A few weeks after the Sacred Heart Youth Days, Fr. Piotr received letters from Zhovkva, Ukraine – filled with gratitude, heartfelt emotion, and testimonies of the many blessings that grew out of the days we spent together. For us, they are a source of great joy and a confirmation that gatherings like these leave a lasting mark on the hearts of young people.
Six months ago, Fr. Piotr Chmielecki, SCJ, invited the Dominican Sisters from Zhovkva, near Lviv, to take part in the Dehonian Youth Days in Pliszczyn, Poland. For many years, the Sisters have run a unique initiative there – the Saturday School of the Polish Language – providing education, formation, and a supportive environment for young people of Polish heritage living in Ukraine.
After the invitation was sent, several months passed in silence. Then a short message arrived: “Is the invitation still valid?” There was only one possible answer. As a result, 23 young people from Zhovkva came to Pliszczyn, where they joined nearly 400 other participants for the Sacred Heart Youth Days.
The gathering offered time for prayer, recreation, sports, conversations, and the building of new friendships – everything that helps young people grow in faith, deepen relationships, and discover the goodness of others. Yet the most beautiful aspect of such encounters is that their fruits continue to mature long after the event has ended. They are not simply a few joyful days filled with emotions, but experiences that remain in the heart and memory, inspiring lasting change and strengthening faith. It was especially moving to be able to offer, even for a short time, a safe space of peace, joy, and hope for young people whose daily lives are overshadowed by war.
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The lasting impact of this experience is reflected in the letters that Fr. Piotr received a few weeks later from Sr. Sara Łakoma, OP, and the young participants from the Dehonian Youth Days. For us, these letters are a source of great joy and deep gratitude. Among other things, Sr. Sara wrote:
It was a beautiful experience – filled with new discoveries, unforgettable moments, meaningful resolutions, wonder, positive changes in our lives, and praise of God. The Sacred Heart Youth Days at your house in Pliszczyn were truly a gift for the young people from our Saturday School of the Polish Language.
She concluded her letter with these words:
May God be glorified in all that has been accomplished. We promise to keep you in our prayers!
The words of the young participants themselves are equally moving. They wrote about new friendships, overcoming their fears, and experiencing the beauty of Christian community:
Everything was wonderful and very interesting. We gained many new experiences and met so many kind and welcoming people. Before the trip, we were afraid of staying in tents, but once we arrived in Pliszczyn, we realized it would be an amazing time.
They also expressed heartfelt gratitude for the care they received throughout their stay:
Thank you for the meals prepared for us every day, for the new friendships we made, for the workshops and everything we learned, for the Eucharist, for providing the tents, for supporting us in difficult moments, and for the security team that looked after us throughout the entire event.
They summed up their experience with these simple yet powerful words:
We experienced so many unforgettable moments, met wonderful people, and strengthened our faith.
Reading these letters fills our hearts with profound gratitude – to God, who continues to work through gatherings like these; to all the benefactors whose generosity made this journey possible; and to every person whose dedication and service helped make the Sacred Heart Youth Days such a meaningful experience.
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The participation of the young people from Zhovkva in the Sacred Heart Youth Days was made possible through funding from the “Donation for missions where it is most needed” fund.
