26. Aug 2025

Głogow - Grodowiec

Photo 1: I had no idea what I was getting into. I thought I would just take a picture of the church, maybe get my pilgrim stamp and continue on. It was just about 11.00 AM when I arrived at the Shrine of the Holy Apostel James in the village of Jakubów. They say that in the year 991 there was a wooden church at this site making it the oldest St. James Church in Poland. When I opened the door, I saw people sitting in the pews waiting for something to start. So I put my backpack down, sat in the last pew and decided to wait and see what would take place. I did not think it was a funeral, because there were no special flower arrangements and people where not dressed in dark colors. Otherwise I would have left without the pilgrim stamp. Shortly after 11.00, the parish priest walked in with a group of special guests. He stopped and looked to me, now standing as everyone else was doing, and said something to me in Polish. I thought he was asking where I was from, and so I answered, "America". He then announced to the whole congregation that they have an Anerican pilgrim attending this special service. The people looked to me, smiled with approval and nodded their heads. I knew then that I would have to stay for the whole service. Fortunately the hike today was under 30 kilometers. Representatives from the police and military where among the dignitaries present and a police woman did the misic by singing a cappella. At the end of his message, the priest mentioned that I was the first pilgrim from America that he knew of to visit their church verifing its international importance. Mass was celebrated. More songs. I thought the service was coming to an end, when a dignitary came forward and presented two small silver crosses and gave a speach. Two priests among the special guests received the crosses, kissed them and also gave speaches. More songs. I had no idea what was going on. At the end everyone present was invited to come forward and to recieve a special blessing from the priests who were holding these crosses. People motioned to me with their hands to come forward as well. Fortunately the one priest spoke very good English. He is the parish priest from the Cathedral in Głogów. I told him that I did not understand what was happening. He explained that the dignitary who presented the two crosses had been a personal friend of Pope John Paul II and was now the Ambassador General for Religious Affairs on All Continents of the International Commission on Human Rights, Zbigniew Gretka. The two crosses were reliquaries containing relics of the late Pope John Paul II. There was a drop of his blood in the one and a piece of cloth from one of his robes in the other which he was holding. People then said that the American pilgrim needs to be blessed. Before I knew it, I was being blessed left and right with the reliquaries containing the Pope's blood and cloth. The priest holding the reliquary containing the drop of blood held it up for me to kiss... a special honor. I was really being strechted beyond my comfort zone as a Protestant, Pentecostal Pastor. So I bumped it with my nose while making a kiss motion lond of like Melania Trump did with her hat while making a kiss motion towards President Trump during his inauguration... the crowd was happy, but there was no lip contact. Afterwards this group photo was taken. Next to me to the left is the alter server, then Father Andrew who translated for me, in the black suit is the Ambassador, next to him the singer Emilie Reguła, then the parish priest with the St. James shell and the other priest who I believe was the chaplain for the police and military.

Photo: The St. James Church in Jakubów

After the service the parish priest invited me to come for tea and cake with the other guest. Time was ticking quickly. I was not sure whether I would be able to stay at a pilgrim house at my place of destination. I thought it was a monastery, but it was actually a prominent church dedicated to the honor of Mary. I had no way of making contact and wanted to get there by late afternoon. That was now no longer possible. Father Andrew sat across from me. I told him my concern. He knew the church and made a phone call: No, I was not registeted, yes, I could have a place to stay, there was a special service taking place that evening until 8.00 PM and I should just show up at the service. OK, I said. I was now more relaxed. There was another round of speaches. I then asked if Father Andrew could translate for me, and at the end of the meeting I was given the opportunity to say a few words. I spoke about my thoughts from St. Aldabert, how he preached to the pagan Prussians even though they did not want him to come there. He went anyway. I shared the story of St. James that it is said that he went to what was then known to be the end of the world to preach the message of Jesus. The Iberians there did not want to listen to him, but he preached anyway. I said that this is the Spirit of Jesus wanting all to know God's love for them, whether they will receive it or not... and this is my prayer for Poland that God would raise up a generation who would follow the heartbeat of Jesus to proclaim his message as Aldabert and James did, even in the face of opposition and resistance. In conclusion I said that I must now continue my journey and will speak to people I meet along the way... and that I will pray for Poland. They applauded, and I got my pilgrim stamp and was able to leave... three hours later than I had expected.

Photo 3: Emilie is the police officer who sang during the church service. She has a wonderful voice. I told her that God gives us the breath that we breath, and we give that breath back to him with our praise and worship. She wanted me to know that the few words that I said at tea/coffee time touched her heart in a special way. May she be one of those who will proclaim God's grace in Jesus to her generation and country.

Photo 4: Wall painting of the Last Supper at another church along the way...

Photo 5: I like this perspective showing the prophetic message of the Last Supper and its fulfillment on Good Friday.