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Late Fr. Jan Bereza OSB

Born 17 July 1955 in Warsaw, he died on 20 February 2011 in Leszno, Benedictine, and propagator of Christian Meditation. He was born as Mirosław Bereza, a graduate of philosophy at the Academy of Catholic Theology (since 1999 Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University) in Warsaw, in 1982 he joined the Benedictine Monastery in Lubiń and took the name Jan. In 1988 he was ordained a priest, in the years 1999–2002, he was the prior of the monastery community. From 1998 he was a member of the Polish Episcopate Committee for Dialogue with Non-Christian Religions.

In 1988, he founded the Center of Christian Meditation in Lubiń, which he managed until 2006. He collaborated with The World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM) and Benedictine Commission for Monastic Interreligious Dialogue. He popularized eastern meditation techniques, trying to adapt them to the needs of Christian prayer. He initiated the Christian Meditation Days in Lubiń. In the Center he founded, meditation was taught according to the tradition of monological prayer, with one short invocation from the Bible. He was involved in the Christian-Buddhist dialogue.

THE LUBIŃ MEDITATION GROUP COMMUNITY

The Lubiń Meditation Group Community is a federation of Christian meditation groups for which the Center in Lubiń is:  

– a reference point and spiritual center,

– a place of regular meditation and spiritual accompaniment/
– a place of permanent formation to live in prayer.

The groups included in the Lubiń Community of Christian Meditation are:

– administratively and financially independent of the Center and each other;

– they retain autonomy as to the form of joint practice and other activities.

These groups belong to Lubiń Community of Meditation:

Group from Białystok

meetings: Mondays, at 07:00 p.m., Chapel at the Sanctuary of God’s Mercy, 1 Radzymińska street,

Thursdays, at 05:00 p.m., Chapel at Catholic School, Kościelna street,

meditation: 3×20 min

(people who want to take part in the meeting for the first time, please contact us in advance)

contact: mobile: 503 011 393

Group from Gdańsk

Functioning at the Dominican Monastery

Spiritual attendant: Fr. Jacek Truszczyński OP

Meetings: Wednesdays, 07:50 p.m.

Contact:  Karolina Siodmiak, mobile: 505 109 966

e-mail: ksiodmiak@wp.pl

Website: https://gdansk.dominikanie.pl/kontakt/medytacja-chrzescijanska/

Group from Krakow

Meetings: Tuesdays, at 06:30 p.m. at the monastery Fr. Jesuits ul. Kopernika 26

Contact: mobile: +48 666 077 616

E-mail: chrzescijanska.medytacja@gmail.com

Website: https://www.facebook.com/krkgmch/

 
Group from Łódź I

Meetings: Tuesdays, 07:30 p.m. at the church of the Mother of the Redeemer

Contact: pr. Stanislaw Kotowski

E-mail: s.kotowski@interia.pl

Website: www.medytacjachrzescijanska.pl

Group from Łódź II

Functioning at the parish of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross ul. Sienkiewicza 38

Meetings: Wednesday at 07:00 p.m.

Spiritual attendant: pr. Kazimierz Woźniak

Contact: kazek@toya.net.pl

Group from Łowicz

Meetings at the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Łowicz (Korabka)

Irregular meetings, usually on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month after the evening mass.

Contact: Adam – mobile: +48 692 435 121

E-mail: adam@net4jezus.com

Website: www.maranata.aux.pl

Group from Olsztyn

Functioning at the church of St. Arnold ul. St. Arnolda 1

Meetings: Tuesdays at 07:00 p.m.

