Stránka Picassa Pabla

Read the news from the bottom upwards!

In August, I had the chance to take part on the World Youth Day(s) 2005 as a volunteer. I had the opportunity to serve with people dear to me side by side. It wasn't easy and we had to cope with many problems, but this is what it was all about from the beginning - a pilgrimage. Our mission was to care of the accommodation of pilgrims in some exposition halls in Düsseldorf.

If I had to describe the WJT2005 (Weltjugendtag = World Youth Day) with two words, it would probably be "amazingly satisfying". If I could use more words, I'd have to admit the failure of organisation. But what was missing from the human point of view, that was supplemented by the grace from above and by the plenty of helpful hearts. It's nearly impossible to find so many friendly people in one place on a different occasion like this... So even when I haven't met with the pope (my girlfriend got ill and while we looked for a doctor and for a place to sleep, we encountered two other ill Slovak girls :)), I'm very happy I could be there - and had the opportunity to meet our Lord in other people and the Sacrament.

We traveled from Trenčín, but we didn't travel alone - three buses were full of volunteers

We slept two nights in this gym in Cologne

We all got a map - without it, we would be lost

We had to get used to be among plenty of people in the first place, even when eating breakfast

In our team there were plenty of people from all over the world

The first lunch was still quite tasty :)

We are being instructed by our teamleaders

Part of our team in the tower of Kölner Dom (Cologne's kathedral)

Kölner Dom doesn't fit into the camera objective :)

Ticket check - the WJT2005 pass is enough for us

Walking to Aquazoo - We found a bit time also for things like this

Holy-Family-Church was in close distance to the school we were sleeping in

With the arrival of pilgrims from all over the world, problems with the traffic began

In front of the Chocolate museum in Cologne

Well, there wasn't enough food left for plenty of people

At Holy Mass with bishops p. Galis a p. Chautur

Paľo Danko from "Atak" in one of his dance performances

The food was more and more spartan, if there was some food at all

The pilgrims have left so much trash! :)

Three ill Slovak girls in front of a closed entrance to the clinic

Tired pilgrims came back from Marienfeld and filled even double-decker trains

The pilgrims said farewell to Germany with dance and singing

On June 28th, annual "Muráň - Levoča" pilgrimage began. Together with my girlfriend we intended to take part on the whole event, due to student's duties were we unable to make it, though. That's why we walked only two days instead of four. We even decided not to be at the final Holy Mass at the Marian hill (on Sunday at 10 p.m.). That made the pilgrimage a halfway pilgrimage :). But it was good, anyway.

We came to the middle of the pilgrimage road and by a car - so we were alone for some time

Getting up at early morning - few time too sleep, again

The church in Hrabovice was nicely decorated

We walk the whole day, always hearing the voice of the leader our team (yellow) from the amplifier

The yellow team creates a pathway for the blue team coming out from the church

In Hrabušice, an uncommon architecture waited to be seen

We could confess our sins in a car "in every weather"

In Spišský Štvrtok, we barely avoided the rain

Levoča lies before us, we can see the Marian hill

On April 9th 2005, my girlfriend's eldest brother - a Capuchin - was ordained deacon. I couldn't miss it :). Additionaly, it was the first real opportunity to get to know my girlfriend's wider family. I found much peace in that blessed environment of the monastery, even much happiness brought by the music of "Stanley a Kapucíni" (Stanley and the Capuchins - a gospel music formation).

Father bishop Paďour and other Capuchins

Peter Kováčik, a soon-to-be deacon, and his sister Majka, my girlfriend

Cookies! It's for the guests, though - but we could get some, too :)

The church is full of people waiting to see two deacons and one prist ordained today

The monastery's backyard is a good place for talk

Stanley and the Capuchins were in charge of music

They played till it was dark, even when all the people have already gone

From 18th to 20th of March 2005, we could take part on the second "three-day-adoration". Good response to the first one caused us to be even more prepared. It was necessary, for much more people had come. We are looking forward to the next one in Decembre!

At the Holy Mass on Saturday, we could hear harp and violin, too

We begin in a procession outside, though, because it's Palm Sunday

And we'll end with Slovak "Kapustnica" - cabbage soup

From 12th to 14th of Novembre 2004, our campus pastoration centre experienced a powerful event. Many older people said it was the most powerful event in history of our centre. I was on the three-day-adoration too and I can confirm these words.

Holy Masses, some speeches and lectures, discussions, prayers, heling service, with a monstrance, songs and praises, ... but primarily uninterrupted adoration and an atmosphere of prayer. A great opportunity to rest and be filled up, find tranquility, happiness, ... Words aren't enough. You have to try it! :)

Waiting for the Holy Mass, when all begins

Many have come, not one of them really knowing, what will happen the next three days

The adoration was uninterrupted, even during the night

Many got up early morning near the Eucharist

Lectures were simple and short, but nice

We felt close to each other - also during the meal

There had to be more groups of musicians and singers to cope with it all

The choir does an exercise for the "big" Mass on Sunday in our Chapel

We'll end all with having lunch together

On November 12th 2004, the Schola Ludus society, "dwelling" in our school, made a presentation for high-school students from Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. They have spoken about sound, waves and information transfer in an interesting and "catchy" way. It was quite interesting and creative, an enjoyable event not only for those high-school students, but also for couple of university students being there by chance.

The audience was quite loud and inattentive :(

From September 2004 till June 2005, I happened to attend an unusual event. Communities from the most western part of Slovakia, led by p. Andrej Mátel, organized a Disciple course. It was necessary to sacrifice one weekend in a month, but we could get much more blessing and knowledge. Prayers, lessons, Holy Masses, but also food, sleep, talks, ... many people together, all filled with the Holy Spirit. We could learn much and get to know many people, who became to be our friends. I could do that, too, even if I was among only some of the participants, who came from "outside" (not being from the most western part of Slovakia).

A common phenomenom - we listen closely to the lecture

Father Andrej Mátel is a lecture-giving freak :)

Part of our intercession group of the Disciple course

Family Barus was one of the families generously giving accommodation to pilgrims coming from a distance

Everyone was given time to say his or her opinion

One of the lectures was even held by p. Milan Bubák, director of University (campus) pastoration centre in Bratislava