‘We have received letters from God’

Poland has a strong Christian history and is known today as one of the most Roman Catholic of European countries. The birthplace of Pope John Paul II, the faith of its people helped bring down the Soviet empire. Today, this Christian heritage is being passed to new generations through Religious Education, which is taught in all schools. As 95 per cent of Poles are Roman Catholics, these classes are run by the Roman Catholic Church. But churches of other denominations also hold their own classes and run Sunday Schools.

WARSAW, Poland — A crucifix hangs on the classroom wall as five girls and 15 boys file into the room for their next lesson – Religious Education or Catechism. Some of them are carrying Bibles or New Testaments because the theme this week is the Bible.

Pray together

One of the children leads the class in prayer, and they all stand with their hands together, crossing themselves and praying out loud together. They then sing and perform the actions that accompany the song with great energy. They sit after the song and prepare for their lesson.
Photo: A young boy in a Religious Education class with his new Children's Bible, given to him by the Bible Society in Poland. Photo: UBS/Dag Smemo (POL04DJ-251.JPG)
A young boy in a Religious Education class with his new Children's Bible, given to him by the Bible Society in Poland. Photo: UBS/Dag Smemo (POL04DJ-251.JPG)

“How many of you have received a letter in the post?” their teacher asks. Twenty hands are raised. All of them know about letters and have stories to share about letters they have received. Some say that letters are exciting, while another says that he once received sad news in a letter.

“Do you know that we have received letters from God?” asks the teacher, “and that we can read in these letters the things that God wants to tell us?”

She turns to write on the blackboard: “We can read what God wants to tell us in…” The children shout, “In the Bible!”

Photo: Children raise their hands, eager to participate in a discussion during a Religious Education class. Warsaw, Poland. Photo: UBS/Dag Smemo (POL04DJ-249.JPG)
Children raise their hands, eager to participate in a discussion during a Religious Education class. Warsaw, Poland. Photo: UBS/Dag Smemo (POL04DJ-249.JPG)

The teacher then reads Luke 11:28, talking about how important it is to hear the Word of God and obey it.

Significant steps

In spring, these children, having attended Catechism classes, will take their first communion – a very significant step in their lives as Roman Catholics. Many have names from the Bible – Zephaniah, James, David, Michael, Paul, Matthew, Peter and Simon. The teacher says that when they first began the classes, she used their names as a starting point for a discussion about the Christian faith. (WR 390/9 - 02.05)