Krakow Day 4

“This is the Gospel of friendship and closeness, of contemplation and action—in other words, of what is so important in Dominican life, what constitutes its everyday rhythm,” said Fr. Jarosław Krawiec in his homily during the Sunday Eucharist, which brought together the entire Dominican family.

Krakow Day 4

Day Four – Sunday

“This is the Gospel of friendship and closeness, of contemplation and action—in other words, of what is so important in Dominican life, what constitutes its everyday rhythm,” said Fr. Jarosław Krawiec in his homily during the Sunday Eucharist, which brought together the entire Dominican family. And although—as he added—it would be hard to imagine a more fitting passage for such an occasion than the one about Jesus visiting his friends in Bethany, no one actually chose it. We heard the Word the Church had assigned for this Sunday—because “we have all received only one Gospel. There are no alternate versions of the Good News for the different and ever-changing circumstances of life. There is no other Gospel for joy or sorrow, for war or peace, for healthor illness—we have one Gospel for all. We have all received the same Word of God, which—like Mary—generations of Dominican brothers and sisters have listened to, generation after generation, General Chapter after General Chapter.”

Contemplation and Service

And although many of us look with admiration at those devoted to contemplation, as Fr. Krzysztof Popławski once wrote—and many priors searching for brothers ready to take responsibility for the priory, finances, guests, and the needy would surely agree—“although I prefer Mary’s posture, I’d marry Martha.”

That is why the preacher strongly emphasized that listening must never be separated from service. We need—our Order needs—both Mary and Martha: listening and action, contemplation and ministry. We must stay rooted in the Word, but also bring it to life—boldly, concretely, with devotion.

A Testimony of the Word

A powerful example is found in those who came before us, who left us a legacy of love and attentiveness to the Word. For Fr. Jarosław, it is the Ulma family, who in 1942 welcomed Jews into their home, persecuted by the Nazi regime. For this gesture of hospitality and mercy, born of deep faith, they paid the highest price. On March 24, 1944, they were murdered—parents and children alike. In the museum dedicated to their memory, one can see their worn-out Bible. Deeply moving is the handwritten “YES” next to the parable of the Good Samaritan, and the underlined words of Jesus: “Love your enemies” (Mt 5:44).

A Family in Celebration

This Sunday was a celebration of the Dominican family—full, diverse, built on relationships. After Mass, the Master of the Order addressed those gathered, joyfully noting that no one was missing: “brothers, nuns, apostolic sisters, lay people, priests from the fraternities—even little children, future Dominicans, are here.” And although—as he added—few of the provincial priors speak Polish, we all understand the language of love, brotherhood and sisterhood.

One of the friars, pointing to the tables filled with homemade cakes, asked me who had prepared it all. I looked around, gestured at those gathered, and replied: the family. He laughed warmly, bit into a cheesecake and said he definitely needed to get to know this family better—because they cook really well. A moment later I saw him deep in conversation with lay people and sisters—confident, relaxed, as if he’d known them forever.

That encounter was the Gospel itself—“of friendship and closeness, of contemplation and action—of what is so important in Dominican life, what constitutes its everyday rhythm.”

The capitular friars, after the Eucharist and shared meal, had a brief moment—if they had the energy—to see Krakow. Tomorrow, regular work begins. Perhaps it’s a good thing that it was preceded by this meeting with the Dominican family—it’s always good to remember that we work for someone.

🪶

Communication Office of the General Chapter of Provincial Priors
Krakow, July 20, 2025
Łukasz Janik, OP
Photographs by: @dominikanie.pl

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