Mechernich/Thorn – The contacts between the "Swiatlo" ("Light") Foundation in the Polish city of Toruń (Thorn) on the Vistula River with a population of 200,000 and the Ordo Communionis in Christo in Mechernich and its social welfare organisation date back to 2001. In 2023, the hospice run by "Swiatlo" in Toruń celebrated its 20th anniversary. Janina Mironczuk, Chairwoman of the Foundation, took this as an opportunity to express her solidarity with Communio in Christo, which has its headquarters in Mechernich, in a long and heartfelt letter.

The relationship dates back to the time when the star-shaped "Stella Maris" hospice was being built in Mechernich at the rear of the Communio's motherhouse and long-term care centre. Janina Mironczuk, Sozialwerk Managing Director Norbert Arnold and Father Hermann Walch, the now deceased spiritual director of the Ordo Communionis in Christo at the time, signed a cooperation agreement in 2006.

„Dies war eine wunderbare Zeit mit vielen Kontakten“, schreibt die Stiftungsvorsitzende jetzt an Generalsuperior Jaison Thazhathil und Geschäftsführer Norbert Arnold: „Unsere Mitarbeiter kamen damals zu Schulungen nach Deutschland. Indem wir von Euch das Fachliche lernten, konnten wir nach Eurem Beispiel in Toruń eine medizinische Einrichtung für Koma-Patienten eröffnen.“

„Bis heute haben wir dort 1270 Personen behandelt, davon sind 84 Personen aus dem Koma erwacht“, so der Brief aus Thorn weiter: „Dafür danken wir Gott. Ein Teil von ihnen konnte wieder ihre Arbeit aufnehmen, die Schule besuchen, andere können ein aktiveres Leben im Rollstuhl oder mit anderen Gehhilfen führen.“

Rehabilitation and family support

"Awakened patients have different problems to normal mortals," says Janina Mironczuk: "We organise rehabilitation measures for them so that they retain the mobility they have acquired. We also look after their children and relatives and provide material assistance, scholarships and organise holiday trips. We also give them access to workshops for people from all over Poland."

It is hard work, "but it brings a lot of satisfaction, and most importantly, it brings acceptance of a different way of life for the sick. And that brings a smile to their faces and those of their family members."

The foundation in Thorn has been running an academy to fight cancer for 17 years. For 16 of those years, there were branches of the academy in eight Polish cities. The academy is a "multifaceted help for people fighting cancer" and organises rehabilitation measures, dietetics, oncological cosmetics, integration and training trips.

"A group of people with oncological diseases has been putting on theatre performances for nine years," continues Janina Mironczuk: "Acting and drama are very important to them, and this also supports families and children. The foundation also does a lot of educational and public relations work.

Conference participants from Mechernich

A campaign called "Courageous wins" has been running for five years to raise awareness of testicular cancer. Mironczuk: "We sensitise young people in schools and men in the workplace to the importance of screening."

From the very beginning, the "Swiatlo" foundation has been interested in close collaboration with research and science for people in coma. This serves the purpose of more precise diagnosis and targeted help. In her letter to General Superior Thazhathil and Managing Director Arnold, the Chairwoman says: "Together with universities in Germany and abroad, we have developed a patient communication programme called "Cyber Eye"."

Representatives from Mechernich, including Norbert Arnold, the then director of the home Ulrike Müller and Sister Lidwina from the motherhouse of the Ordo Communionis in Christo, had also taken part in a total of seven scientific conferences on the subject in Toruń at the time.

Janina Mironczuk's letter also mentions the volunteer theatre group "Effata", which has been educating the public about the problems of coma patients and their families for 16 years: "They also talk about problems in palliative care and put on a nativity play once a year. Their involvement in social life cannot be overestimated." Many people also volunteer for the foundation in other areas.

For five years, "Swiatlo" has been organising balls and picnics for people with disabilities from all over the Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodeship: "They look forward to these encounters. The joy and smiles on their faces are the greatest reward. Our latest project in the facility we built is the "House of Light" - a short-term care centre for carers of seriously ill, disabled and elderly people."

"Our collaboration has stimulated many activities," writes Janina Mironczuk to Norbert Arnold and Jaison Thazhathil. However, the coronavirus period has interrupted mutual contacts: "Patients became ill at the centre. The families couldn't visit them. It was a very difficult time for all of us."

"The church needs communion in Christ"

At present, she is also unable to travel to the motherhouse in Mechernich due to her advanced age and physical impairments. The priests who used to be in contact with Superior General Karl-Heinz Haus and Spiritual Director Hermann Walch have also been transferred and are now working elsewhere. However, this does not change the degree of solidarity and love that connects "Swiatlo" with the Communio in Christo.

"Personally, I will never forget the friendliness with which we met at Mother Marie Therese's motherhouse," says the foundation chairwoman from Thorn: "In my imagination, I am standing at the window of the "Effata House" in Blankenheim and looking out over the beautiful historic town with its towering castle. I walk through the alleyways of Bad Münstereifel, where every house is a work of art. I stand with Father Hermann Walch at the baptismal font of Mother Marie Therese Linssen in the church of St Johannes Baptist in Oud-Valkenburg. It all remains in my memory."

Mother Marie Therese, whose motto is "Caritas est vivere in Deo", was rightly convinced "that the church needs the order Communio in Christo", says Janina Mironczuk: "I have never experienced such an order or such a group of people in which the love of God and the values conveyed are combined with total dedication to one's neighbour." She also remembers the training of the Polish staff in Mechernich and Blankenheim by the home management and nursing staff.

She believes that Mother Marie Therese and other members of the order are "watching over us", the foundation chairwoman writes: "We have really enjoyed our time with you over the years. They were unforgettable moments..."

pp/Agentur ProfiPress