REPORT 2007

The International Co-operation Department organized two foreign trips , whose aim was to gain materials for the planned  publications for 2008.

1. THE INSTITUTE'S PERSONNEL TRIP TO MEXICO

The Institute of Pope John Paul II undertook the task of collecting material regarding the Papal pilgrimages to Mexico, and in particular: their progress, in a social and religious context and the influence they had on the experiences and spirituality of  the inhabitants. In June 2007 a group of personnel from the Institute stayed in Mexico with the task of collecting the necessary material. A questionnaire carried out in libraries in Mexico City (the Newspaper and Current Periodical Reading Room in the building of  the National Autonomous  University of Mexico, UNAM, the Library beside Our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica) and in the city of Oaxaca (National Reading Room of newspapers and periodicals), was very productive, collecting several thousand different documents analysing the connection of the Papal visits of John Paul II and the social-political and economic changes in Mexico. They managed to locate the speeches of politicians, representatives of culture and religion, addressed  to the Holy Father during His stay in the country.

The Institute personnel also visited the places where commemorative plaques were located or where splendid monuments were built in honor of John Paul II, and also reached people- direct witnesses to the Papal visits of the Holy Father, and also to those, who met with Him daily.

The result of the stay are the photographs from places linked with John Paul II, photographs of articles regarding the pilgrimages of the Holy Father  to Mexico and interviews carried out with witnesses of the Pope's visits to this country.

2. TRIP TO UGANDA AND ZAMBIA

The aim of the trip to Uganda and Zambia was to search for and collect material connected with the pilgrimages of John Paul II  to Africa. Within the framework of preparing for the research trip a detailed schedule of the pilgrimages of John Paul II to Zambia and Uganda was prepared.

The prepared documentation included:

• dates John Paul II stayed in particular places;
• detailed routes of pilgrimages of John Paul II;
• timetable of meetings and speeches of John Paul II;
• text of the speeches;
• places connected with the stay of John Paul II in Uganda and Zambia were also named.

During the week long trip to Uganda the following goals and tasks were realised:

• a) work in the Archdiocesan archive in Kampala;
• b) photographic documentation of chosen places and reminders connected with John Paul II as well as connected with the work of Polish missionaries and places important for the past Ugandan Polish community;
• c) meetings and interviews : among others, meeting with the Ordinary of Kampala, Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, meetings with Polish missionaries;
• d) photographic documentation , among others, a complete documentation of Polish gravestones in the Polish cemetery for Polish emigrants.

During the trip to Zambia the following goals and tasks were realised:

• work in the Archdiocesan archive in Lusaka;
• photographic documentation of chosen places and reminders connected with John Paul II as well as connected with the work of Polish missionaries in Zambia;
• meetings and interviews : among others, meeting and interview with Cardinal Adam Kozłowiecki and meetings with Polish missionaries;
• photographic documentation of places connected with the stay of John Paul II and also the work of Polish missionaries.

 REPORT 2006

After returning, a photographic exhibition was prepared (among others, under the patronage of the Institute) on the late Cardinal Adam Kozłowiecki, which was presented during the inauguration of the academic year at the University of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński. 

The Institute conducts organizational activity and research in Polish communities abroad. The priority of this cooperation is acquiring, cataloguing and publishing materials connected with John Paul II and his influence on Polish communities all around the world.

Special attention should be paid to Polish community in Italy, since they have been constantly accompanying the Pope during his almost 27-year long pontificate. The Institute established cooperation with the following institutions: the Polish Home of John Paul II in Rome, the Center of Research and Documentation of the Pontificate of Pope John Paul II, the Polish Institute of Christian Culture and the Polish Institute in Rome.

Contact with Polish community in Canada has also been established. This community has been growing in number for the past few years, mostly due to the new wave of immigrants, coming to Canada in search for a job. This new group requires special attention not only from the local Polish organizations, but also from the Ministry of local Polish parishes. Organized centers like: Copernicus Lodge and Polish Parishes Credit Union Limited are also trying to provide new immigrants with legal, economic and religious help.

Another important Polish community involved in the cooperation is the British one. For the past few years, the number of people immigrating to Great Britain has rapidly increased. The contact with Polish parishes in London and the Polish Catholic Mission in England and Wales has been established. This Polish community faces difficult challenges. The most important sources of information about its problems are priests and laity involved in the community. A representative of the Institute participated in few meetings with the Polish community giving information about the Institute and established contacts with Polish community institutions in London (the Society of Friends of John Paul II Foundation, the Polish University Abroad, Polish Social & Cultural Association, the Institute of the Polish Catholic Action, Editorials of Czyn Społeczny and Gazeta Niedzielna). The meetings were mostly informational but also attempted to establish institutional cooperation.

The Department aims to establish cooperation with international institutions. The Staff of the Institute participates in important events: symposiums, conferences, and other venues connected with the documentation of the pontificate of John Paul II. One of them was Congress of Polish Scientific Societies Abroad (Kraków, 16-18 November 2006), attended by representatives of scientific and cultural societies in and outside of Poland. It aimed at straightening the cooperation among Polish societies abroad, exchanging experiences about the current state of Polish science, discussion of the status of Polish scientists abroad, and developing forms of cooperation between scientific societies outside of Poland.

The participants agreed that venues devoted to the teaching of John Paul II and their reception in today's world should be organized more often. The necessity to engage people of science, culture and art both from inside and outside of Poland in other events was underlined.

The Institute expressed its will to get involved in the project of creating an international virtual library for Polish communities abroad and publishing works popularizing John Paul II all around the world.

Plans for 2007

• organization and participation in international symposiums and conferences devoted to the teaching of John Paul II and its reception in today's world,
• involvement in creating an international virtual library for Polish communities outside of Poland,
• participation of the Institute's representatives in scientific venues like symposiums and forums.