Contact: Katarzyna Piątkowska: mobile: +48 664 424 266, Joanna Buzderewicz: mobile: +48 791 375 017

Group from Pobierowo

Functioning at the church of the Saint Redeemer Pobierowo ul. Lubelska 1

Meetings: every other Thursday after mass in the parish house

Spiritual attendant: pr. Stanisław Krzyżanowski

Contact:  Iza Roustm, mobile: 691 841 364

e-mail: medytacja2017@wp.pl

Websitehttp://parafia.pobierowo.pl/about/grupy-parafialne/

Group from Poznań

Functioning at the church of Jesuits

Contact: coordinator – Dariusz Hybel

E-mail: dahyb@interia.pl

Website: www.jezuici.pl/medytacja/

Group from Rzeszów

Dominican Group of Christian Meditation

Functioning at the Dominican Monastery 

Meetings:  on Mondays and Wednesdays at 07:30 p.m.

Attendants: Fr. Mikołaj Mrówczyński OP, Fr. Dominik Ornawka

Contact: dyrda.malgorzata@gmail.com, Grzegorz.Boratyn@tvp.pl

Group from Sampor (Slovakia)

in Lord’s Transfiguration Benedictine Monastery in Sampor Slovakia.

Meetings: once a month, on fridays, before oblats’ meetings, after vespers at 05:30 p.m.

(schedule of meetings: https://oblati.benediktini.sk/?page_id=13),

Spiritual fatherFr Jozef Brodňanský OSB.

ContactMonika Čunderlíková

e-mail:  jozef@benediktini.skmonikacund@gmail.com

web: www.benediktini.sk

We would be appreciate for contact in advance.

Group from Toruń The path of contemplation

Functioning at the church of the Holy Spirit of Jesuits

Meetings: Thursdays, 07:00 p.m.

Contact:  Tomasz

E-mail: tomekwojewoda@gmail.com

Group from Warsaw I

Contact: pr. Marek Danielewski

ul. Łazienkowska 14, Warsaw Church of Our Lady of Jerusalem

E-mail: markdan@o2.pl

Website: www.medytacja.waw.pl

Group from Warsaw II

Group of Jesus Prayer

Meetings: on Thursdays at 07:00 p.m. Holy Mass in Sanctuary,

7.50 pm meditation meeting – Samaria hall

At the church of St. Andrzej Bobola ul. Rakowiecka 61

Contact: Michał Urbański, mobile: +48 606 446 252

Website: www.modlitwaciszy.pl

Group from Warsaw III  of St. Jan Klimak

Meetings: 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month at 07:00 p.m. Hall at the parish of St. Stefan, at Czerniakowska 137 Street. (entrance from the side of Nowosielecka street).

Contact: Sr. Stefania mobile: +48 795 024 107

Website: https://modlitwajezusowa.com/

Group from Warsaw IV

Meetings: Wednesday at 07.00 p.m. in the parish of the Evangelical Reformed Church, Al. Solidarności 76a

Contact: Agnieszka Biernacka tel +48 511 166 624,
E-mailagnieszka_kreglewska@wp.pl

Group from Wrocław I

Meetings: Thursday at 07:55 p.m. in the academic chapel of the Dominican church

pl. Dominikański 2

Spiritual attendant: Andrzej Kuśmierski

Contact: Urszula Bednarz, mobile: +48 691 258 557

E-mail: urszula@bednarz.wroclaw.pl

Group from Wrocław II

ul. Katedralna 4, hall no 15

Meetings: Tuesdays, 07:00 p.m. – an introduction for beginners, 07:30 p.m. – the start of meditation

Contact: Tomasz Jędrzejewski – +48 601 364 899

Group from Wrocław III

Meetings: in the parish house at the church of St. Klemens Dworzak in Wroclaw at Al. Pracy 26, Thursday at 07:00 p.m.

Spiritual attendant: Fr. J Grzegorz Tęczar SJ

Contact:  Juliusz Modlinger, mobile: +48 508 365 680, Cezary Konwa, mobile: +48 607 697 456

E-mailmedytacjagrupawroclaw@gmail.com

Website: https://www.facebook.com/GMCwW

Group from Szczecin

Meetings: in the parish house of  Pallottine Fathers, at the church of St. John the Evangelist, ul. Ducha Św. 9, every Sunday at 07:00 p.m.

