Christmas wafer “Oplatek” is a symbol of reconciliation and forgiveness; it is a symbol of friendship and love. The breaking of the “Oplatek” at the beginning of the Christmas Eve express the willingness to be together, for people who are in disagreement don’t sit at the same table. It has its symbols not only in the spiritual dimensions: the “Oplatek” material – “bread” itself underlines the temporary character of the wishes. The “Oplatek” meetings provide an opportunity to jointly experience the unique atmosphere of Christmas and celebrations of the New Year.

On December 10^th, an “Oplatek” meeting was held for the John Paul II Foundation stipend recipients in Lublin. These meetings became a tradition at the Foundation’s House as they are held from the very beginning of its existence. The “Oplatek” meeting started at 4 p.m. with a Holy Mass that was celebrated by the Archbishop Stanisław Budzik. Students, Sisters from the St. Ursula congregation who are operating the female dormitory on “Poczekajce”, benefactors of the John Paul II Foundation Chapter, directors and employees of the Foundation’s House attended the meeting. After the Mass, students in the name of all participants expressed their gratitude to Archbishop Stanisław Budzik for sharing the word of God and for prayer.

The most enjoyable part of the meeting was the breaking of the Christmas wafer “Oplatek.” Students sang Christmas carols in Polish, Belarusian and Ukrainian languages. All attendees wished each other joyful experience of Christmas. Some of the students from the first year participated for the first time in their lives in such meeting – a meeting that connects our open hearts with the hearts of others. Certainly, everybody who participated in the breaking of the “Oplatek” received a lot of positive emotions. Nobody was going home sad or hungry as at the end of the meeting there was a tasty treat.

We also had a chance, in a way, to feel as the Santa Claus – as each year, we took Christmas gifts that the John Paul II Foundation Chapter members sponsored to distribute them among poor families in our cities.

We come from various countries, but thanks to such meetings, emotions which we experience in our join prayers, we can feel as one family.

Piotr Gurniewicz