POLISH Catholic youth Dawid Struzik and Zachary Mroczek are hoping to memorise the Polish lyrics to the official World Youth Day Krakow theme song before their big pilgrimage next year.
Błogosławieni miłosierni, or “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy”, debuted in Krakow following the country’s traditional Magi processions marking the Solemnity of the Epiphany, on January 6.
Dawid and Zachary, both from the Brisbane Polish Catholic community, will travel with hundreds of Australian-Polish Catholic youth to their home country to sing the theme song with millions in Krakow.
The theme song verses were inspired or taken from various Scriptures and the World Youth Day theme, Blessed are the Merciful, and include the traditional Polish mountain fiddle.
Dawid, who is completing Year 12 this year, said he was “so amazed and happy” that Poland was chosen as the next host country for WYD.
“The fact that I will be going after finishing school is a blessing, and I’m really thankful for that,” he said.
WYD Krakow will be Zachary’s first WYD pilgrimage.
“I’m looking forward to discovering what WYD is, to be with people from all around the world, praying together and, best of all, in Poland,” he said.
Both Dawid and Zachary will prepare for WYD Krakow under Polish Society of Christ and Bowen Hills parish priest Father Andrzej Kołaczkowski’s direction.
The Polish-born priest will be holding monthly spiritual preparation meetings in the lead-up to WYD in July next year.
Fr Kołaczkowski said he planned to go to Krakow if parish commitments allowed.
“It will be like another Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit falling on millions,” he said.
Fr Kołaczkowski said the WYD theme song touched on the fundamental need for hope and truth.
“Whether I sin or walk away, Jesus comes with mercy,” he said.
“Christ comes to free us, to pay our debt, so we must not only accept mercy but be merciful to each other.
“He empowers us if we entrust ourselves to Him.”
Click here to listen to the official WYD hymn and read the English translation of the lyrics.
