On Saturday, January 16, the tenth, jubilee edition of the Christmas Wafer Gathering for People with Disabilities was held in the sports hall of I Liceum Ogólnokształcące in Bolesławiec. The guests were welcomed by starost Cezary Przybylski. “The tenth anniversary of the gathering is a great opportunity to recall how much has changed over this time. New organizations caring for and bringing together people with disabilities have been established, such as the Association of Parents of Children and Youth Requiring Special Care, which runs wonderful Occupational Therapy Workshops, the Bolesławiec Amazons Club, the Diabetics’ Association, the Rehabilitation and Education Center at the County Complex of Schools and Special Institutions, and many others,” he said. “Thanks to the work of these organizations, we have received recognition from across Poland: we were awarded the title ‘County Friendly to People with Disabilities’ and the Order of the Smile, granted by the Prakseda Lemańska Cultural Association.
“We begin organizing the gathering several months in advance,” says Barbara Kostyra, head of the Social, Civic Affairs and Health Department. “I can confidently say that our driving force is the volunteers: students, soldiers, representatives of nongovernmental organizations and many other people of goodwill.
That day also saw a Mass celebrated under the leadership of the Bishop of Legnica, Stefan Cichy. After the service, people exchanged good wishes and shared the Christmas wafer. The Harmonia choir from Nowogrodziec provided musical entertainment for the participants.
The “Memory of the Christmas Wafer Gathering” competition was also decided, with more than 60 entries submitted. Three equal first places went to Agnieszka Kolińska, Kamil Kaczmarek and Diana Łukasik, while distinctions were awarded to: Sławek Niedźwiedzki, Joanna Potocka, Anna Kaczmarek, Agata Karaban, Roksana Fijołek, Karolina Kaczmarek, Magdalena Tasiur and Mariusz Pawlus.
Eight hundred people took part in the Christmas Wafer Gathering for People with Disabilities. Among them was Paweł Pawlus, who came with his mother and brother from the village of Łąka. “This is my third time at the gathering. I like coming here because it’s fun. I wished everyone lots of happiness and good health, because that is the most important thing in life,” he said.
“I have not seen a larger Christmas wafer gathering either in Legnica, Jelenia Góra or Mysłakowice,” emphasized Bishop Stefan Cichy. “This is a deeply moving experience for me. A congress of people with disabilities has been held in Legnica for many years, and people with disabilities also meet in Krzeszów. They are grateful for this opportunity. They experience Mass differently, but also very, very intensely.
The co-organizer of the Christmas wafer gatherings for people with disabilities is the Bolesławiec branch of the Society of Friends of Children, together with its president and County Councilor Jadwiga Bobek.
(information: County Office/ii)