Polish Discalced Carmelites’ Pastorate in Iraq and Kuwait in the Recent Twenty-Five Years. Historical and Theological Reflections

Abstract

The Carmelite Order that was established at the break of the 12th century on Mount Carmel from the beginning of its existence was connected with the Latin Church, as the crusaders from Europe who wanted to coexist with Islam were the first Carmelites. Also today the Order is especially present in the countries of the Middle East and North Africa, making sure that the Latin Church exists there, which is testified among others by the fact that four of the twelve bishops of the Latin Conference of the Arab Countries Episcopate are discalced Carmelites. Also Polish discalced Carmelites joined the pastoral work among Catholics in Iraq and Kuwait. It was work in particular parts of the liturgical year and it was directed to Polish workers who had jobs there. In 1978-1983 in Iraq Fathers Klaudiusz Spyrka, Michał Machejek, Jan Kanty Stasiński and Stefan Skórnóg worked, and in 1995-2007 in Kuwait Fathers Szczepan T. Praśkiewicz, Wiesław Kiwior, Damian Wacławik, Ernest Zielonka, Malachiasz Trzęsicki, Jerzy Zieliński and Grzegorz Firszt did.

Although Poles have their share in building universal civilization and as John Paul II’s natives they exert apostolic influence also in Arab countries, the impression one gets in those countries is depressing. With the deluge of Islam, followers of Christ are ever more pushed into the background and their number keeps decreasing.

The presence of Carmelites on missions in those countries has clear signs of kenosis – humiliation, in the likeness of Christ’s kenosis. However, one may hope that this humiliation for Gospel will some time bear fruit in the form of resurrection according to the example set by Jesus, who after Good Friday’s humiliation was exalted by God above everything else and was given a name above every name (Phil 2, 9).