“We are preparing for the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of the Mother of God in Gietrzwałd. We hope for a visit from the Holy Father, Leo XIV, on this occasion,” Fr. Przemysław Soboń, custodian and parish priest of the sanctuary, told the Polish Press Agency (PAP).
Gietrzwałd is the only location in Poland where Marian apparitions have been officially recognized by the Catholic Church. They occurred in 1877, witnessed primarily by two local teenagers, Justyna Szafryńska and Barbara Samulowska.
The church consists of two parts: an older Gothic section and a newer one built in the late 19th century. Cracks had been appearing in the walls for years. “After conducting an assessment, we concluded that there was a problem with water drainage beneath the basilica,” Fr. Soboń said. As a result, the foundations are being drained and waterproofed, a stage of the work expected to finish by the end of November.
The brick façade is also being repaired. Workers are cleaning the bricks, replacing or patching damaged ones, and restoring mortar joints.
Cracks have appeared in the interior vaults as well. Over the past three weeks, a large scaffolding structure has been erected inside the church, reaching just below the vaults requiring repair. Platforms at the top allow conservators to work on the polychrome decorations and protect visitors from falling debris. Although the renovated section is closed to the faithful, some individuals have reportedly removed safety tape and walked under the scaffolding to view the image of Our Lady of Gietrzwałd.
Fr. Soboń told PAP that interior work is expected to continue until April.
The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage has allocated roughly USD 1,2 million for the renovation, while the parish has contributed an additional 270 thousand.
“As part of the preparations for the jubilee, we will also lay new pedestrian paths around the church and plant flowers and shrubs,” Fr. Soboń added, expressing hope that the improvements will give the church and its surroundings a refreshed appearance ahead of the anniversary.
Alongside the renovation, formal procedures are underway to designate the sanctuary as a “Monument of History.” No decision has yet been made.
The sanctuary attracts thousands of pilgrims each year, and Fr. Soboń noted that the number of foreign visitors continues to grow.
(pu)
Source: PAP