Out of the ordinary ordinary house

Budka Suflera once had a hit song "There is such a lonely house." I don't know why it came to my mind when I stood in front of the entrance to the John Paul II Foundation House in Lublin. This house is not lonely at all. Located almost in the very center of Lublin, it is even bustling with life on a daily basis, as more than 100 scholars live there. In summer, however, it is quieter here - some of the interns have left for their families, some are enjoying their vacations, the elderly are working. Even after crossing the threshold you can feel the wonderful atmosphere of the place.

The author of the scholarship program of the John Paul II Foundation was the Rev. Dr. Marian Radwan, professor of the Catholic University of Lublin, sociologist and historian, who studied the history of modern Russia and Christianity in that country, as well as in other Eastern European countries under Sovietization. In the 1970s and 1980s, he travelled repeatedly throughout the republics of the Soviet Union to learn about the situation of the Church and to see what conditions people there were living under.

When, by papal decree in 1981, the John Paul II Foundation was established in Rome, and within it the Polish Institute of Christian Culture, Rev. Prof. Radwan became its director. Even then he knew that he had been entrusted with a unique mission.

The work of true evangelization

- During one of his trips in 1990, Fr. Radwan found himself in Novosibirsk. There he met a priest who asked him to organise 10 scholarships that would allow young people there to study at the Catholic University of Lublin. After some time, Fr. Radwan travelled to Rome, where he presented the Novosibirsk priest's request to the Pope through Fr. Stanislaw Dziwisz. He did not expect that instead of 10 scholarships, John Paul II would offer 50, says Fr. John Strzałka, director of the John Paul II Foundation House.

With each year the number of scholarship beneficiaries increased, the program grew. So the decision was made to build a house where the foundation's interns could live. Work began in 1992, and the construction was supervised by the later director, Rev. Ryszard Krupa. The financial assistance of the Connelly Foundation of Philadelphia and the involvement of the Polish American community proved indispensable at the time. The ceremonial opening and dedication of the John Paul II Foundation House took place on October 13, 1994. Since its creation, it has been managed by the Priests of the Sacred Heart .

- Scholarship recipients may be persons from former Eastern Bloc countries without Polish citizenship. Financial support is provided for five years, i.e. the entire period of study. We have a special agreement with the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, and all of our interns study at the Catholic University of Lublin. Those who have a Polish citizen's card receive their education free of charge. Those who don't have it can study thanks to the support of the University, and here I thank the Society of Friends of the Catholic University of Lublin (Towarzystwo Przyjaciół KUL), which helps young people financially in this regard, explains Fr. Jan Strzałka.

Currently, 110 pupils are participating in the program. In more than 30 years of operation, about 1,000 graduates have benefited from the support, most of whom have returned to work in their home countries after graduation.

A home in the heart of Lublin

Formation at the JPII Foundation House is multidirectional. The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin is responsible for its intellectual aspect, while Fr. Jan Strzałka, director of the house, and Fr. Robert Ptak, his deputy, is responsible for other affairs.

- In many important matters concerning the scholarship recipients, the decision is made by their parents. Fr. Robert and I are not able to replace them, but we always try to create a family atmosphere and give them a sense of security. We want them to know that they can turn to us in any situation. That's probably why our students don't say they live in a dormitory, but when mentioning this place, they always use the word "home", they say they come home from classes or from the city - says Fr. Strzałka.

Beginner saint

Father John has served as director of the JPII Foundation House for 10 years. He always speaks of his students with a smile.

- I once discovered that on the door to my room appeared a small card "Here lives a saint". It had been hung by one of our girls when I said at one of my sermons that a similar card had been attached to Karol Wojtyla's door by colleagues as a joke. However, she forgot to add "beginner" to the saint, so I added it myself. And now this card often helps me. When some silly thoughts come to my mind, I immediately say to myself, "Stop, because you are on the road to sainthood," says Fr. Strzałka, laughing at the same time.