Fr. Jan Bak celebrated his Silver Jubilee – 25 years as a priest – here at our church. Everyone joined in the congratulations with great feeling and enthusiasm. Together at the altar, besides our own Fr. Terry and Fr. Jan, were the head of the Salvatorians in England, and the novice-master from Fr. Jan’s Polish seminary.
We heard of the difficulties of that time, when Poland was still behind the ‘Iron Curtain’, of moving students across borders. When travelling as an interpreter on a Pastoral visit, Jan had his passport confiscated, and for a worrying interval was not allowed to return to Britain. This difficulty is still met with today, as churches try to operate internationally moving priests and theology students, while the U.K. tries to limit immigration.
Fr. Jan thanked everyone for their welcome and support, but said that “he did not have the words for what was in his heart.” The spontaneous applause from the congregation showed their feelings better than any words!
By a very happy ‘coincidence’ the Parish Barbeque and hoe-down took place on that same sunny day. Our thanks to Joe and Della Bateman who, yet again, opened their house and garden for our enjoyment, and to all those workers who made this enjoyment possible.