‘A tool that helps us speak
with God in joy and sorrow’

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.

Teaching children about prayer and the Bible

WARSAW, Poland — Katarzyna Folgart always begins her Sunday School class for eight- to nine-year-olds in the Lutheran Church with a prayer. The children stand, close their eyes and listen while their teacher prays out loud, slowly and distinctly, so that everyone can clearly hear what is being said.

For Katarzyna, teaching children to pray is vitally important.
Photo: A young girl enjoying a Sunday School class at a Lutheran Church in Warsaw, Poland. Photo: UBS/Dag Smemo (POL04DJ-246.JPG)
A young girl enjoying a Sunday School class at a Lutheran Church in Warsaw, Poland. Photo: UBS/Dag Smemo (POL04DJ-246.JPG)

“It’s important they learn that it is something that God has given us, a tool that helps us speak with him in joy and sorrow,” she says.

After praying, she reads a passage from the Bible. Today it is Matthew 19:5. Katarzyna then talks about it, explaining that as God is our father we should take time to get to know him and other members of our family. The children listen intently – she is an enthusiastic and inspiring teacher.

“I am a theologian but during the week I teach music to children and on Sundays I teach Sunday School,” she says. “I’ve been involved in Sunday School and religious teaching for 17 years and I thoroughly enjoy it.

“It is vital that children are given a love of the Bible from a young age because it is such a useful book for the whole family. Most homes in Poland probably have a Bible or a New Testament, but many families don’t use them. I want to teach children to love and respect God’s Word.”

She strongly feels that many adults, too, would benefit from Bible study classes at church.

“Not long ago a woman in her 50s came to me and asked if she could attend a religious education class. She said she had forgotten so much of what she had learnt as a child. I was unable to help her because there are no classes for adults. We lack this kind of opportunity in our church, which is a pity because interest in the Bible has increased in Poland since 1980, when we got our new freedom. But many people still need proper training to help them read and understand the Bible, including regular churchgoers.”

Katarzyna herself feels she benefits from teaching the Bible:

“Sunday School teaching is good for me because it helps me to read the Bible myself. I don’t read it every day, I admit, but it is always on my bedside table and I turn to it when I experience a difficulty, or when I need comfort or guidance.” (WR 390/10 - 02.05)

For a previous article on Katarzyna Folgart, please see World Report 385/20