My memory – Lubraniec – Boniewo – 2003

My way to Lubraniec seemed endless. It might have been for the restlessness surrounding me and the thought that everyone was waiting… I felt that something was rising in me, something I couldn’t name, but I also felt that it was gradually getting into its shape and colour… And beautiful Lubraniec seemed to run away from us, it looked as if it was still very distant. Finally, we reached it!

Waiting for new guests, The Family was cheerfully feasting in the main hall of the palace. It was wonderful that so many of us had felt a strong desire to meet earlier on Saturday to make this gathering last a few hours more. Enveloped in darkness, with which we were greeted by Kujavian soil, I entered the hall taking uncertain steps in the glow that was coming from my relatives. This sight was beyond my expectations. This experience was like a thermal shock! Waves of affection stormed me from every corner of the hall. I could finally embrace those who I didn’t see for a whole year and, in a very special way, those about whom I had just learned. With great pleasure I greeted the family from Horodnica in Ukraine – former land of Poland. I even wanted to say: ‘My dearly loved, it is wonderful that you’re all here!’

Saturday evening – our first time spent together – was full of emotions, and it was hard for me to control the chaos of thoughts. I had so many questions that I wanted to share with my relatives, but I couldn’t put them together in a logical way. Gradually, my thoughts became clear and were transformed into a right shape. Dark sky behind the window was a witness to these unusual metamorphoses. It blossomed with stars. Deep night slowly put our emotions to sleep and lulled our thoughts...

A bright sun, which adorned the sky in the Sunday morning, didn’t interrupt this great calmness. This peace could be especially sensed during a Mass for our ancestors. It was the moment of the deepest emotion and a great experience. Both the prayer and the words of Father Jaroslaw Wlodarz made their way deep into our souls, prolonging this amazing calmness. We all felt significance of the moment. By its great power the words seemed to become alive, they got into our hearts and minds, to be always with us in our life, scream, song, prayer…

Later, at the end of the service, there were also some moving moments. Uncle Waldek from Lublin exuberantly thanked Father Jaroslaw Wlodarz for his commitment to our idea of family togetherness. He also offered a gift – a handmade, magnificent, crocheted tablecloth done by aunt Bronia from Konskie. These truly great moments gave us all a thrill and brought us on the verge of tears. I can still remember my aunt standing near the altar with great dignity holding intently the fruit of her mission she had been working on for over two months, despite her weak eyes. It was also very nice when we all sang the traditional Polish song ‘Sto Lat’ to celebrate Father’s Jaroslaw 40th anniversary of taking holy orders which took place the next day.

After the Mass we went to a place near the church where once there was a cemetery where our first ancestors were burried. We lit candles. A moment of silence… silence so deep and at the same time a scream that wanted to bolt from the bottom of our hearts: ‘HERE WE ARE TOGETHER IN THE FLOOD OF TIME WHICH COLLECTED US IN ITS WAY. WE ARE HOLDING OUR HANDS ALMOST LIKE CHILDREN IN THEIR WAY TO COMPLAIN. THIS BOND IS THE REASON FOR OUR RETURN AND WILL ALWAYS COME BACK TO THIS PLACE, WHICH WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AND WILL CHANGE AS WE DO… BUT THERE WILL NEVER BE A CHANGE IN THE BOND BETWEEN US.”

This short moment seemed like ages. The day was bright and warm, saturated with sunlight penetrating to the base of slender trees that surrounded us. It was us who were the reason of sky’s goodwill. Cascades of flowers dazzling with glaring, luscious scarlet among fresh green sank into my mind. I looked at it all, penetrated sunny sanctuaries, turned around restless leaves with my eyes so that they don’t cast shade over the faces of crystal and cheerfulness, faces of those near and dear. I then understood that I had been waiting all my life for this meeting… After the Mass we returned to Lubraniec, where on the palace stairs, like every year, we made a celebration. Then we went to a restaurant for dinner. The atmosphere here was much more relaxed, but there were also moments of dignity and even emotion. The formal part was performed by Jacek, who was very thrilled by significance of the moment. The foundations of The Szparaga Family were laid. Jacek had been drifting towards this moment gradually and patiently from the beginning, mindful of the fact that nothing should be hastened or skipped as everything has to be ripe for its time and for everything there is a right moment. This moment had just come. The members of The Gathering supported Jacek’s suggestion of creating organizational base of The Ancestry. For the head of The Szparaga Family we chose 86-year-old Marian from Sarnowo. We all sang ‘Sto Lat’ to the oldest participant of The Gathering. After that The Family Committee was chosen to represent different branches and geographical regions of Poland. We, the young, also had our representatives. A special moment to us all was the choice of Father Jaroslaw Wlodarz for an honorary member of The Ancestry. After the formal part the party started in fantastic atmosphere. In the meantime The Family Committee carried out its first meeting. Chords of the first composition sounded like a signal: it’s time to dance polonaise! The answer to this signal soon appeared on the dance floor. The moment came that all the emotions that had been gathering in us from the beginning of the meeting have got out of hand. There was a total burst of spontaneity. Everyone differently, in their own way expressed their feelings, but it all composed into one piece like a jigsaw… conveying an image of the indescribable ocean of happiness. Everything fitted with everything in an almost wonderful way, as if it had been arranged or directed, but, in fact, it spontaneously sprang from every one of us. A momentous experience for us all was the presence of relatives from Ukraine at The Gathering. There was a moving meeting of the Ukrainians with their relatives from Poland, whose families had been made to leave the land of their ancestors after the war. It was a special moment when aunt Stefania and her husband from Horodnica sang a Ukrainian song and then danced in a circle made by the participants of The Gathering. It is incredible that once in a year we are able to rise against our duties and rushing time and that we can find a moment to join this cheerful pageant, which is always open to new mutineers, young and angry…

The day, unfortunately, passed like an agile swallow in the air. Towards the end of the celebration the youth that was feasting tirelessly started to sing spontaneously a ‘new’ hit to the rhythm of popular melody played: ‘Cause all the Szparaga’s is one Family, the old and the young, boys and girls…’ The remarkable evening was nearing the end. Gradually our large family began to disperse. Still full of fire and loud cheers we bid each other farewell expansively hopeful that we will meet next year.

In such unusual atmosphere took place The 4th Gathering of The Szparaga Family. Many of us had waited for this day. Poetry for the soul! Superb experience – unique, because different each time, deeper, bringing so much happiness, making us feel that with our combined forces we create such a beautiful community.

In every human’s life there are hours which he would like to count double. For me such moments are the meetings with my ‘new Family’. I wait for every gathering longingly. Several hours to ask how the year passed, to tell about your successes and defeats – is just too little time. And time flies quickly, as if it didn’t understand that we have so much to say to each other, that we have to make up arrears… me and my near and dear, who had not so long ago lived ‘by the corner’ and I hadn’t even known about their existence… That is why they are so precious to me now.

Someone once said that the world is full of mysteries. And rightly, but we have to discover them. Our mystery was revealed. We are a GREAT FAMILY! In one place, at one time, despite considerable distances and duties we decide for a gathering, feeling that it is our responsibility to ourselves and the other, but so beloved people.

This time, these priceless moments! Thank ‘You’ and ‘You’ and thank ‘Those’ who came to create this unique atmosphere. For it all, for the art of being such people, for this art so rare these days – Thank You My Dear Family!

Joanna Szparaga