One of the organizers, Halina Waniak, wrote to us about this unusual trip.
The trip to Bosnia, which took place in August, was extraordinary. A group of 120 people went. They were of very different ages. The oldest woman was born in 1932.
Our expedition required a great deal of effort. Its purpose was to visit the sites of former Polish settlements and cemeteries, as well as to meet local people and representatives of the authorities. We also had a brief rest on the Adriatic and made a pilgrimage to Medjugorie.
Everywhere we were met with great warmth and received very hospitably, in keeping with tradition—not with bread and salt, but with a glass of rakia. The authorities of Syrbce helped us visit the villages and cemeteries. We reached some places by tractor.
In Novi Martyniec, Rakovac, Gumiera and Kunów, we searched for traces of settlements and cemeteries. It was very difficult. These forgotten settlements were located in forests that were hard to traverse.
We realized how our ancestors began civilizing this country a hundred years ago—amid great hardship and effort, using primitive equipment. After 70 years, mighty beeches grow over their graves, like silent witnesses to their vanished presence. We searched for traces of former churches and graves; every fragment of brick and piece of a gravestone we found was a relic to us.
We also visited Prnjavor. During our stay there, we had the honour of attending Mass celebrated for our intention by the bishop of Banja Luka, Franio Komarnica. In his homily, he drew attention to the piety of Poles and spoke about what one’s native land means to a person. He said: “Today, in a world of uninvited guests, the only things left for us are the memory of our homeland and longing, because a person can live anywhere, but the heart remains where one was born.”
He blessed us, and we sang our church hymns. The walls of that church had not heard such powerful singing for a long time. He invited us to his residence in Banja Luka next year.
The pilgrimage to Medjugorie also provided us with profound spiritual experiences. At the sanctuary, we attended an international Mass. Those who wished and were strong enough climbed the hill of the apparitions. We visited the Kravica waterfalls.
On the last day of our stay in Prnjavor, a grand reception was prepared with numerous guests in attendance. We exchanged greetings and expressed our wishes for continued cooperation and future meetings, both in Poland and here in Bosnia. The heads of several municipalities attended the meeting.
On our way back home, we visited the Mak Association in Czelinowiec, in the municipality of Gradiška. Our friends gave us an extraordinary reception, attended by the bishop’s deputy. The head of Gradiška greeted us and wished both himself and us frequent visits and meetings. We agreed that our cooperation would become closer.
Overall, the trip to Bosnia was very beneficial. We established new contacts and friendships, and we will continue to cooperate.
(information: Halina Waniak)