Community begins with the human being." Academic symposium in Wilanów

The Jasna Góra Vows of the Polish Nation, made on 26 August 1956, initiated the pastoral program of Primate Stefan Wyszyński. Part of it was the Great Novena, whose goal was the spiritual and moral preparation of society for the celebrations of the Millennium of the Baptism of Poland in 1966. During the symposium, participants will examine the significance of the Jasna Góra Vows of the Polish Nation and their social and historical dimension. The topic of the meeting will also be the ten-year period encompassing the Vows, the Great Novena, and the celebrations of the Millennium of the Baptism of Poland. The event will feature researchers and popularizers of history, including: Anna Rastawicka , a close collaborator of Primate Stefan Wyszyński and a promoter of his teachings, Piotr Dmitrowicz , director of the Museum of John Paul II and Primate Wyszyński, prof. Rafał Łatka , historian and biographer of the Primate of the Millennium, prof. Michał Białkowski , historian leading a research project devoted to Karol Wojtyła, ks. dr Mateusz Dobrzycki , Grzegorz Polak , deputy director of the Museum, dr Edgar Sukiennik , moderator of the discussion panel. Symposium program 10.00 – introduction: Piotr Dmitrowicz, director of the Museum; 10.15 – "The decade that changed Poland. The Vows, the Novena, the Millennium": prof. Rafał Łatka; 11.00 – "The moral rebirth of the nation in the concept of the Primate of the Millennium": prof. Michał Białkowski; 11.30 – coffee break; 11.45 – "The conciliar votive offerings of Primate Stefan Wyszyński as a Polish contribution to Vaticanum II": ks. dr Mateusz Dobrzycki; 12.15 – "What happened at Jasna Góra on 26 August 1956? A report written years later": Grzegorz Polak; 12.45 – discussion panel "The Jasna Góra Vows as a 'Polish bill of rights'" with the participation of prof. Michał Białkowski, prof. Rafał Łatka, Anna Rastawicka, and Grzegorz Polak. Moderation: dr Edgar Sukiennik; 14.00 – lunch. Date: 28 September 2026, 10.00 Venue: Mt 5,14 | Museum of John Paul II and Primate Wyszyński, ul. Prymasa Augusta Hlonda 1 in Warsaw. Detailed information can be found on the website of the Museum of John Paul II and Primate Wyszyński .