130 131 Rev. Dr Michał Borda (WSB University in Dąbrowa Górnicza) The experience of PILGRIM in the diocese of Sosnowiec PILGRIM combines education for sustainable development with a religious-ethicalphilosophical dimension of education. It directs the gaze towards a sustainably secure future, encouraging changes in action and strengthening confidence in the present. A 'different' view of reality aims to create motivation to change one's own actions with responsibility and respect for all living beings. That is why when I first heard about PILGRIM, I immediately became interested in it. The principles and activities of the organisation align with my academic interests. For this reason, I organised a scientific conference titled "Caring for Air Quality in the Sosnowiec Diocese: Pedagogy and Spirituality of PILGRIM", on 6 June 2018, at the Catechetical Department of the Sosnowiec Diocesan Curia. As part of a nationwide government project with the Ministry of Climate and Environment, a publication was released: M. Borda, M. Knapik, Earth as a Common Good: Parish Ecological Guide, Warsaw-Sosnowiec 2018. The guide aimed to shape pro-ecological attitudes and stimulate shared responsibility for humanity’s immediate natural environment. It presented concrete solutions, the implementation of which will allow us to care for the richness and diversity of creation. I was delighted to attend the certification ceremony in Vienna on 2 April 2019. A major event promoting the ideas of PILGRIM was the planting of 20 fruit trees in May/June 2019. During the 2018/2019 school year, the Diocese of Sosnowiec celebrated the beautiful 20th anniversary of the visit of St John Paul II to Sosnowiec. On this occasion, the idea was born to commemorate the anniversary by planting 20 fruit trees on the premises of the schools that cooperate daily with the Catechetical Department in organising diocesan competitions on religious themes for children and young people. The fruit trees symbolise the eternal, blessed fruits brought during the visit of the Polish pope to the diocese. Their fruitfulness in the future is intended to inspire the children and young people of the Sosnowiec diocese to continue to reflect on the teachings of Pope St John Paul II and, in line with the teachings of Pope Francis in Laudato Si', to care for the nature and reality around us. The tree planting ceremony was accompanied by workshops, exhibitions, and lectures aimed at fostering proenvironmental attitudes among students. The trees were planted by (former) Bishop Grzegorz Kaszak, Bishop (Emeritus) Piotr Skucha, employees of the Sosnowiec Diocesan Curia, school principals, teachers, parents, and the students themselves. On 28 March 2020, the certificates of the International Education Network were awarded to the following institutions in Sosnowiec: the Catechetical Department of the Sosnowiec Diocesan Curia, Primary School No. 10 in Sosnowiec, III High School in Dąbrowa Górnicza, Primary School No. 18 in Dąbrowa Górnicza, and Emilia Gierczak Primary School in Gródków - all within the diocese of Sosnowiec. The PILGRIM projects pursued the following objectives: integrating of the local community, promoting the idea of spending leisure time together, emphasising the importance of the local community and its role in the life of young people, creating a space for exchanging experiences, building relationships, and propagating the idea of 'small and large homeland'. Another important goal of the PILGRIM projects was to sensitise students and adults to the needs and contemporary problems of people who perceive the world differently. The expected outcome was for the schools and families to create spaces where everyone feels accepted and therefore safe, spaces that inspire intellectual development and provide positive emotions. Spaces where adults and children respect each other, understand each other well, are able to communicate openly and collaborate, recognise and accept each other's individuality, do not violate their own and others' dignity, trust each other, are ready to provide help and support, and ask for it when needed. I give my sincere thanks to PILGRIM for its commitment to the environmental education of the younger generation. I am delighted that the Diocese of Sosnowiec is actively involved in supporting the organisation in all its initiatives.
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