Mother House of the Company of Christ - Poznan
In Poznan, Poland, at the heart of a city extremely rich in religious and spiritual heritage, the Mother House of the Company of Christ is a place of life and formation conducive to retreats, especially for (very) large groups.
Retreats organized by the community
The community of the Company of Christ in Poland
The rule of the Company of Christ community draws inspiration from other religious orders and communities. Indeed, it borrows heavily from the Jesuits, but also from contemplative congregations including the Benedictines.
The Polish students at the Poznan seminary take courses in pastoral ministry and languages. The community regularly hosts conferences and retreats thanks to its numerous conference rooms.
What to expect during your stay
The buildings of this gigantic Polish house in Poznan
The buildings (along with the diocesan seminary, the cathedral, and the episcopal palace) are located on Ostrów Tumski Island. You will have access to a range of places, including two chapels, several rooms, and the orchard.
Father Ignacy Posadzy, first Superior General of the Company of Christ (1898-1984), declared Servant of God and soon to be Venerable, rests in the small chapel on the first floor. The large chapel is located on the third floor and is open continuously for prayer.
Several recently renovated rooms allow for teachings during preached retreats.
A vast apple orchard that produces 1,500 kilograms of apples each year will be ideal for wandering through as the apple blossoms unfold.
An immense accommodation capacity for group retreats
Poznan's accommodation capacity is XXL format: up to 70 people (minimum two days if more than 50 people)!
Curious students? Hyperactive retirees? Explorer scouts? Globe-trotting van travelers? Newlyweds? Vast Poland opens its doors to you!
Martin Wozny and his family have been organizing pilgrimages since Poland's opening following the fall of the Soviet bloc.
Long specialized in French sanctuaries visited by Poles, they have been serving French people interested in Poland since 2015, who are increasingly numerous and motivated. As general tourist guides, Martin has contacts on site whether for Masses in French or for quality accommodations!
Coming from Alsace, the Landes, Paris, Réunion, or Madagascar, many pilgrims have already been able to discover the local saints and the history of the area's sanctuaries!
Geography and activities
The jewel of Poznan: Ostrów Tumski Island
Symbol of the city of Poznan, Ostrów Tumski Island is the equivalent of the Île de la Cité. You can visit the Cathedral of Saint Peter and Saint Paul as well as the royal chapel, the last remnant of the castle (largely destroyed by successive wars) where the first kings of Poland are buried.
The Genius Loci archaeological site is located on the island, which has been inhabited and fortified since the year 1000. An interactive center (Brama Poznania) tracing local history on three levels as well as the archdiocesan museum, which houses a relic of the Apostle Peter (the sword Peter used to cut off the right ear of a servant of Caiaphas during Christ's arrest, which Pope John XXIII gave to Poland), along with many other Christian relics, are also located on the island.
The old town of Poznan
But Poznan is not limited to Ostrów Tumski Island. There is also the Sanctuary of Saint Joseph of the Carmelites, the first church in Poland dedicated to this saint, recently consecrated as a Minor Basilica (2017), at the initiative of Pope Francis, who has a particular veneration for Saint Joseph.
The Old Market Square (Stary Rynek), one of the largest in Europe, is one of the city's most touristic sites. In the historic quarter, you will find the opera house, Wilhelm II's imperial castle, and German-style houses.
The Jewish quarter houses a gigantic synagogue. It was confiscated by the Nazis during the war, then returned to the Jewish community in the 1950s. It now serves as a memorial site for the crimes of the Shoah.
Practical information
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