91 percent Catholics

Former Communio-Eastern Europe representative Prelate Dr. Jozef Zielonka received in the town hall by Mechernich's mayor Dr. Hans-Peter Schick

Mechernich – Prelate Dr. Jozef Zielonka (77), who already became acquainted with the foundress Mother Marie Therese during the communist era and was active as a representative of Communio in Christo for Poland and Eastern Europe, was now received in Mechernich's town hall by Mayor Dr. Hans-Peter Schick.

Both had met several times in the past, among other things at the founding commemorations of the Communio in the school center and in Holzheim and at the twinning celebrations between Mechernich and the Polish twin town Skarszewy in Poland and Germany.

The lively conversation, in which Deacon Manfred Lang, the deputy superior general of the Ordo Communionis in Christo, also participated, was interpreted by Ewa Bochynek, the partnership representative of the Mechernich city administration, and revolved around the current political, social and ecclesiastical situation in Poland.

Book with dedication

As a guest gift, Dr. Zielonka, who holds a doctorate from the Polish State Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw on the Mechernich foundress Mother Marie Therese, brought the Mechernich head of council and administration a copy of his book "Charisma of Love" about Mother Marie Therese, written together with Prof. Dr. Stanislaw Urbanski, which was dedicated in a spirit of friendship.

He also presented Dr. Schick with an image of the "Black Madonna" of Czestochowa, at whose shrine in Jasna Gora Pope John-Paul II once prayed and Prelate Zielonka performed priestly service. Dr. Hans-Peter Schick returned the favor with, among other things, Ahr wine from the flooded area of 2021.

Dr. Jozef Zielonka also reported from the time when the Church in Poland supported the Solidarnosc movement. The "Communio in Christo" also helped already at the time of communism and therefore enjoys a high social reputation in Czestochowa and other cities until today. Photo: Manfred Lang/pp/Agentur ProfiPress

The prelate and the mayor had lively discussions about the Ukrainian war and its consequences for Germany and Poland, where two million Ukrainian war refugees are currently staying. Zielonka praised the strong Catholic milieu in the country, with even today 91 percent church members and 38 percent Sunday churchgoers.

In Czestochowa, he said, there is a Communio group that is still active despite Corona and meets four times a week for prayer and Holy Mass in a hospice. The average age of his group is above the population average. With Superior General Jaison Thazhathil, Prelate Zielonka considered possibilities for support from Germany.

With help from Germany, the Czestochowa Communio Group is also involved in the private accommodation and support of war refugees from Ukraine.

pp/Agentur ProfiPress