Parafia miejscem głoszenia ewangelii nadziei

Abstract

The article is divided into two parts; I - The parish as a place to preach the Gospel of hope; II - Bringing back hope to the poor: An annual schedule of pastoral work. In the first part the reflection is focused on several key issues; the parish and its current meaning, hope as a theological virtue, its understanding and realization; the concept of the Gospel of hope preached in the face of problems, disasters and dramas of the modern world, the role of a priest as a man of hope, the awareness that the Gospel of hope is not only preached but carried out as well. The modern world is not only sensitive to the words, however beautiful they might be, but to concrete deeds which bring relief to human beings in need. In the second part the author develops the concept of the first year in the current cycle of pastoral work, illustrating it with specific examples. Firstly, he concentrates on the drama of poverty supporting his views with data referring to the current situation in Poland. The Catholic Church makes an effort with regard to unemployment and poverty in families. lt does not only preach the Gospel of hope but helps the people and their families in need. One can easily say that no other institution does as much as the Catholic Church in Poland, especially by the activities of the Polish Caritas, for the people in the face of their dramas.