Contact: Piotr Ducher, mobile: +48 604 233 111, Mariusz Staszkop, mobile:  +48 609 360 394

E-mail: medytacja.szczecin@gmail.com

Website: www.medytacje.szczecin.pl/index.htm

Group from Wałbrzych

Wałbrzych – Podzamcze – Szczawienko

Contact: Tomasz Błachuciński

E-mail: tblachucinski@wp.pl

Mobile +48 667 109 255

Fr. Maksymilian Nawara OSB

He was born on 10 March 1979 in Sosnowiec. He spent his childhood and high school time in his hometown Będzin. As a child, he belonged to scouts. Then came the time for music and autonomy and freedom search, which was expressed by his works and concerts. Robert (baptismal name of the Fr. Maksymilian), together with his family, belonged to the group of so-called cultural Catholics, which means that matters of religion and faith did not matter much to him.

A severe crisis came in high school. The person who in the Future Benedictine life played a unique role at that time was a schoolmate of his. Robert asked many difficult questions. He couldn’t remain indifferent. However, the repentance did not prove to be a slow process, but it lasted three months when there was a radical turn to God, and a conscious desire to live in His Presence was born. He began to look for new ways of prayer and came across the “The Way of a Pilgrim.” Practice attracted him, but he did not find support in diocesan environments nor knowledge about it. A breakthrough turned out to be nothing special, but holiday stays at his aunt in a small Greater Poland village – Lubiń. There, fascinated by the practice of meditation, eighteen-year-old Robert not only discovers – after a series of previous disappointments – the charisma of St. Benedict but also learns about the existence of the Center of Christian Meditation, founded and run by Fr. John Bereza. This event and the accompanying condition of spiritual fulfillment is a turning point in his previous searches.

The confirmation and consequence of this experience are joining the Benedictine order in 1998. The practice of meditation becomes part of himself, and, as a monk, he participates, whenever possible, in sessions led by Father Jan. In 2006, after twenty years, Fr. John Bereza OSB, the evangelist of Christian Meditation in Poland, ended his Center ministration. The twenty-eight-year-old Br Maksymilian Nawara OSB takes over the running of the Center. His new role raises many questions and doubts, because meditation grew out of his previous way of life, constituting its integral part, which the young monk initially did not want to combine with running the Center. However, nothing much changed in his approach to teaching meditation. He understands his role in the Center as “sharing on this path with others who walk with him. „He admits that individual guidance is the most difficult, requiring significant commitment and empathy and sensitivity in the face of the mystery of meeting other people.

The Center of Christian Meditation, along with his spiritual guardian, is continually developing, acquiring a specific character, rooted in Christian monasticism, and at the same time, open to dialogue with Zen Buddhism. On the one hand, theological studies, Syrian language learning and trips of Fr. Maksymilian to India, on the other hand – fascination with Jesus Prayer as well as personal search for contact with a living, different religious tradition – all this decides about the current nature, specificity and activity of the Center of Christian Meditation in Lubiń. Participants in sessions outside the spiritual haven of prayer, silence, and retreat have a unique opportunity to meet the ancient heritage of Greek and Oriental Christianity. However, during sessions in interreligious dialogue, they can participate in meetings with teachers representing a different Japanese Zen line in the Soto tradition.

At the General Chapter of the Annunciation Benedictine Congregation in the Abbey of St. Scholastica in Subiaco, Italy, on 09 September 2018, Fr. Maksymilian Nawara OSB was elected as a new Abbot President of Congregation. Report and photos from Abbey’s Benediction from 10 September 2018 in Subiaco [click here]

Dariusz Hybel

He was born on 3 October 1966 r. in Głogów (conceived in January in the same city), son of Janina and Jerzy.

