On October 10, 2026 another edition of the National Focus Day for Infertile Marriages will be held at the Nazaretanek Sisters' home in Krakow. The organizer is the Association “Abraham and Sara”, supporting the operation of the Krakow Ministry of Infertility Marriages – a community that has been accompanying married couples who are experiencing a hard way to have a child.
About the ideas of these meetings, about the emotions which carry infertility and about the place of religion in this experience is discussed by Mateusz Pękala, president of the Board of the Association.
A Community That Growed Out of the request of the Heart
The ‘Abraham and Sara’ Association was not formed by a top-down decision. It grew bottom-up from circumstantial meetings of circumstantial people. As Matthew said:
“The association “Abraham and Sara” has grown out of a community of married couples who, for various reasons, are looking forward to the kid and meet each period in Krakow in prayer, adoration and meetings devoted to common support through infertility.”
However, monthly meetings are not all. Twice a year, in autumn and in Lent, there is simply a full-day retreat open to all willing couples. The president does not hide that the decision to come alone can be more hard for many couples than later participation in the event:
“We know that it is not easy to break down and decide to enroll for specified a retreat, but we invitation you to do so warmly due to the fact that we besides know that these events bring very good spiritual fruit.”
A burden that is easier to carry between us
Infertility affects men and women differently, but as Mateusz Pękala emphasizes, the most crucial thing is going through it together, not separately:
"Trouble and pain are easier to bear erstwhile we know that there is simply a spouse with us who experiences the same and we can number on his support."
He besides sincerely calls the emotions that couples face: a sense of harm and exclusion.
“The large but natural problem of infertility matrimony is the feeling of being “worser than others”, unfairly treated by God: Why is this happening to us, and others easy experience a fewer children?”
In addition to this, there is simply a shame that can close the spouses in silence to their loved ones:
“Natural but blocking is besides a shame to admit to close parents, family, friends that we are experiencing problems with getting pregnant. Our retreat is intended to encourage us to overcome these fears and resistance.”
It is besides crucial to entrust God’s affairs together:
"He will aid us find patience during the treatment and the best way out if it turns out that for medical reasons we have no chance of becoming biological parents."
The strength of gathering a second couple who understands without words
Mateusz Pękala emphasizes that the community operates on 2 levels – applicable and emotional:
"Marriage frequently exchange opinions and advice on the different ways and stages of treating individual causes of infertility. The second aspect of the community experience is the feeling of being heard and understood. We get invaluable support from another couples who besides experience infertility.”
And he adds:
“Then we learn that we are not the only ones suffering and can exchange our feelings with individual who will understand.”
Trust a road we don't know yet
The spiritual dimension of the retreat is described by the president very personally. It is natural for a believer to bring his concerns to God, including the most hard ones:
"It is crucial to present to the Lord their tiny and large problems. If we believe that God is good, it is simply a origin of comfort and hope for us. We ask Him to show our matrimony the way that will be the best solution for us.”
However, this prayer is not asking for a ready result. Rather, it is trust that the road – whatever it is, always makes sense:
“We believe that at the end of this way God has prepared for us something good, valuable, and we have only this way of 1 vocation to read, agree to it and go.”
Programme of the day and gathering place
This year's retreat will be under the heading "Guard Your Heart, For Life There Has its Source," as quoted in Proverbs chapter 4, which calls for concern for the heart as a place where both feelings and decisions are born.
The conferences will be given by Fr Jacek Moskal, Vice-Cerator of the Higher Seminary of the Archdiocese of Krakow. The program will besides include the sharing of God’s Word, the witness of marriage, which went through the hard way of infertility, the Holy Mass for the gift of offspring combined with worship, and the time for informal conversation.
On the question of who can participate, the president answers without hesitation:
"We invitation all marriages experiencing problems with their offspring, regardless of age, internship and treatment stage. We meet in a safe and pleasant atmosphere to pray together, perceive to the retreat teachings, but besides meet another couples who are in a akin situation and feel cared for by individual who understands our situation.”
Date: Saturday 10 October 2026, 8:45 p.m.
Place: Kraków, Nazaretańska 1, home of Nazaretanek Sisters
Link to the Facebook event.
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