Piekary Slaskie: Tens of thousands of women from across Poland and abroad gathered on Sunday, August 17, for the annual Marian pilgrimage to the famed Piekary Shrine, reaffirming their role as missionaries, prophets, and guides in the life of the Church.
The Apostolic Nuncio to Poland, Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi, addressing the immense crowd, urged Catholic women to ensure that their lives radiate the love and face of God. “Make sure that the face of God is always visible in the lives of all those you love and encounter!” he reminded the pilgrims, underscoring the responsibility of every believer to embody Christian witness in everyday life.
This year’s pilgrimage carried special significance, marking the centenary of the Archdiocese of Katowice and the 100th anniversary of the coronation of the miraculous image of Our Lady of Piekary venerated as Our Lady of Justice and Social Love. Women and girls, many clad in traditional folk attire or professional uniforms, journeyed together in faith, prayer, and solidarity.
Pope Leo XIV, speaking after the Angelus in Castel Gandolfo, extended greetings to the pilgrims, describing the event as “a great pilgrimage” and imparting his apostolic blessing.
Archbishop Filipazzi encouraged the faithful to pray fervently for the Holy Father and to embrace Mary as a teacher of hope. He called on women to be missionaries of Christian hope in their families, workplaces, and communities, ensuring that God’s presence becomes a visible force in the world.
Bishop Marek Szkudło, Auxiliary Bishop of Katowice, highlighted the invaluable yet often unrecognized contributions of women in shaping both the Church and society. He described them as “prophets of truth and love” and “tender yet strong guides.” He urged women to lend their voices to truth, nurture others, and transform their hearts into sanctuaries where peace can be restored “not through force, but through presence.”
The pilgrimage to Piekary thus stood not only as a century-old tradition of devotion to Mary but also as a living testimony to the enduring faith and transformative role of women in the Church and beyond.