Lednica, Poland - More than 100,000 young people are expected to attend a free faith festival on June 5, held by the lake where Poland's first Christian king was, according to popular tradition, baptised.
Miezko 1st of Poland (930-992) is believed to have become a Christian in the year 966 alongside Lake Lednica, a beauty spot in the Voivode region between Poznán and Gzieno in West Poland.
Since 1995, a one-day youth gathering that includes dance, prayer, Mass, talks and lively worship has been held at Lednica. The festival's high point is a night-time walk near the large sculpted metal fish symbolising Christianity which stands near the lake. This year, to honour the 96 victims of the Smolensk air crash, 96 parachutists will land on the fields surrounding Lednica.
The theme for 2010 is "the gift and mystery of womanhood."
All the talks and liturgy will be translated into English, and for the second year running, a group are attending from the UK.
Marie Kato, 24, a press officer in London, met the festival’s founder Fr Jan Gora, in September last year as he paid an annual visit to young Catholic Poles based in London. She explained: “Fr Gora had a close friendship with the late Pope John Paul II and I feel his inspiration in everything that Fr Gora does - in his love of people, especially the youth. Our generation needs this very much, in light of all the challenges it faces.”
“Fr Gora is trying to give young people a sense of belonging to the Church” said Paula Olearnik, 29, a PHD student who went to the festival last year. “I had so much fun, but beyond that it was a time to reflect and pray as part of a community – giving you a sense that you are not alone in your faith. Lednica is part of my spirituality – I desire to share that with others who often feel as if they don’t belong anywhere.”
“Lednica is a big chaotic riot of dance, song, costumes with counterpoints of candleight and quiet” added her brother, Gabriel Olearnik, 30. Mr Olearnik, a lawyer and poet added: “It’s important in a busy world to make time for spiritual things.” Anthony Goltz, 34, also a Londoner, said he had been struck on his previous visit by the “candour and vitality of Catholicism in the lives of many young Poles.”