Reflecting back on Poland

It has been a week since returning from Poland and I have had a lot of time to reflect and think about my experience and all of the knowledge that I acquired since being there. Since being home, many people have asked me how the experience was, whether it was enjoyable or not, or whether or not I had fun. Fun? Fun is not the right word to use when describing the experience. It has taken me time to process everything and be able to put into words...

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Survivors in 2019

For the past few years, I have commonly heard that we are losing the greatest generation. This phrase refers to those who were born in the time period of 1901 to 1927, and many of these people fought in WWII. This generation also includes the survivors of the Shoah. Unfortunately, those who were old enough to have memories of being in the Holocaust are getting older and older and passing away. While we were at the JCC, or the Jewish Community Center...

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We remember: A Struggle Between Good and Evil

I am currently on the plane leaving Poland to head home. Being on this long flight has given me time to reflect. My experience this week has been nothing short of incredible. It is difficult to put into words the amount of knowledge and experience I have received. My knowledge of the Shoah and Jewish-Christian relations has increased further than I ever thought possible. I have noticed a reoccurring theme of good vs evil throughout this trip. The...

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The Presence of Absence

The presence of absence and the absence of presence has been a prominent theme throughout this course. I have stumbled upon many places in Poland that have reminded me of this theme. One place in particular that stood out to me as symbolizing this theme is Mariana Kolodzieja’s art exhibit. Mariana Kolodzieja was a Polish Christian holocaust survivor. He became one of the first prisoners in the 1940 transport to Auschwitz, his number was 432. In the...

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Where Was God?

I have been in Oswiecim for two full days now. My experience thus far has been overwhelming. My knowledge on Jewish culture, Jewish-Christian relations, as well as the Shoah itself has grown exponentially. On our second day we visited Auschwitz I. When I entered the camp my mind went numb. I think it was then when I saw the infamous sign, “Arbeit Macht Frei,” that I truly realized that I was standing on the world’s largest burial ground. As we walked...

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Fr. Maximilian Kolbe

Father Maximilian Kolbe is a Polish Franciscan Priest that died in Block 11 of Auschwitz I and a major reason why I decided to come to Poland to was to learn more about the Holocaust. My experience in high school was instrumental in forming my faith. Through retreats, theology classes and mission work, the Franciscan Brothers captured my heart and rooted it in service and solidarity. Kolbe was a major influence to me during this time. He was the...

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