Eleven priests from the Diocese of Cleveland spent six days in Poland earlier this month for a retreat during which they visited sites of religious and historic significance, celebrated Mass and prayed.
Father Dan Schlegel, pastor of St. Raphael Parish in Bay Village, said the retreat was planned during his time as the diocesan vicar for clergy and religious. “We wanted to offer a similar retreat experience that we had a few years back with Bishop (Nelson) Perez when 24 priests joined him on a retreat in Rome and Assisi,” he explained.
(See photo gallery above.)
The retreat in Poland took place Sept. 30 through Oct. 6.
Among the sites visited were the Monastery of Jasna Gora, which houses the famous Black Madonna, a depiction of the Blessed Mother said to have been painted by St. Luke; the city of Krakow; the cathedral in the Archdiocese of Krakow; the tomb of St. Stanislaus, patron saint of Poland; Oskar Schindler’s ceramic factory where he housed, fed, employed and saved thousands of people during World War II; the John Paul II Center and St. Faustina Divine Mercy Center, both in Krakow; Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps; the Wieliczaka Salt Mines, in operation for more than 400 years where deeply religious workers carved monuments and chapels for workers to pray throughout the day, and Wadowice, the hometown of St. John Paul II.
“The faith of the Polish people is nothing short of miraculous,” Father Schlegel said.
On the last day of the retreat, the group enjoyed dinner at a local restaurant, a Polish concert and dance show, with some of the priests trying to join in the dancing, Father Schlegel said.
Father Martin Dober, who is studying in Rome, joined the group and celebrated Mass at the John Paul II Shrine. Father Rich Samide, administrator of St. Angela Merici Parish in Fairview Park and one of the retreatants, celebrated Mass at Auschwitz, where St. Maximillian Kolbe offered his life in exchange for another prisoner.
“We were grateful for each other’s company during these days together and will cherish the thoughtful and inspiring discussions as well as our prayer together,” he added.
Father Dan Schlegel provided the photos featured above.