LOOK TO WUJEK: Wujek Continues to Offer New Words of Hope
LEADER COUPLE TRAINING EXPERIENCE
Fr. Wojtyła (St. John Paul II) received the title “Wujek” (vū-yĕk, which means uncle) from his group of friends in 1952 because it was not safe to call him Father in public. "Look to Wujek" helps us get to know the man who was St. John Paul II and how he continues to personally affect others lives.
By Timothy and Lorna Gaffga
It’s hard to describe where the affection and admiration for Pope St. John Paul begin for us. Growing up with him serving us as pope with such faithfulness, he is so deeply woven into our faith formation. We participated in our parish’s First Saturday Family Catechism session earlier this year in Lafayette, LA. When a couple from our parish offered a new message from Wujek (John Paul’s nickname “Uncle” in Polish) spread through a document called The Rule, Lorna and I were absolutely captivated Let’s say it was bigger than discovering a newly un-shelved Beatles song released on the radio. I was so moved that before the end of their presentation I had emailed Theresa Martin and ordered their book, The Rule, and then asked Lorna if it was okay.
What is The Rule
The document presented to us in the book by Theresa and Peter Martin is a brief pastoral response for families trying to navigate life following Pope Paul VI’s encyclical, Humanae Vitae. Karol Wojtyła penned his Rule as archbishop of Krakow, Poland to his community there. However, his community did not want to formalize what they had and he placed the Rule on the shelf and there it sat.
Continuing briefly, the Rule remained unknown on the shelf until after his death when, for his beatification, his entire body of works was coming under consideration. At this time, the work was translated into Italian but still did not find a home in the hearts of families on a practical scale. It did, at least, become accessible to theology schools and found a home on a shelf in Maryvale Institute International Catholic College in Birmingham, England, where Theresa Martin would one day study theology. During her studies there, a faculty advisor recognized her as someone who could breathe new life into the work of Pope St. John Paull II, and share with the world.
Theresa took up the opportunity to learn more deeply about the Rule, translate it into English, and develop a way to bring it effectively to families. She and Peter founded the Wojtyla Community Institute (WCI), whose outreach engaged families in our community to take leadership training courses and start Married Couple Groups (MCGs) in Lafayette.
Transformation in Training
For us, a high expectation was exceeded as we read and discerned enrolling in the leadership classes ourselves. To our surprise, our cohort included couples across the country and around the world. Despite the tremendous distances, every encounter with the Martins felt that they were there for us, introducing us to our ‘family of families’ with whom we felt comfortable sharing our true ‘highs, lows and God moments.’
We were surprised to feel so immediately vulnerable with our genuine struggles and successes as a family of faith in a deeply confused world. It becomes clear quickly that the benefits of the Rule as they share can’t be captured in a book or DVD set. As in all meaningful pursuits, it is in relationship that we can encounter the true depth of this beautiful Rule.
The sticker shock of living out the Rule is not to be ignored. Weekly meetings with your MCG seem like a high price for a busy modern family, but a change in your thinking is required. We must ask ourselves, “What are we growing in our family if it is not a community of faith for ourselves and our children? How do we grow God’s love in our community outside of investment like this?”
As it turns out, leadership of an MCG is not hard. It takes a good formational course on the Rule, which is generously offered by the Martins several times a year. They offer a general format for the meetings as well as a curriculum specific to each week throughout the year. There is a lovely balance between the prescribed Rule formation and the spontaneous relationships and needs that come up in your specific MCG situation.
The Future of Humanity Passes by Way of the Family
We learn about the challenges facing the world as Pope Paul VI courageously redoubled his commitment to the dignity of the human person in Humanae Vitae. We learn now how Karol Wojtyła’s shepherding his people still guides us today in growing in true relationship with Jesus through the family. We could say easily that his work speaks to families of faith both now and then.
Thank you, Theresa and Peter, for your committed and careful work in bringing us his guidance today. You truly offer hope to faithful families in raising children and growing marriages.
Start your own Married Couple Group following JPII's Rule!