“Passing Through the Dark Valley – A Time for Pruning the Vineyard” is the theme of the 24th Provincial Chapter of the Resurrectionists, taking place from 14 to 22 November in the seaside village of Dębki near Krokowa, in the Pomeranian region of Gdańsk. Thirty priests and brothers are participating, representing various areas of ministry among the spiritual sons of the Servant of God Bogdan Jański – from Germany to Australia, from Ukraine to Italy, along with a representative from Tanzania. The Superior General, Fr. Evandro Miranda Rosa, CR, is also present. During this year’s Chapter, the Polish Resurrectionists are confronting the hardships, deficiencies, and challenges of their community life and ministry – realities reflected in the first part of the theme. The decline or even disappearance of new vocations; the resulting rise in the average age of the community; crises in spiritual life; advancing secularization; an excessive number of commitments due to the intensity of ministry; and a wide range of expectations placed on a shrinking number of members – these are only some of the issues facing the delegates of the 24th Provincial Chapter.
As Fr. Kazimierz Wójtowicz, CR, observed: “A shepherd – in search of water and suitable grazing, or when moving the flock from one green pasture to another, for that is his task – must sometimes pass through a ‘dark valley.’ This expression symbolizes difficult and dangerous periods, with all the traps along the path that must be travelled in order to reach the designated goal. Such a dark, shadowed valley (even if it happens to be the Grand Canyon!) is not an ideal place to stop, still less to settle down. While passing through it, one must keep going to reach the destination. And those who pass through with the help of the Shepherd will emerge stronger and more resilient.”
To discover the truth about oneself – at times difficult and painful – is one of the aims of the Chapter. Yet this process ultimately serves a concrete purpose: the strengthening of the community, which also takes place through the pruning of the vineyard, carried out regularly so that it may bear fruit more abundantly. This requires decisions that are not always popular, and these will be the responsibility of the capitular fathers.
An evocative image of this work appears again in Fr. Wójtowicz’s reflection: “When Jesus speaks of ‘cutting off’ dead branches, He also mentions the ‘pruning’ of healthy shoots so that they may bear ‘more abundant fruit.’ Such pruning involves correcting the upright growth of the vine and removing woody or ‘wild’ shoots, as well as, at the proper time, taking away excess leaves and plant debris. This helps prevent disease and pests, and improves air circulation and sunlight exposure. Better access to sunlight enhances the color of the grapes and increases their aromatic qualities.”
In this context, serious discernment regarding the condition of the Polish Resurrectionists is needed, so that they may proclaim with renewed zeal the message of hope to which they were called in 1836, far from the homeland of their founders: Bogdan Jański, Fr. Peter Semenenko, CR, and Fr. Jerome Kajsiewicz, CR. This message carries the promise of new life – vibrant and dynamic – a life whose source can be found only in the Risen Christ.
Fr. Jan Kaczmarek, C.R.
