Undeniable Providence : JP2's Rule Lived out in Kraków!
by: Mary & Maciek Kolek, WCI Leader Couple, Kraków, Poland
Theology of the Body (TOB) and the teachings of St. John Paul II have played a foundational role in our story—often without us even realizing it. Much of our formation and understanding of the call to live in communion with others was nurtured by TOB insights shared by friends, mentors, and speakers. When we first met at a retreat in Pittsburgh, PA (while Maciek was spending a semester in the U.S. during his master’s program), we decided to remain “just friends” rather than dive into the whole “Polish guy dates American girl” scenario. Why complicate things, right? With these boundaries set—and Christ at the center—our friendship blossomed, rooted in virtue and trust.
However, God had something more in store for us. Before long, and after having already moved back to Europe, Maciek felt a nudge in prayer to suggest we consider dating. After months of discernment and job searching, we both moved to Germany. It was there, surrounded by the beauty and challenges of a new culture, that we began dating and eventually worked together to start a small English-speaking young adult group. As we grew closer—supporting one another, sharing faith, and building community—we saw more and more that God’s hand was guiding our story.
Then, in 2023, surrounded by joy and the love of family and friends, we got married! It was a day filled with gratitude and wonder—the culmination of so many prayers and the beginning of an exciting new adventure. By early 2024, with hearts full of hope, we felt called to leave Germany and embark on another chapter.
That summer, we settled in Kraków, yearning for more regular access to the sacraments and a deeper community life with others in a similar stage of life. We knew there was a weekly English Mass in Kraków, and we quickly became part of this welcoming community. Since moving, our admiration for St. John Paul II and TOB has only deepened as we began living in the city where he spent many years of his life. While we felt peace about our decision to move, we still longed for close-knit fellowship. When a friend told us about the WCI and their new Europe-based married couple leader training program, we immediately knew we needed to be part of it.
Learning about the story of the WCI and John Paul II’s Rule was so exciting. The teachings resonated deeply with us, and we were eager to dive deeper and eventually begin living it out. Even more humbling was the realization that we could follow this Rule in the very city where St. John Paul II had written it.
When we shared our desire to implement the Rule and start a married couples’ group within our English-speaking community, one of the Dominican friars who serves our community shared an incredible detail: When John Paul II was Archbishop of Kraków, he asked the Dominican friars to offer a weekly English Mass for the few tourists visiting Kraków during the communist era. This Mass was the beginning of the very community we are blessed to be part of today.
We can't help but marvel at how God continues to weave St. John Paul II’s legacy into our lives. From shaping our understanding of love and communion through TOB to guiding us to Kraków—where we now live out his Rule in a community he helped plant—the sense of providence is undeniable. We are so grateful for the opportunity to be here, to grow in faith, and to share in the joy of this beautiful journey.
