While in Poland with Pope, TV provided welcome coverage

Rev. Carl Urban, pastor of the Church of St. Adalbert in Schenectady, and a group of local Catholics were among the millions of people who saw Pope John Paul II in person during his recent trip to Poland.

But they also stayed in touch with his travels through coverage on television.

The two-week trip in early June was planned for several reasons, Father Urban said. "We timed the visit to coincide with the Pope's visit, the Eucharistic Congress, and the 1,000 anniversary of the martyrdom of St. Adalbert," he said, noting that the highlight of the trip for him was "to celebrate Mass where St. Adalbert is buried."

Excitement everywhere

The group of local Catholics traveled to several cities in Poland as well as Prague in the Czech Republic. No matter where they went, there was an excitement about the Pope's visit.

"All of the places and homes were decorated for the Pope, even if he wasn't coming there," Father Urban said. "It was just as we would decorate for Christmas."

Father Urban said the people of Poland "go through more discomfort [to see the Pope] than we do. They were standing 10 to 12 hours waiting to see him. The preparations and the crush of people were intense."

Even when the local group was in other parts of Poland, they were able to follow the Pope's travels. "There was very good coverage. Polish television stations had continuous coverage of the event. We saw much of that," Father Urban said.

Impressions

Poland is becoming more and more westernized, the priest said.

"If you close and open your eyes, you would think you saw Wolf Road" in Colonie, he said. "But some people are still in dire straits. A safety net of social services is not in place."

The trip ended in the Czech Republic. "where the Pope had been in April," Father Urban said. St. Adalbert, patron of the Schenectady church, was Bishop of Prague.

The group also saw the graves of St. John Nepomuc and St. Wenceslaus. "It's a magnificent city," he said.

(06-26-97)

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