A beatification ceremony was held yesterday in Warsaw for Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, Primate of Poland during Poland’s communist era, and Róża Czacka, founder of the Franciscan Sisters Servants of the Cross. Wyszyński, who served three decades as the Catholic Church’s top official in Poland before his death in 1981, was known for his resistance to Nazism, defense of human rights, and his efforts to guide and protect the Catholic Church during the communist era in Poland.

He was also well-known for being a close friend and mentor of Karol Wojtyła, later Pope John Paul II, who once said that there would have been „no Polish pope” without Wyszyński’s „faith, heroic hope, and limitless confidence in the Mother of God.”

Also beatified yesterday was Mother Elżbieta Róża Czacka, founder of the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters Servants of the Cross, whose primary mission continues to be serving the blind. Before her death in May 1961, Mother Czacka helped establish an important center for the blind in Laski near Warsaw.

Yesterday’s beatification ceremony was carried out by papal envoy (Marcello Semeraro) at a mass concelebrated by 600 priests, as well as 80 bishops from Poland and 45 bishops from abroad. The President of the Republic of Poland, and Marshals of the Sejm and the Senate were also in attendance. In the Catholic Church, beatification is one stage short of being declared a saint.

Source: Radio Gdańsk, Radio Poland

Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel paid a one-day visit to Warsaw this weekend, her last trip to Poland as she relinquishes the reins of government after 16 years in power.

After laying flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw, Merkel met with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. In a post on facebook, Morawiecki thanked his German counterpart for the period of „valuable cooperation between our nations, filled with economic success, intensive growth of mutual commercial and scientific exchange, and strengthening of European ties.”

At a joint conference following their meeting in historic Łazienki Park in Warsaw, Morawiecki said that when Merkel first became Germany’s Chancellor she „very strongly stated that Poland should be high on the agenda.”

He went on to describe how they „very often…discussed difficult issues” like climate change, energy policy, and the migrant crisis on the EU border. In spite of differences, Morawieckie emphasized, it was possible above all to highlight things in common.

Source: PAP, Radio Poland

The apple harvest has begun in orchards throughout Poland, and planters are expecting a total of some 3.5 million tons of the fruit to be collected.

Poland has for years topped the list of the biggest producers and exporters of apples in the EU, and this year promises to be a record harvest. According to the head of the national union of fruit and vegetable producers, Witold Boguta, the weather this year has been very excellent for fruit growing, as „the fruit is well developed, properly colored, and pleasant to look at.”

The greatest concentration of orchards in Poland is in the central region of Mazovia, with the Łąck Valley in Małopolska also highly favored for producing apples with a tart „Highland green note,” resulting in a more intense flavor, denser flesh, and increased tartness.

Slightly over half of the harvested apples are slated to be processed, with the remainder slated to be marketed and sold as fresh fruit.

Source: Radio Poland

Poland and Russia will face off tomorrow in the quarterfinals of the men’s EuroVolley 20201 tournament after both teams finished at the top of their respective pools over the weekend.

Poland easily finished off Finland 3-0 on Saturday at Ergo Arena, while the Russians, who struggled to come from behind against Ukraine, ultimately triumphed over their neighbors in a hotly contested series of matches also on Saturday.

The Poland-Russia quarterfinal match is scheduled for Tuesday at 8:30 pm at Ergo Arena in Gdańsk.

Source: cev.eu

Weather

Today will be partly cloudy and cool with winds coming in from the northwest and a slight chance of rain overnight. Temperatures will peak around a high of 20°C, or 68°F, cooling off overnight to a low of 13°C or 55°F. Scattered showers and overcast skies are expected for tomorrow, with sunshine returning midweek.

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