He was associated with the Center of Christian Meditation in Lubiń since February 1991, long-standing assistant of Fr. John Bereza, whom he met for the first time in 1989 during Buddhist Days organized by the Verbist priests of the Pieniężno Meetings with Religions. In 2006 Fr. Maksymilian invited him to jointly lead the practice and in 2010 to conduct meditation sessions in Center independently.

Dariusz Hybel graduated from philosophy in Poznań (Adam Mickiewicz University – Saint John of the Cross higher degree), from theology (Pontifical Faculty of Theology in Wrocław – graduation), The Gestalt Psychotherapy School (Krakow). He participated in the classes of the Carmelitanum Institute of Spirituality (Poznan), and also graduated from the Coach Academy at the Poznań School of Banking.

In the years 1993–2004, he was actively associated with politics and self-government (i.a. in 1998, he co-founded a civic organization, the so-called “Poznan Pedestrian Party” in the years 1998–2002 he was a councilor of the Poznan City Council).

As a journalist, he wrote hundreds of texts on socio-economic, political and religious topics; he cooperated with “Dziennik Poznański,” weeklys “Najwyższy Czas!”, “Niedziela”; in 1997, he was editor-in-chief of the weekly “Wielkopolanin.” He wrote two books about the functioning of the European Union from the perspective of a conservative (field of moral values) and a libertarian (field of economics). Currently, he is the deputy editor-in-chief of the magazine “Głos dla Życia.”

The Center of Christian Meditation in Lubiń is an important spiritual place for him. It was here that his search for the practice of prayer gained power.

Staying every day, like the vast majority of participants in a meditation session, outside the monastery, he knows the challenges perfectly – often painful – combining Christian spirituality and the secular life. Although at a deep level, there is no “secular” and „monastic” life. He has experienced that the relationship with God and following suit Jesus must find its concrete, individual expression in everyday life: „We are invited, moment by moment, to cultivate Love Presence in the Uncreated. Life verifies spirituality. No illusions. Also, these meditative…”

HISTORY

 

CENTER OF CHRISTIAN MEDITATION IN THE BENEDICTINE MONASTERY IN LUBIŃ

It was founded on the initiative of Fr. Jan Bereza OSC in 1988. Until recently, it was the only place in Poland where meditation was taught and practiced according to the Old Christian tradition of monologue prayer. The practice of this form of worship developed in the IV-VIII century. It consists of repeating one short, unchanging call, verse, and a sentence from the Holy Scriptures, such as Jesus, Abba, or Maranatha. One of the many calls used in the first centuries took a privileged position over time: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner. It has become a standard formula for Jesus Prayer. This old tradition of prayer flowing from the sources of ancient monasticism is continuously practiced and taught today.

The Benedictine Monastery has been a spiritual home to many Christians following this path of meditation. A community of meditating Christians in Poland is growing every year. Numerous meditation groups establish. The Center of Christian Meditation in Lubiń is for them an oasis of more intense prayer, silence, and spiritual guidance. Practice at a Benedictine Monastery creates a rare opportunity to experience the mystery of community life directly. Its rhythm is determined not only by meditation but also by common prayer with monks, meal

Benedictine Monastery is also one of the few places for interreligious meetings and dialogue. Since 2006, Fr. Maksymilian Nawara OSB took over the spiritual care over the Center, after many years of Fr. Jan Bereza OSB ministry.

External activities

Away sessions (Kraków, Gryżyna, Łódź)

Meditation sessions outside the Center in Lubiń have been organized for years in various places in Poland. Regular retreats for everyone are arranged in the Meditation and Recreation Center “Anapausis” in Gryżyna. There are sessions in or around Krakow once or twice a year, addressed mainly to Krakow groups associated with the Meditation Center in Lubiń. Similarly, for Łódź groups, sessions are organized around Łódź.

