This year's meeting of the Administrative Council of the John Paul II Foundation took place in Rome at the Polish Pilgrim Home on January 22nd and 23rd, 2009. The meeting of the Board began with the traditional Mass offered at the grave of the Servant of God John Paul II at St. Peter's Basilica. The principal celebrant of the concelebrated Mass was Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, Chairman of the Board. In his homily Cardinal Rylko said that to begin the meeting the Board has come for a special audience with John Paul II to listen to him and learn from him how to serve Christ, fellow men, and the Church with wisdom and courage. John Paul II and his teachings are the reference point for the activity of the Foundation, that he himself founded. The time spent at the altar was also an opportunity for fervent prayer for the early beatification and canonization of the Servant of God.
At the opening of the meeting of the Administrative Council Cardinal Rylko pointed out that at this meeting we are marking the 30th anniversary of the election of Cardinal Wojtyla to the See of St. Peter in Rome. We must see the role of the Foundation in the context of our responsibility for the entire heritage that the Founder has left for us. The activity of the Foundation has for its purpose to perpetuate this heritage in the collective memory around the whole world. The directors of the various entities of the Foundation then presented their activity and financial reports for the past year as well as their projected plans for the coming year.
Msgr. Stefan Wylezek reported on the activities of the Office of the Secretary of the Foundation as well as the status of the Permanent Endowment Fund of the Foundation, that makes possible the Foundation's activities. Among its many activities, Monsignor pointed out the John Paul II Foundation Pilgrimage to Lourdes on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady. He also reported on the meetings of the Friends Chapters of the Foundation in Sweden, the United States, Canada, and France on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the election of John Paul II. Information about the activities of the Friends Chapters of the Foundation are published in the Foundation Bulletin which is sent to all benefactors and is available on the web page of the Foundation: www.jp2f.opoka.org.pl/gb/index.html. The office of the secretary maintains contact with 43 Chapters of the Friends of the Foundation and five groups of Friends in 17 countries. A new Chapter was organized in Dublin in November of 2008.
Msgr. Mieczyslaw Niepsuj presented the report on the activities of the Polish Home. The Polish Home received pilgrims and guests at the Home during the entire year. Their stays make possible the maintenance of the Home and improvements in the Home. Monsignor is now working on obtaining a designation for the Home as a „casa per ferie” (a vacation home) in conformity with Italian laws. All of the improvements in the Home were made in order to conform to the requirements for this registration. These improvements in no way diminished the concern of the staff of the Home to provide services for the pilgrims staying at the Home. Msgr. Jan Glowczyk and Rev. Andrzej Dobrzynski presented the reports for the Documentation and Research Center of the Pontificate of John Paul II. The Center of the Pontificate of the Polish Pope makes available materials relative to the teachings of John Paul II to those interested in them. The Library, Museum, and Archives demand constant attention because only in this way will the heritage of the teachings of John Paul II be available to others. The Center is becoming the resource for individuals who wish to study the life and pontificate of John Paul II. One very important activity of the Center on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the election of John Paul II—in cooperation with the Seraphicum University—was the organizing of a Symposium: „John Paul II—Vatican Council II.” Many outstanding Church and University scholars from around the world participated in the Symposium. The publication of the proceedings of the Symposium will establish the place of the Foundation in Church and University circles that pursue research in the area of the teachings of John Paul II.
Rev. Ryszard Krupa, SCJ, presented the report on the activities of the John Paul II Foundation Home in Lublin. The scholarship program of the Foundation for students from West-Central Europe provides for 144 individuals who are studying at the Catholic University of John Paul II in Lublin. Last year 27 students completed their studies, and 32 new students were accepted for this academic year. The scholarship students come from the following countries: Belorus, Kazachstan, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldavia, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine. The educational program in Lublin includes not only courses at the University but also a program of formation that includes retreats and participation in pastoral activities in Lublin, Sunday gatherings of the students at the Foundation Home, and Saturday sessions dedicated to the teachings of John Paul II that include lectures and mini-concerts prepared by the students. Visiting guests at the Home during the past year included: Bishop Aleksander Kaszkiewicz of Grodno, and Archbishop Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki of Lwow. A group of 40 students visited Germany for one week, thanks to the support of the German province of the Sacred Heart Fathers and Rev. Andrzej Froszteg, who is from Andrychow. The report of the Review Commission, that evaluates the financial activities of the various Foundation Institutions for 2008 and the budgets for 2009, concluded the deliberations of the first day of the Administrative Council.
The Council accepted all of the reports.
On the second day the Council reviewed the budgetary plans for 2009 as presented by the Directors of the various institutions of the Foundation. The activities of the Foundation always depend on the financial resources of the Foundation. It is conscious of the financial crisis in the whole world. Therefore, all decisions that involve the budget must be seen in the light of some limitations in the activities of the Foundation. Thanks to the faithful support of the Friends of the Foundation, and especially the help of the Chapters of Friends, the Foundation is able to continue to fulfill its goals and purposes. The Chairman and the members of the Administrative Board express their deep gratitude to all who support the Foundation both morally and financially making possible the daily operation of the Foundation's activities. Thanks to all of these Friends of the Foundation, it is not standing in one place but is able to look into the future with great hope and continue to realize the purposes set before it by the Servant of God John Paul II.
Because of its concern for the presence of the Foundation in various countries, the Board decided to invite to Rome the presidents of the various Chapters of Friends of the John Paul II Foundation in October of 2009. The meeting will be an occasion for sharing the many different experiences of the Foundation in different centers around the world, and discovering the different priorities of the Foundation. This will also be the proper forum at which to discuss the nature of the commemorations of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Foundation that will occur in October of 2011. On May 18th we will be celebrating for the second time the Day of the John Paul II Foundation. This will be an opportunity to reflect on the teachings of John Paul II as well as an occasion to share our thoughts about him with individuals where the Chapters of the Foundation are active. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the publication of the encyclical of John Paul II — „Redemptor Hominis.” We, therefore, suggest the theme of the celebration of Foundation Day be an excerpt from No. 14 of this encyclical: „ Man is the first and the fundamental way of the Church, the way pointed out by Christ Himself.”
Every activity of the Foundation includes its Benefactors. They are remembered daily in the Chapel of the Polish Home in Rome, as well as in the Mass that is offered every Thursday at the grave of the Servant of God John Paul II praying for his early canonization.