First Report to my Abbot

I arrived in Warsaw yesterday

I arrived in Warsaw yesterday and had dinner with my friends Michal & Paulina (introduced by Aaron Riches). They are hosting Ivanka and her 5 children, who fled Lviv 3 days ago. Ivanka’s husband, Fr Olek, stayed behind to minister to the parish and people of Lviv. As you know Eastern Catholic priests, like their Orthodox counterparts, can marry.

I have a special place in my heart for pastor’s wives, or as the Orthodox affectionately call them, Matuskas. And Ivanka exemplifies all those reasons why I do. She is kind and strong, with enormous capacity to bear others inside her. I especially feel for Fr Olek, who so leans on his wife for strength and wisdom. But I understand why he got his family out of harms way. Good call!

They came to Warsaw because Olek went to college with Paulina. They are old friends. A few weeks ago Olek called Michal asking him if they would receive his family, minus him. “Of course,” Michal replied. This story is being replicated all over Poland, which agreed to receive 1 million of the 5 million Ukrainian refugees. This is not some big social program only, but rather the domestic church and Catholic social teaching in action – more High-Touch than Hi-Tech.

How does God renew the church?

Friends who are reading this, if you are dying from too much theory, come to Poland, meet Michal and Paulina. This is how God renews the church: it’s through the domestic church and families welcoming families in distress. We did this, on a small scale when I was a pastor and realized its one of the Lord’s favorite ways of renewing sacramental marriages and saving some others.

Like step 12 in the recovery movement, the best way to stay sober is to help others achieve sobriety. Likewise, the best way to renew your marriage and family is to help another marriage and family in need.

And so I keep thinking of our wonderful Bendictine community in Atchison, our Center for Family Life, as well as the greater Archdiocesan community (boy did I land in clover!!), and pray what our response should be in this crisis, especially if it’s prolonged? Which is probable. How is God wanting to use this tragedy to renew the face of the earth? Our marriages and families? Our parishes and communities of faith. When I flew out Friday Elizabeth told me not to be a hero. I guess I won’t be going Lviv. But Lviv is coming to me. Join me in prayer and see where the HS takes us us all.

With gratitude for allowing me to be an Oblate of this wonderful Abbey!

Tory Baucum