Workshops and one-day meditation meetings (Łódź, Olsztyn, Lubiń)

The Center also conducts workshops and one-day meditation meetings, which regularly take place in Łódź and Olsztyn. They are usually open for everyone and combined with meditation lectures.  We periodically inform you about these meetings on the website. There are also workshops for parents and teachers associated with kindergarten “Tratwa” (Raft) in Gostyń, with which the Center has been cooperating in a children’s meditation project for several years.

Lectures, conferences

Teachers (Fr. Maksymilian and Dariusz Hybel) give a series of lectures and conferences throughout the country. They continuously cooperate with the Dominican School of Faith in Gdańsk, Łódź, Poznań, Wrocław, and Szczecin. Fr. Maksymilian regularly conducts meditation retreats for Dominican brothers for several years in Służew and open meditation retreat in Lent, in the church of Jerusalem Communities in Warsaw.

Articles, Book Projects

Teachers have completed the book project – post mortem interview with Fr. Jan Bereza. “Listen, meditation is…”, constituting a compendium of teaching meditation and interreligious dialogue on a monastic ground.

The plans for the near future are to start working on another book about meditation practice: “Reguły praktyki” (Practice Rules), and systematic development of Lubiń teaching, which will be included in the publication cycle „Droga miłującej Obecności” (The Way of Loving Presence).

The book of Fr. Maksymilian “Oddychać imieniem” (Breathe the Name) published in February 2017. The book is the fruit of the conferences given by the author during meditation sessions in Lubiń and Bronowice in 2007-2011.

Teachers regularly cooperate with the magazine “Charaktery – Medytacja” (Characters – Meditation) and periodically write articles for various magazines, which announcement you can always find on our website.

Internal activities

Open sessions

They constitute the oldest measure of activity. They have been organized since the beginning of the Center’s existence. Traditionally, they take place once a month, usually on the third weekend, and are addressed to everyone who wants to experience a few days of intensive meditative practice. Open sessions start with some kind of practical initiation and general theological introduction to the meditation subject. Meetings are not themed and have an almost fixed structure. They are a unique opportunity for joint pray. Both for those longer associated with the Center and for beginners. Like meditation practice itself, there is no division into degrees nor levels.

Longer sessions

Longer sessions are organized at the Center at least twice a year. One during the holiday season, the other during the New Year. These sessions are intended for people associated with the Center for some time. It is not about progress in meditation. But because of the prior knowledge of the practice itself and the structure of the session. It is necessary because longer sessions may be more demanding.

Sessions for groups affiliated to the Center

Groups were constituting the Lubiń Community of Christian Meditation Groups engendered from standard practice at the Center. The Center is a spiritual home for them and a place of formation. It is essential, therefore, that at least once a year, each group has the opportunity to come to the Center. Sessions addressed to groups provide an opportunity for a personal meeting with the teacher and to deal with issues, problems, questions regarding the functioning of the group. During such sessions, there is usually more space for asking questions and talking to the leader, while respecting the traditional course of the meeting.

Individual sessions

People, who follow the path of inner prayer and have the desire to spend more intense, longer time on this practice, can have a personal session in the monastery. At the end of the session, you have to make an appointment in person with Fr. Maksymilian and set the time range and session plan with him. People who take part in this session, join the monks’ regular schedule, have extra longer meditations, and are in constant contact with the leader daily.

Meetings in dialogue

Regular meetings

A session in dialogue with Zen Soto Buddhists organized once or twice a year. Due to proper formation and deep rooting in our tradition, which is a condition for fruitful engagement in dialogue, these sessions are addressed only to people who have been following the path of Christian meditation for a long time.

Occasional meetings

Since the Center is known for its involvement through dialogue among believers of different religions is also a place of frequent, casual, informal encounters with representatives of various religious traditions.

Publications

Over 25 years of dialogue practice and thorough knowledge that flows from religious studies causes both late Fr. Jan Bereza and Fr. Maksymilian are the authors of numerous articles, and scientific and accessible education, touching this subject.

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