Statuette of St Maximilian for Editor-in-chief of 'Niedziela'

Anna Cichoblazinska

The statuettes of St Maximilian Maria Kolbe of the 20th International Catholic Film and Multimedia Festival 'Niepokalanów 2005' were awarded. The prizes in categories of films, radio programmes and multimedia programmes went to artists from all continents. The Board of the St Maximilian Maria Kolbe Catholic Film Association, which was the co-organizer of the Festival, awarded the Prize of Julian Kulenty 'Multimedia in the service of evangelization' for the second time. This year the winners were Archbishop John Foley, President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, and Msgr. Ireneusz Skubis, editor-in-chief of the Catholic Weekly 'Niedziela'. Archbishop Foley was awarded for 'his long-standing service in Catholic media, allowing ethical use of modern technologies in proclaiming the Gospel and teaching of John Paul II, whose faithful advisor and friend he was'. In the justification of the Prize for the Editor-in-Chief of 'Niedziela' we read that he was awarded for 'his long-standing contribution in the work of evangelization through press, publications, the Internet and audio-visual media as well as for organising conferences and seminars on the meaning of modern means of social communication in people's lives and the life of the Church'. This was not the only prize 'Niedziela' received. Its website was also awarded for multimedia proclamation of the Gospel.
On 29 May, the last day of the 20th International Catholic Film and Multimedia Festival 'Niepokalanów 2005', artists, the jury and guests gathered to pray for the people of culture in the Franciscan Basilica in Niepokalanow. The subject of culture was the main point of Fr Ireneusz Skubis's sermon. He recollected his personal relationships with Niepokalanow and the person of St Maximilian. 'There is no culture without God, without the Gospel', he said. 'If culture does not liberate thoughts, behaviour, attitudes, spiritual things which inspire good, beauty and love, it is surface culture, weak culture without foundations; brutal culture which harms others'.
The prizes were conferred in the hall of St Bonaventura. The ceremony was preceded by the concert of Michal Kulenty and Marcin Masecki. The concert was dedicated to John Paul II.
Fr Stanislaw Pietka, Guardian of Niepokalanow, host and co-organiser of the Festival (also Director of the Knights of the Immaculata) as well as its good 'spirit', reminded us of the Festival's history in anecdotal way, the history which was especially colourful in the communist times where there were always 'uninvited guests'. It is worth mentioning that the Festival is a specific retreat for its participants. The retreat has been given for years by Fr Pietka.

"Niedziela" 24/2005

Editor: Tygodnik Katolicki "Niedziela", ul. 3 Maja 12, 42-200 Czestochowa, Polska
Editor-in-chief: Fr Jaroslaw Grabowski • E-mail: redakcja@niedziela.pl