Page 16 - LOTN Spring Issue 49 2022

WITNESS

hope that the Credo community would be such an ark. usually for about 30 people of all ages. Most of them are men,
After Holy Communion, the congregation solemnly sang the but women come too. The coordinator of the Polish group
fourteen-stanza hymn "Te Deum", expressing their gratitude to preparing these meals is Maciek, who admits that this service
God for the Credo community and the opportunity to celebrate is very important to him: “It feels as if we are really living by
its tenth anniversary. After Mass, there was the traditional the commands of the Gospel. ‘For I was hungry, and you gave
"agape" (communal meal) and the opportunity to share me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something
memories, as well as everyday worries. There was also a huge to drink, I was a stranger, and you invited me in’ (Mt 25:35).
cake, and everyone sang a well-known Polish song, one which Thanks to this service I am learning to be grateful for everything
was sung by the Polish highlanders to the late John Paul II in I have, to learn humility and to empathise with other people. It
Stary Sacz, where on 16th June, 1999, he canonized Blessed is accompanied by great satisfaction and joy of the heart from
Kinga, the Duchess of Krakow (1234-1292): “All the best! We the act of doing something for another human being. As Jesus
wish you; we wish you. And health and happiness and blessings. said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’ (Acts 20:35). The
Through the hands of Mary … “. feeling of fellowship - with all the other people who roll up their
Ewelina, a long-term vice-leader of the community, sleeves with me to cook, serve and clean - is also invaluable.”
commented: “During the preparations for this anniversary For Ewelina, cooking together for the homeless brings a lot
we decided to personally invite friends and acquaintances, of joy: “Helping those in need gives one the feeling that we are
rather than rely on an announcement from the pulpit, Among doing something important. Sometimes it can be difficult when
those who did attend the event were the former leaders of the the people we are trying to help seem unappreciative, but such
community, Klaudiusz and Damian. I was very struck by one moments teach us humility. I cannot imagine doing it without
observation the bishop made in his homily, that the members of my deep conviction that we serve Jesus Himself,” she admits.
the community are like the fringes in the garment of the Lord. Another important commitment Credo has made is to assist
Because they are close to Jesus, they can help others come closer financially the Polish Mission Centre in the Ethiopian city
to Him.” of Awassa. In 2019, the group decided to support the social
Credo serves to unite a wide variety of people, including rehabilitation centre for street children that was established at
families with small children who feel that time - the “Ethiopian Barkot Children’s
inspired to come to the Monday meetings. Foundation”, run by a lay missionary,
Some of them have been in the community Magdalena Soboka. “The main goal of
for many years. the foundation,” stated Renata, who is
“This is where I feel most connected ...the members of the responsible for collecting and sending
with God, during the common prayer of community are like the fringes donations to Ethiopia, “is to help street
our meetings. This cannot be experienced in the garment of the Lord. children by providing them with education,
in individual prayers,” reflected Agnieszka, Because they are close to Jesus, a happy childhood and future prospects.
who joined the community eight years ago. they can help others come Credo has supported the foundation with
For Kassia, who started coming to Credo closer to Him. regular donations from the very beginning.
about four years ago, the group gives a sense We decided to respond to the exhortation
of being in community with the Spirit of of John Paul II: ‘All Christians, members of
God: “It gives me a tangible closeness to the Church, by virtue of holy baptism are
God during prayer. I must say that there jointly responsible for missionary activity’
have been times when I don’t feel like going to a meeting but (J.P. II Redemptoris Missio (RM 77)). Every few months the
once I get there, I feel wonderful. Besides, the members of the foundation sends us mission reports, from which we learn
community support each other, and after one of our meetings I about the activities of the organisation, the circumstances of the
am strengthened.” children staying in the centre, as well as about the lives of ordinary
Father Adam, the guardian of the community, has only inhabitants of Awassa.” In Renata’s opinion, our missionary
been with us since last October but has already made some activities can be carried out at a distance by contributing to the
observations: “Many years ago, Fr Joseph Ratzinger made his collections for the mission or praying the mission rosary. Renata
predictions about the Church of the future. It would be a small concludes: “Prayer for missionaries is very necessary, missionary
Church but made up of devout and conscious Catholics. In his activity is a matter of faith, and Christ is the first and most
opinion some of the communities already present in churches important missionary.”
are an embodiment of this, people gathering to feed themselves “I thank God for this grace, for the 10th anniversary of this
with both the Word of God and the Body of our Lord and community and for all the people I have met here,” says Janis,
wanting to share their gifts with other people. The Credo the leader of the group, who is a Latvian with distant Polish
community is a place where the Holy Spirit gives gifts to those roots. He is Credo’s fourth leader and has held his role for the
who want more and to whom this form of spirituality is most longest time: “To know God is our deepest desire. During the
meaningful.“ last ten years many people have visited our group, and this place
The activity of the Credo community is not limited to has helped them to find God and become closer to Him. When
Monday meetings. Since last October, on the third Thursday God is at the centre of our lives, then everything falls into place.”
of the month, the community prepares a meal for the homeless,

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