| My alarm sounds at 6.30am. After a long drive from Sydney on Friday evening, it would be much nicer to roll over and sleep in. But no, can’t do that. Lajkonik youth have readings at the Centenary Mass, and I feel I have to be there too, with them. Check my SMS messages. “Its raining, how do we get our costumes up there?” Look out the window – yes, its dull and rainy. O well, “there is no way we can be in costume in the rain, we’ll just have to be in Lajkonik T-shirts/jackets. But take them just in case”. (Regular visitors to the mountains know that the weather can be so unpredictable!)
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Oh no, in my haste last night, I forgot my wet weather jacket back in Sydney. I’ll have to just wear as many layers as I can. Oops also forgot beanie, gloves, scarf. (This is why Tony should ALWAYS come with me when we go to the mountains because he never compromises on proper preparation regarding this sort of stuff). 7am bang on the door of David, Monika, Natalia. “Are you up?” “Yes Pani”. “OK, come on, we have to be out by 8am”. Make sandwiches, little bags with fruit, fill water bottle. If I don’t do it, I know they won’t. However, I do draw the line at carrying their food. Everyone has a little bag and you take your own.
Oops forgot to fill up on petrol. No time, not going to make it if I go for petrol. I’ll have to get some petrol up at Thredbo. Have to be at Thredbo by 8.30am to make it up to the summit for the 11am start of the Mass. Can’t be late, because of the readings! Buy a beanie. Shop is doing great sales today.
The two younger ones doing readings have finally arrived at the chairlift, so we can go. Decision made NOT to take costumes – they are too expensive to be wearing them in the rain. We decide to stick together. The other “Lajkoniki” are already on the chairlift and will meet us at Eagles Nest. Oh my God, the wind bites into us as we head up on the chairlift, and there is rain, not heavy but fairly constant. Why didn’t I bring my proper ski gear? I should know better.
The girls in my charge start to look really cold, clearly not dressed warmly enough either. One is doing her HSC this year, so, maybe this is not such a good idea. Her mother rings from Sydney, worry in her voice.
Arrive at Eagles Nest 9.00am. The other “Lajkoniki” are standing at the entrance to the restaurant looking frozen and miserable. They got up at 5am to travel here from Canberra with friends and they look cold, tired and uncertain about going further.
So, have to make a decision, time is short and we are running late! Decision made, only those “Lajkoniki” who have readings are going. Those who don’t have readings decide against going, and agree to take my two charges back to Jindy. However, those of us that have to go, go. That includes me – teachers don’t get out of it. Its up to us to set the example.
Kilometre by kilometre we struggle to do the 6.5km from Eagles Nest to the Summit. The rain and wind make it really quite challenging and the metal path is slippery, a huge risk for oldies. My heart is thumping hard, and my breathing is very laboured. My knee is hurting and then there is the sciatic pain ..... However, we promised to be there, so we just have to keep going. David has given me a heavy rubber poncho which keeps the rain from soaking me, and also gives me protection from the wind. I look back at the two younger ones, and wonder if they’ll make it. Hopefully.....! They seem OK.
Its 10.47am, and we finally get to Rawsons Pass. A man with a tag around his neck, at the fork in the road says, “The Mass is here, just head on over there!” I can’t express how much relief I felt, not to have to do the extra 1km up to the Summit, and to know that we have made it in time for the mass. What’s happened is that its been decided that its too rainy and windy to hold the mass on the actual Summit, so it is to be celebrated in the facilities at Rawsons Pass. Funny place for a Special Mass, but what can you do. (It proved later to be a very wise decision). At the back of the toilet facility is a storage garage with a roller door, and this is where the altar table and sound equipment have been set up. Fair enough, someone had to make the call! The mass is soon to start when someone says with frustration “Kasiu”.
I look around, and there is one of our little “Lajkoniki” with wet shoes and socks. She has stepped into a deep puddle! She has come with the Polish Scouts ALL THE WAY from Charlotte Pass (3 extra kilometres each way). So panic sets in to get some dry socks so that her little feet don’t freeze. Grab some socks off some other scouts (thanks so much to the donor!)
