On January 7, 2024, on the Sunday of the Baptism of the Lord, we went on a pilgrimage to Mieszkowice, the hometown of the Servant of God, Fr. John Schneider, our Founding Father, to thank the Good God during the Holy Eucharist for the gift of His life and vocation on the 200th anniversary of His birth and baptism this year.
The Holy Mass was presided over by Fr. Krystian Charchut, parish priest of Our Lady of the Piasek parish in Wrocław. The ceremony was also attended by Fr. prof. Zdzisław Lec from Wrocław, priest Kazimierz Szczepanik SAC, chaplain of the Branicki convent of sisters and the local parish priest, Fr. Mariusz Budziarek.
The homily was delivered by Fr. Mariusz, spoke simply and clearly, his words touched our hearts and were deeply moving.
In order to properly describe the content of the homily, let me quote a larger fragment of it that I wrote down.
– When John Paul II, as the Holy Father, came to his hometown of Wadowice in 1999, it was June. He said that “it all started here.” [In Wadowice] He received the sacrament of baptism there, he went to school there, and his priesthood began there. Man returns to his sources. We could wonder what would have happened if not for Father John Schneider, [who came from] such an inconspicuous, small Mieszkowice. What would happen to the Congregation of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate? Trusting in God’s Providence, we deeply believe that God predicted, planned and directed everything.
You penetrate and know me, Lord, You know when I sit and when I get up. You see my thoughts from afar, you see how I rest and walk, and you know all my ways. Ps 139:1-2
This is how God’s Providence arranged it in its plan, that it was here in Mieszkowice, 200 years ago, that Fr. John Schneider was born, just two days later in this church, on January 13, he received the sacrament of baptism, that he served here as an altar boy, and then there was more and more. (…)
It seems so natural that the sisters make pilgrimages here, to this humble House of God, because man returns to his sources. Sisters, this is where the faith of your founding father was formed. (…)
Today, when we celebrate this [200th] anniversary, we must also thank God for the life and work of Father John Schneider, but we must be aware that we too were once brought to the temple by our parents. It was our parents who asked for baptism for us, so that we would be incorporated into a new life with Christ. (…) And today, when we gather on the Sunday of the Baptism of the Lord, we gather, so to speak, in the house of Father John Schneider. This House of God was also his house, where his faith was shaped, and at home one feels good, safe, wanted, loved , respected and appreciated. This is how one feels at home and I hope that the sisters and guests who come here will be able to feel this way. As a parish priest, as local parishioners, we would like you to feel at home when you come here [to Mieszkowice, to the temple], in the house of God in the house of Father John Schneider – invited Father Mariusz, the parish priest.
After the Holy Mass, Provincial Superior, Sr. Magdalena Zabłotna, thanked the priests and the gathered faithful for the community prayer. She referred to a person, Fr. The Founder recalled that he was a great honor of Our Lady, a dedicated confessor, and a man sensitive to the needs of the sick and poor.
– He was a priest of steadfast faith. He learned the miracle of Divine Mercy and shared it and gave it to everyone. The Provincial Sister encouraged us to follow his path.
Finally, a plaque commemorating the baptism of the Servant of God was consecrated in the Mieszkow church.
Here is its content:
IN THIS CHURCH. ST. JERZEGO
13/01/1824. WAS BAPTIZED
SERVANT OF GOD
FR. JOHN SCHNEIDER,
GREAT HONOR OF THE MOTHER OF GOD,
APOSTLE OF MERCY,
PRIEST OF UNBREAKABLE FAITH,
FOUNDER OF THE CONGREGATION
SISTERS OF MARY IMMACULATE.
In order to extend the Eucharistic table into a table where we could meet in sisterly and brotherly relationships, we went to our monastery in Nysa, where, with a good lunch and then coffee and cake, we continued to celebrate the passing of 200 years since the birth and baptism of our Founding Father.
May God be glorified in the life and vocation of the servant of God, Fr. John Schneider.
Sr. Małgorzata Cur