glory 

3. In the fourth century, this feast was given the name “Candlemas” 

- it was a day that people would bring their candles in procession to the church, offering a   penny for each candle blessed by the priest (no longer required!) 

- carrying candles into church signified the infant Jesus being carried into the temple by his  mother 

- the candles symbolized God’s protection against disaster either natural or demonic - it prefigures the final entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and becomes a preparation for the   great drama of Lent and Holy Week 

4. But I’d like to focus a bit on the human event of this feast 

- like all parents, Mary and Joseph were filled with joy, exhaustion and wonder - and when they enter the temple they meet Simeon and an old woman, Anna, a prophetess - she begins to tell everyone she sees about this child, “He’s special” she says - this holy woman of faith who had lived most of her life in fasting and prayer saw deeper - and Simeon says the same thing calling Jesus, “the consolation of Israel” - but then he turns to Mary and speaks a somber tone – “this child is destined to be the fall

 and rise of many in Israel – Simeon tells Mary, “a sword will pierce you” - it is some sort of prophecy of hope and pain, joy and sorrow, acceptance and rejection - but Mary and Joseph accept the will of God for their son, not fighting it but accepting it,  realizing that THEIR son was also HIS son 

5. A former dean of Duke Chapel used to talk about the angry phone calls he would occasionally get from parents with a similar complaint 

- “We sent Suzie to Duke with her head on straight,” the parent would begin. “She   was supposed to major in economics and go on to law school. But now she’s decided  to become a missionary in Honduras. How could you let this happen. You have ruined  her life!” 

- We get similar concerns from parents of seminarians – not consenting to their son becoming  a priest because they were supposed to be successful and create grandchildren - sometimes parents own desires for their children, their own hopes and dreams interfere with   a child’s desire or what God wants for this child 

- but the baptismal rite itself repeats over and over again that this child is a “child of God” - When a child is baptized we give the parents a candle and say, “see that the divine life God  gives them is kept safe.” 

- It means that, ultimately, we are called to love, nurture and care for those who have  been given to us, a gift and blessing  

6. There’s a beautiful poem by Edgar Guest that I have sometimes used when parents lose a son or daughter 

- it’s titled, “I’ll lend this child to you” 

- it speaks so beautifully of God choosing earthly parents to care for his beloved no matter  how long or short their life may be 

- it has brought so may people comfort when the loss of a child can’t be understood or   explained or made sense of 

7. Today we stand in the temple of God, not in Jerusalem or Nazareth but in Bay Village, Ohio - Simeon points to the Christ in our hearts, and our children, and tells us that the path ahead  is glorious, but painful too 

- What will you do? How will you respond? 

- Religion must be more than a cultural habit or emotional entertainment 

- if you’ve merely given the children the sacraments but not a living faith, if you say,  you can’t remember the last time you came to Mass on Sunday but you’d never miss   a lacrosse game on Sunday or hockey tournament out of town then this may not make  much sense 

- if, however, your religion is real, practiced and lived, then you will ask what the will of  God is for you and your children? 

- and then you will see the same light Simeon and Anna saw, shining now upon you and  upon all those you love 

- Recognizing that all you those you love belong, not just to you, but also to God

USCCB Article

 We received a surprise call from the United States Catholic Conference of  Bishops (USCCB).  They wanted to do an article on pilgrimages to Rome and since our group was one of the earlier groups, they asked if they could follow us and do interviews.  I think they did a great job.  Below is the article link:

https://www.usccb.org/news/2025/holy-year-pilgrims-cleveland-experience-best-church

We left for the airport at 6:00 a.m. this morning.  Half the folks are flying Rome-> JFK -> Cleveland.  The other group is flying Rome -> Newark -> Cleveland.  Everyone should be back by 11:00 p.m.

Folks have been awed, amazed, overwhelmed, and grateful for the opportunity to grow in faith, understanding and love for the Lord in these past days.  As we return home to our “ordinary” lives after such an “extraordinary” experience, may our hearts be filled with what we have seen and heard, celebrated and remembered.  May this pilgrimage remain in our hearts forever.

Fr. Dan

Santa Maria Maggiore - Honoring the Birth of Jesus

 Our final mass together was at Santa Maria Maggiore and it was also our final holy door experience.  I went to confession at the church so I think I’ve got all the plenary indulgences I can get (I need all the help possible!).  The second photo below shows a remnant of the manger in which Jesus was born.  This is a primary treasure of this church building.  

We celebrated Mass in the side chapel and it was a wonderful experience.  

Papa Francesco

 Today we attended a papal audience.  Since the weather was a bit inclement, the audience was moved inside.  The joy of being an international church is truly amazing.  Many people cheering, “Viva La Papa” and cheering for him show the love and admiration the body of Christ has for its Vicar, its Shepherd.  

In the above picture Bishop Malesic and I are joined by Fr. Sean Ralph, Rector of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Cleveland.  He just arrived yesterday for a 3 month sabbatical at the North American College just steps from the Vatican.  It was great seeing him and having the honor to sit next to him for the papal audience.

The Amazing Vatican Museum

 The Vatican Museums were never intended for the public.  It wasn’t until Pope Julius II that it was decided to open the museum and its artistic treasures and make them accessible for everyone.  The museum now generates 30,000 visitors per day in a space never intended for public use.  They do a great job in displaying the beautiful art and bringing people to a greater sense and appreciation for the beautiful.

We took a walking tour of Rome which included a visit to the Piazza Navona, San Luigi de Francesi (Caravaggio paintings) and the Pantheon.

St. Catherine of Siena is buried at Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, the only real Gothic cathedral in Rome.  People write small prayers for her intercession and place them on the tomb.  

Mass at the Tomb of St. Peter

 Sunday was a remarkable day as we celebrated Mass very early morning at the tomb of St. Peter.  Bishop Malesic gave a beautiful homily about the wedding feast of Cana.  It was a rare gift to be able to celebrate right at the tomb with no tourists around. 

I think people are genuinely in “awe” with the beauty and awe of being in this remarkable and historic city.  

After breakfast we took a walking tour throughout Rome and included such stops as the Pantheon, Santa Maria Minerva (where the body of St. Catherine of Siena is), the Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona.

Today (at 6:00 a.m.) we leave for the Sistine Chapel and breakfast at the Vatican.

Someone asked me “what is your favorite thing you’ve experienced on this trip?”  To be honest, it’s seeing the reaction of faith-filled people who see these works of art, buildings and historic sites for the first time.  “Breathtaking, awesome, overwhelming, emotionally stirring, powerful” are many of the words people use to describe what they are seeing and experiencing.  God made manifest in the beauty of what faith-filled men and women can do.  Never underestimate the power of God to enable us to do great things.  Each of us, in our own way, is called to mold, shape, paint and create a better world - making a little bit of heaven on earth.

Tre Fontane Abbey

 On Saturday we  traveled from Florence to Rome.  On our way to St. Paul Outside the Walls we stopped at the Tre Fontaine Abbey.  It was here that the death of St. Paul took place.  Currently Trappist monks of the Cistercian order (Trappists) reside at the Abbey.  Here lambs are raised whose wool is used to weave the pallia (the woolen ecclesiastical vestment) given to metropolitan bishopss.  Each year on January 21st the Pope blesses these lambs. 

St. Paul was beheaded here by the order of Nero.  Tradition tells us that when St. Paul’s head was severed from his body his head bounced and struck the earth in three different places, from which the fountains sprang up.

We arrived at St. Paul outside the walls and entered through the Holy Door there.  The remarkable church contains the mosaic cameos of every Pope since St. Peter.  It is an amazing place and we celebrated Mass in a side chapel.