Franjo Komarica, the bishop from Banja Luka, well known in our county, visited the Janusz Korczak II General Secondary School in Bolesławiec on Monday, June 11. The meeting was opened by Mirosław Sakowski, the headmaster of the “Two,” who emphasized that II LO is a school that has cultivated traditions connected with repatriation for years. “We pass on our ideals and goals to young people,” he added.
“This school, the headmaster and his colleagues possess a great deal of good spirit, openness and positive thinking,” Bishop Komarica said. “I am very pleased that you are such an energy, strength and driving force that educates the younger generation.”
The clergyman mentioned Dr. Ivan Merz of Banja Luka, whom Pope John Paul II declared Blessed 15 years ago. Merz was a philosopher and a great intellectual who, while fighting on the Italian front during World War I, understood how beautiful the Christian faith was. By devoting himself to Christ, he took a vow of lifelong chastity. (The Blessed from Banja Luka is also an important figure for Benedict XVI, while St. John Paul II himself held Merz up as a role model for young people throughout the world.)
There were also memories shared by repatriates. The female students of the “Two” read those recorded by Małgorzata Matyjaszczuk, a Polish language teacher, as part of her master’s thesis.
As M. Sakowski wrote on his Facebook profile:
The meeting was attended by a 20-person delegation of repatriates, students and teachers. A group of female students prepared by Grzegorz Gogulski gave a beautiful performance. Many thanks to our colleague Małgorzata Matyjaszczuk for organizing the meeting.