FR. PAWEŁ RYTEL-ANDRIANIK – WHO IS HE?
EDITORS /PRESS OFFICE OF JASNA GÓRA
During the 369th General Meeting of the Polish Episcopal Conference, which was held in Warsaw on 9-10 June 2015, bishops elected a new spokesman. Fr. Dr. Paweł Rytel-Andrianik, a 39-year-old priest from the diocese of Drohiczyn, was elected a spokesman.
Where does he come from?
Fr. Paweł Rytel-Andrianik studied biblical theology at the Papal University of the Holy Cross in Rome. He did biblical studies and archeology at the Papal University Antonanum – Studium Biblicum Franciscanum in Rome. Next, in Jerusalem, he started studies in the sphere of the Bible and archeology in Ecole Biblique et Archeologique Francaise de Jerusalem with oriental studies at the same time (Biblical Studies) at the University in Oxford. Moreover, he studied Hebrew language in Jerusalem Institute for Education – Milah, in the Hebrew Union College and in the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Fr. Rytel – Andrianik speaks a few dozen foreign languages, especially English, Italian, Spanish, French and the modern Hebrew. He is a lecturer at the Papal University of the Holy Cross in Rome, in the Seminary in Drohiczyn and in the Higher School of Social and Media Culture in Toruń. He is invited to conferences in Poland and also to Israel, England, Italy, the United States. He is a delegate of the Catholic Weekly ‘Niedziela’ for Western Europe and the Near East. On pages of ‘Niedziela’ one can find also his articles concerning Poles saving the Jews. He cooperates with ‘Our Journal’, Vatican Radio, Radio Maryja and Television Trwam. He edits ‘Diocesan News. An Official Letter of the Diocesan Curia in Grohiczyn’. He is the author of three books and over 300 articles about life of the Church, biblical studies and Jewish studies.
First – to Mother
On the following day after the election for the post of the spokesman of the Polish Episcopal Conference, on 10 June 2015, Fr. Dr. Paweł Rytel-Andrianik arrived in Jasna Góra in order to entrust his pastoral ministry to God through intercession of Our Lady of Jasna Góra. He celebrated the Eucharist in front of the Miraculous Image of Our Lady and prayed for good fulfillment of tasks given to him. He received a copy of the Image of Our Lady and a rosary from the prior of Jasna Góra Father Marian Waligóra.
- I accept the election of Bishops in complete entrustment to Mary. Jasna Góra is a particular place where we often read the Gospel: ‘Here is you son, here is your Mother’, so we arrive here – to our Mother. This is Mother of all Christians – the new spokesman of the Polish Episcopate said at Jasna Góra. He emphasized that Jasna Góra had always been dear to him. – I remember when I was 6, I arrived here for the first time with my parents. My parents showed me this sanctuary. Later there were foot pilgrimages from Warsaw, including pilgrimages from Drohiczyn and my cooperation with ‘Niedziela’, no whose cover there is an image of Our Lady of Częstochowa, so, this particular relation lasts all the time – he noted.
The voice of the Church
The new spokesman of the Episcopate emphasized that his new function is very responsible, so he asks for a prayer at Jasna Góra, because he knows that very little can be done without a prayer. He added that he was aware that a spokesman is the voice of the Church, but the same voice are Mrs. Maria, Mr. Władysław, Janek, Franciszek, Monika, Karolina. – All of us who are Catholic, we are the voice of the Church – he reminded. He said that his task in the beginning is getting to know the Polish reality because it is perceived in a different way from abroad.
AA
„Niedziela” 25/2015