40 years of service: Pastor Pokorski celebrates an impressive anniversary

40 years of service: Pastor Pokorski celebrates an impressive anniversary

On Sunday, the Diocese of Augsburg celebrated a significant day when several new priests were ordained in the festive atmosphere of the Augsburg Cathedral. Bishop Dr. Konrad Zdarsa once again introduced himself as a spiritual leader and blessed a total of nine men who are ready to begin their service in various communities. The consecration atmosphere was peppered with complex traditions and deep-rooted faith, which was felt throughout the entire event. Pastor Marek Pokorski also takes a special look at ordination and its meaning on the occasion of his own priestly anniversary.

During the ceremony, the new priests, including Florian Bach from Pfronten and Sebastian Schmidt from Berlin, had the opportunity to celebrate their first Holy Mass together with the bishop, which was a very special experience for them. The entire pontifical mass was accompanied musically by the Augsburg Cathedral Boys' Choir and a wind ensemble, which further enhanced the festive atmosphere. The silence during the laying on of hands and the emotional connection that existed between the believers and the new priests were particularly impressive. Many of those present left the cathedral full of joy and happiness.

A look into the past

Pastor Marek Pokorski, who looks back on proud 40 years as a priest, talks about his beginnings in his home diocese in Poland in his thoughts, which are also inspired by the current priestly ordination. On June 9, 1985, he was ordained a priest in Wloclawek, together with 19 colleagues. His journey took him to his home diocese for over 13 years before he moved to the Diocese of Augsburg in 1998. Here he had various positions, including working as a chaplain in Neuburg an der Donau and as the town priest of Sonthofen-Nord. For the last four years he has been working as the second pastor in the Schrobenhausen parish community.

However, the ordination is not only seen as a solemn event; it is also a question of trust. During the ceremony, the bishop emphasizes the obedience that the new priests assure the bishop that they will later act as an expression of their credibility. As Bishop Bertram explained, coupled with this promise of obedience, it is important to create better understanding and cooperation between clergy and laity. Every new priest is called to represent Christ through his talents, which entails the duty of awakening credibility and commitment in each and every one of us.

Shared celebrations and blessings

The celebrations for the ordination began on Saturday evening with the blessing of chalices and vestments. The emotional anticipation and excitement were noticeable among both the new priests and the seminarians, who actively participated in the celebration as altar servers and ushers. The overwhelming number of visitors that found space in the cathedral was impressive. Many had to stand while watching the sacred ceremonies. The bells also solemnly announced the consecration and the believers immortalized this moment by singing “Te Deum” together.

Finally, the celebrations not only brought a smile to the faces of the new priests, but also to those of Bishop Konrad, who humorously expressed that he was thinking about the accommodation of the new priests. These solemn moments of community and faith are the foundation that holds the Church together today, a message that also resonates quietly in Marek Pokorski's statements.