{"id":132125,"date":"2025-04-09T10:17:51","date_gmt":"2025-04-09T08:17:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cgfmanet.org\/infosphere\/pellegrinaggio-di-riconoscenza-slk\/"},"modified":"2025-04-10T21:38:49","modified_gmt":"2025-04-10T19:38:49","slug":"pilgrimage-of-gratitude-slk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cgfmanet.org\/en\/ifma-en\/pilgrimage-of-gratitude-slk\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cPilgrimage of gratitude\u201d \u2013 SLK"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bratislava (Slovakia).<\/strong> On 29 March 2025, a group of Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of\u00a0 St. John Bosco<\/em> Province (SLK) with the Salesian Cooperators, led by the Provincial Sister Jana Kurkinov\u00e1, visited the Community of St. John Bosco<\/em> in Pogrzebien, in Poland, of\u00a0 Our Lady of Jasna G\u00f3ra<\/em> Province (PLJ), to meet Sister Teresa Czekala.<\/p>\n

It was a “pilgrimage of gratitude” in the context of the celebrations for the 85th<\/sup> anniversary of the arrival of the FMA in Slovakia. Sister Teresa Czekala, former Polish Provincial, has been a significant reference figure in the history of the Slovak Province.<\/p>\n

In the eighties, during the communist regime (1950 – 1990), Sister Teresa as Provincial Vicar, secretly visited the FMA in Slovakia several times, in civilian dress and with great personal risk, to help them in the difficult situation of persecution.<\/p>\n

In those years, it was impossible to go from Poland to Slovakia without a personal official invitation by someone from Slovakia. For this reason, two Salesian Cooperators – the Peciar couple from Trnava – undertook to invite Sister Teresa as the godmother for the baptisms of their children. The excitement for them was great in meeting again after many years.<\/p>\n

One of the participants in the pilgrimage said: “I had only heard about her from our older sisters, who remembered her with gratitude as a person of faith, strong and determined to go forward despite the obstacles. I am happy that we have taken this step. As you have travelled to us, so we have travelled to you to express our gratitude on behalf of our whole Province.”<\/em><\/p>\n

The FMA Community of Pogrzebien welcomed the pilgrims in a very warm and familiar way. For Sister Teresa, it was a beautiful day of joy, touching encounters, and time spent together. “This is a great miracle,”<\/em> she continued to repeat. It was also a gift for the Sisters to be able to stay in places related to the life of Venerable Sister Laura Meozzi<\/strong><\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

Impressions of some participants:<\/p>\n

“For me, the memories of my youth and our contacts with the Polish FMA were strong and moving. It was beautiful to be back where I was in 1990. In Pogrzebien, we were able to breathe freely for a while, without fear of being discovered as religious.”<\/em><\/p>\n

The Provincial, Sister Jana Kurkinov\u00e1: “It was precious for me to listen to Sister Teresa, to feel her freshness (at 85 years old), her always fantastic memory, and her love for our Province. I am happy to have organized this event with the Provincial, Sister Ma\u0142gorzata Pilarska”.<\/em><\/p>\n

The youngest participant of the pilgrimage, Sister Nicola:<\/p>\n

“The emotions still pervade me, because it was a strong encounter also thanks to Mother Laura Meozzi. I am very happy to know more about our history. I am grateful for the commitment of the Sisters in giving themselves to God despite the difficult times and many obstacles. I realize that it is worth persevering and living our vocation. Laura Meozzi was a model for me, but now I am even more touched by her example of fidelity in staying in Poland, despite the war, to help the Sisters and young people.”<\/em><\/p>\n\r\n