Kraków: 307 dead children buried

The ceremony of dead children was held in the Tyniecki Podgórniki Kraków. The ceremony, during which 3 100 and 7 children were said goodbye, was held on December 17.

During the homily, Fr.Dr. Janusz Kościelniak, the diocesan pastor of families of lost children, reminded of the Christian virtue of hope: What is she erstwhile we talk about her at the funeral? surely it is not a belief that everything will end well here on earth. It is alternatively certain that something has a deeper meaning – said the priest.

– erstwhile we are at this Eucharist present and are staring at 2 coffins with the bodies of children, we can ask ourselves what is the meaning of their life, so short. But erstwhile we realize, we will believe that these children are inactive alive, surviving in God, we will find meaning," explained the preacher. – This is not a mirage, but the fact on which our Christian religion is based. We die to live, and these children already live in eternity," he added.

Fr Kościelniak besides referred to Advent time experienced in the Church: – erstwhile any parents admitted to me in a conversation that this was a peculiarly hard time for them, especially from the minute an empty manger appears in the temple. He frequently reminds of the failure of his beloved child. But then the same parents said that the cognition that God comes to this man, and He fills this void, gives them hope," the preacher said.

– erstwhile a kid is lost, besides as a consequence of a miscarriage, this mourning is so difficult... But if we are with Jesus, he will lead us through this time. As we say in Psalm 23, "...though I walk through a dark valley, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me," said Fr Kościelniak. “Let us hope that these children will live and live and that they will come out to meet us.” Let us remember that in heaven, with God waiting for us, it is besides a beloved lost kid – he turned to the present.

The priest concluded the homily with the words of prayer: "God, you, on your earthly journey, save us from despair and fill us with hope, for your Son, Jesus Christ, is always with us all the days of life. He rushes to aid us in all request and stands with us as a quiet and humble heart. Merciful Jesus, strengthen our hope.

After Mass, the mourners refused to entrust the dead children to God’s mercy.

The bodies of children, dating from 1 January to 31 December 2023, were donated by the University infirmary in Krakow.

Every second Friday of the period at 6 p.m., the diocesan priest of the parents after the failure performs Mass in the intention of grieving parents and families. Masses are held in the sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Kraków Łagiewniki. During the Eucharist, families lay on the altar cards with the names of dead children. After Mass, adoration is conducted, which ends with the individual blessing of the Blessed Sacrament.

The law in force in Poland states that all man, including the kid who died before birth, has the right to a worthy burial. If the household (for any reason) decides not to collect the body from the hospital, the work to bury the kid rests with the municipality (Regulation of the Minister of wellness of 7 December 2001 on the treatment of corpses and human remains).

Information about subsequent collective funerals of lost children can be obtained by calling the Municipal Social Assistance Centre, as well as following the archdiocese websites and the Department of household Ministry in Krakow.

Karolina Krawczyk