The ‘Knights of Mary’ Movement strives to nourish prayer life, active participation in parish communities, and an ongoing formation in the Faith.
Newsroom (11/11/2021 11:50 AM, Gaudium Press) Last Saturday, more than three thousand men from the ‘Wojownicy Maryi’ (Knights of Mary) Movement walked through the streets of the Polish city of Bydgoszcz, reciting the Holy Rosary. They represented from various countries in Western Europe. The recitation of the Rosary has become a tradition on the first Saturdays of every month.
During the walk, the members of the Movement formed into 16 groups with about 200 men. They walked from the town’s Old Market Square to the Basilica of St. Vincent de Paul, where Holy Mass was celebrated followed by Eucharistic Adoration.
Jesus is the only model of manhood
“God wants to lead us to find our virile hearts in our relationship with Him, to lead us to our wives and our children, so that we can wholeheartedly build the Kingdom of God in our homes,” explained Salesian Father Dominik Chmielewski, the spiritual leader and founder of the Movement.
The priest also stressed that “the only model of manhood is Jesus: we want to study and imitate the lifestyle of Jesus Christ. This is the greatest adventure of our lives, the greatest joy and our greatest privilege. That is why we entrust ourselves to you, O Mary, so that you may mold us into the likeness of your Son.”
Testimony of deep trust in Mary’s intercession
The walk was attended by the Bishop of Bydgoszcz, Most Rev. Krzysztof Włodarczyk, who thanked for the presence of so many men committed to prayer in his diocese. “I thank you for your testimonies, in unity in praying the Rosary, testimonies of deep trust in Mary’s intercession,” he said.
“With our witness we need to create new Christians, especially among sisters and brothers who are baptized but who walk on the peripheries, lost, rebellious. Mary, help us to be witnesses for them. It is not a question of morality: it is a question of sharing what Christ Jesus has made for us!” he urged.
Knights of Mary Movement
The pious initiative was part of the national meeting of the Knights of Mary, a Catholic community dedicated to the religious formation of men. Rosary processions during the first Saturdays of the month have already become a local tradition. On the 13th of every month, the Knights of Mary community meets at Our Lady of Fatima parish.
Founded in 2016 by Fr. Dominik Chmielewski, a Salesian priest, the ‘Wojownicy Maryi’ Movement is a Catholic men’s association with over six thousand members in Poland and twelve other European countries.
The Movement, with St. John Bosco as its patron, strives to support the prayer life of its members, their active participation in parish communities and their ongoing formation in the Faith and Don Bosco’s Preventive System. (EPC)
Compiled by Gustavo Kralj
