WE CALLED HIM A FATHER
On the first death anniversary of cardinal Stanisław Nagy – on 5 June this year in the building Domus Mater (Kraków, Śląska St. 2c) an exhibition was opened, which is devoted to this prominent priest of the Sacred Heart. Besides press journalists the conference was attended by: Janina Świerzyńska – a secretary of cardinal Nagy, his chaplain and a secretary – Fr. Grzegorz Piątek SCJ and also Fr. Włodzimierz Płatek SCJ – a director of Domus Mater.
Fr. Grzegorz Piątek, speaking about the Main character of the exhibition, used the terms: a priest, professor, cardinal, priest of the Sacred Heart, a patriot, friend of John Paul II. The chaplain of cardinal Nagy thanked people who had contributed to creating a place commemorating this Person, among the others, they thanked Janina Świerzyńska (she made an introductory selections of exhibits), donors and the publishing house Bialy Kruk (it made photos available).
It was the first time when the visitors could see personal presents which cardinal Nagy had received from John Paul II, for example, cards with dedication for a faithful companion of the trips, a rosary given in a helicopter after the famous meeting with Lech Wałęsa in Dolina Chochołowska, a chalice for the jubilee of 50 years of priesthood. What is worth noting is correspondence from St. John Paul II. His letters often start with the words: ‘Dear Stanislaw, my Friend…’. Altogether the Cardinal received 111 letters (only six of them were presented in the exhibition). One can also see a gold cardinal ring, an order with which he was rewarded by president Lech Kaczynski and also objects which accompanied the Cardinal every day, for example, a scapular, a small radio or stationery.
Janina Świerzyńska, belonging to a group of pastoral ministry of medics (although she graduated from Polish studies, she was enrolled to this group by her sister), as she reminisces the Cardinal from Płaszów: - We called him a father. He was a personal leader of our hearts and souls. We were attracted by travelling with him, trips to the mountains, skiing trips. He was an excellent priest, he learnt it from Fr. Karol Wojtyła.
It is worth noting that cardinal Stanislaw Nagy lived in Płaszów for 46 years. So, it is good that it is just in the House of priests of the Sacred Heart Domus Mater where inhabitants of Krakow and guests can get to know the person of John Paul’s II friend. The museum is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
(AA)
"Niedziela" 24/2014