MEKNES, Morocco, 3rd June 2008
God bless
in an almost holiday mood...

I WOULD LIKE TO GREET ALL PEOPLE MAKING A PILGRIMAGE BOTH IN THEIR HEARTS AND IN A REAL MISSIONARY WORLD...

June is for me a very busy time. The school year is just about to finish and exams are being taken. We hope that everything will be all right and that we will be able to rest during holidays, if we are lucky and still have it.

The changes in Morocco can be distinctly felt. We had the summer time change yesterday. The clocks had to be put forward an hour. It had never been done before because, as it was explained, the Muslim religion did not allow the divine rhythm to be changed. Maybe it is true but economic reasons and everyday life prove this solution to be something normal and beneficial. Currently, there is only a one-hour-difference between Morocco and Europe.

Our St Anthony Centre has been in high gear. This year 1550 students were given a linguistic and computer training and 450 students joined the library. 30 teachers - young people who wanted to do something good for others - worked for free in the Centre.

There are no Polish people in the prison in Rabat but, unfortunately, there are 6 of them in Tangier. I have not gotten there yet.

On 30th May we promoted Polish culture here in Morocco. Mrs Nina Nowak and Mrs Halina Andrzejewska gave a piano concert. For the first time could the Meknes people hear the works of Chopin, Schuman, Paderewski, Czajkowski and Schubert. Mrs Nina Nowak enchanted everyone with her voice and interpretation of the pieces. My students and I delighted in something you would not meet in Morocco. At the end we could even here few Polish words...

Let's go to the most important thing now, namely the children of special care. Their conditions gradually improve. There are more nurses, although they do not earn much (only 85 Euros per month). Children can now go to the balcony of the hospital to get a taste of the rays of sunshine and breathe some fresh air. During the holidays many volunteers from France, Spain and Italy arrive here. They come to the children's aid and each group stays here for two weeks. There is some hope for the future. We really count on it - me, 22 children of special care, 6 nurses and many holiday volunteers.

I wish all of you wonderful holidays after your exams and a busy school year. I invite you to Morocco - a country which bewitches by its beauty, tradition and culture.

I wish you divine protection for your every day...

Fr Simeon Stachera, a Franciscan