In Poland, popular retreats offer sharp contrast to data on decline in youths' religiosity

(OSV News) -- For those who couldn't participate in the Jubilee of Youth in Rome, summer youth ministry retreats in Poland were radiating a powerful spiritual energy, drawing thousands of young people to remote corners of the country for prayer, reflection and community.

While national data shows a steep decline in youth religiosity, these gatherings tell another story -- one of renewed spiritual hunger.

In the Jubilee Year, four key locations (with names that are tongue-twisters for foreigners) -- Kalwaria Paclawska, Debowiec, Wolczyn and Pliszczyn -- have become hubs of spiritual renewal and formation for the next generation of the faithful.

Though the events differed in tone and structure, they shared a common purpose: helping youth encounter God, others and themselves.

In the hills of southeastern Poland, Kalwaria Paclawska has again become a magnet for youth seeking spiritual grounding. From July 20 to 26, more than 650 participants gathered for the 38th Franciscan Youth Meeting, themed "Desire."

The weeklong retreat blended daily Mass, adoration and prayer with concerts by critically acclaimed artists -- from reggae rockers to Catholic rap outreach.

New this year were designated zones of silence, allowing young attendees space to listen inwardly.

"It was an impulse -- I just came with a friend," said participant Joanna Kielt. "At first, it was a fun trip -- concerts, experiences. ... But then I realized that it wasn't me who was looking for God -- it was he who found me here."

Religiousness among young people in Poland is undergoing dynamic changes. Data from the latest studies show that young people are increasingly giving up religious practices and distancing themselves from the church.

A report by national polling institute CBOS and the Catholic University of Lublin, or KUL, from spring 2024 -- presented this June -- showed that 37% of people ages 18–21 declare themselves to be believers, and only 4% say they are deeply religious. As many as 41% of young people do not practice at all, and barely 20% attend Mass once a week.

Polish youth participate in religious classes in much smaller numbers than in the past -- 47.5% of young people do not participate in religion classes at school.

Long-term analyses confirm these trends. Between 1990 and 2021, the percentage of young people who regularly practice their faith and go to Mass at least once a week fell from 69% in 1990 to 23% in 2021.

"Young people are very outspoken," Father Miroslaw Kalinowski, rector of KUL, said during a press conference June 25. "We can undertake a reflection on how the message (of the church) can shift from this official, doctrinal one into a more relational one," he said.

Father Piotr Grudzien -- who celebrated daily liturgies and led sessions at the 38th La Salette Youth Meeting, themed "Pilgrims of Hope," in Debowiec July 7-10 -- agreed that "relationships are of great importance to them," he said of young people. "Relationships with other people and, through them, with God," Father Grudzien told OSV News.

"They have a hunger for a real, lasting encounter ... I want to be there for you," he said, urging the youth: "Don't be afraid to seek God in everyday life. Don't be afraid of values either. Do not be afraid!"

Ania, 17, from Rzeszów, who only gave her first name, said the La Salette experience in Debowiec changed her: "I didn't have the courage to talk about my faith before. Here, I saw that it is possible -- simply, normally, truly. I returned home with peace in my heart. It is a place where you can truly breathe hope."

Kacper, 19 , from Poznan in western Poland, who also only gave his first name, and participated in a youth meeting organized by the Capuchin friars in Wolczyn in mid-July told OSV News: "I didn't have to pretend to be anyone here."

He said that he understood "God loves me just the way I am. In Wolczyn, I shed the armor I had been wearing all year. And for the first time in a long time, I really smiled."

Meanwhile, near eastern Poland's Lublin, in the village of Pliszczyn, nearly 400 young people gathered for the 31st Dehonian Youth Days, hosted by the Priests of the Sacred Heart. The June 30-July 5 event was one of the summer's most vibrant, blending spirituality with physical activity, music, and celebration.

Prayer and Eucharistic celebrations were complemented by concerts and sports tournaments.
"This meeting brings young people together -- it allows them to get to know each other, become closer, and create a community," said Sacred Heart Father Franciszek Wielgut.

Julia, 18, from Lublin, said the experience allowed her to grow spiritually without judgment.

"You don't have to be perfect here -- just be yourself. Pliszczyn is a place where you can discover that faith is joy, relationship, and choice. And God really speaks -- sometimes in a whisper, sometimes through another person."