Say hi to Daniel Gromann, Consul General from Sydney, and Leszek Wikariusz, Vice President of Rada Naczelna (Polish Community Council of Australia)! We agree to chat later.
Mass begins. Bishop Julian Porteous is smiling at the crowd of around 175 (my estimate). As it turns out, with the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, Bishop Porteous is the highest ranking Bishop in the country acting for Cardinal George Pell who has travelled to Rome for the Papal Conclave. How appropriate, I think to myself.
Looking at a big group of little “Zuchy” (junior Polish Scouts) gathered around the garage door. So cute! Apparently the Scout contingent was 67 strong! From all around Australia. Very impressive! Some chairs appear, but we give them to some people who are significantly older.
My younger “Lajkoniki” (Iza and Monika) have prepared their readings on special little cards. Good thinking, very clever! They are excited. The celebration starts with that special song “My Mountain Kosciuszko” – my lyrics, music composed by my friend John Hospodaryk (John passed from cancer just about one year ago). My mind wanders to think of John – I really miss him.
The next song is by Lech Makowiecki, “Naczelniku”, sang by Lech Makowiecki. Its a great song and I have always liked it. How special to have Lech here in person from Poland to sing it.
Bishop Porteous gives a superb Homily (historical) telling us about how appropriate it is to be holding this Centenary Mass on Mt Kosciuszko during Lent, of how it should remind us of how Jesus ascended Mount Sinai to confront the devil in the weeks before his crucifixion and the tests and challenges he faced.
Bishop Porteous talks about how important it is to respect and value our natural heritage, and about the values of General Kosciuszko, fighting for liberty, freedom, and the rights of the less privileged. Honestly, the Bishop pulled all the threads of why this Mass was so significant, in the most wonderful and targeted way. I can’t wait to re-read that Homily, and devote some more time to reflect upon it.
Kowalski sisters sing so beautifully “The Lord is My Shepherd”. One of the priests from Perth plays on guitar whilst Klaudia Sosin from Perth sings in her crystal clear voice. Lajkoniki (Monika, Iza and David) and Polish Scouts have done their readings – and did them well. Parents should be proud. I am! As the Bishop raises the Host during the Consecration of the Eucharist, I look up at the sky and there is a patch of blue with a pale sun looking through! How divine!
The mass goes so well, and everyone is smiling, knowing that they have all been a part of something really special. The Bishop says “We are going to have a procession to the Summit where I will give you all a blessing”. So, walking behind the cross, carried by John Molski and Grzegorz Dabrowa, the congregation makes its way up to the Summit. The visual of this procession is amazing. This last kilometre is really difficult for me. My legs just do not want to carry me and the wind is so strong.
On the Summit, it is blowing an absolute gale!
Bishop Porteous gives the Blessing, and then stands for what seems eternity, patiently posing for photos with anyone who asks him at the rock cairn at the Summit. Holding the Cross, he gets blown off his rock every few minutes. How kind of him to be so friendly and co-operative to everyone, despite the difficult conditions. I am in a photo too! I personally thank him for saying the mass.
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Coming down the mountain is much easier, and even though my legs ache, and the blister on my left heel is rubbing painfully, I chat with various Poles I meet on the way down. Everyone is quite exhilarated by the special experience that they have had. In some ways, the challenges faced because of the wind and the rain, and the location itself, has heightened the experience even more.
I think we should all thank Ernestyna Skurjat-Kozek, Andrzek Kozek, and John Molski for organising this wonderful celebration which we all look back on as such a historical event, which we were privileged to take part in. I said to little Iza and Monika (ages 10 and 11). Well done girls, you have been part of something which you will never be able to experience again in your lifetime, because the next centenary will be in 2113. None of us will be alive then and who knows if there will be a new Ernestyna, or someone as creative and innovative as Ernestyna, to organise a Mass just like this one.
Ursula Lang
PS from the Author. I should explain my use of grammar in the above account. I have taken poetic licence on it, writing mostly (though not consistently) in the present case. I wrote down all these thoughts the same evening that I returned from my trip to Jindabyne, because I wanted to record what it really felt like to have had this experience. I have decided to leave it, as originally written, as I think it captures the moment better than writing in Past Tense, which is my preferred usual style.
U.L.
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