The President of Poland awarded the head of the Catholic mission in Turkmenistan Andrzej Madej
Polish missionary Andrzej Madej, cultural attaché of the Vatican Apostolic Nunciature in Turkmenistan, was awarded the Polish state award - the Golden Cross of Merit. The decision to honor the award was made by President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda, and the Golden Cross was presented to Father Andrzej by Polish Ambassador to Turkmenistan Rafal Poborski.
The Silver or Golden Cross of Merit, established in 1923, is awarded to people who have contributed to the development of the state and society by performing acts that go beyond their normal duties and bring significant benefit to people, through selfless social activity, the newspaper oblaci.pl. writes.
For more than 25 years, Father Andrzej Madej has been engaged in his mission in our country and during this time he has become a well-known personality among the people of Turkmenistan.
“I am witnessing great events; a new, beautiful Turkmenistan is being born before my eyes,” Father Andrzej once said in an interview with ORIENT. - The first impression I received when I first arrived in Turkmenistan in 1997 was the immense hospitality of the Turkmen people. We were immediately warmly greeted as long-awaited friends. Everything in the country has changed in two decades, but not this!”
“Literally before our eyes, a completely new Turkmen capital has grown. It’s different to such an extent that sometimes, when I walk, thinking about something, along its streets, and then look up, I involuntarily ask myself: “What city is this, where am I?” And then I understand how much and quickly Ashgabat has
transformed, about which its residents say with love “Ak shaherim!” (My white city!),” Andrzej Madej says.
“It is impossible to build such a beautiful city in such a short time without God’s blessing. I am in Turkmenistan on behalf of the Holy See, on behalf of the Vatican. Every day I ask that the Lord God bless the Turkmen people, their today and tomorrow. And God grant that Turkmenistan has an “adjayip geljegi” (beautiful future), so that nothing stops its development,” Father Andrzej adds.
He also shared: “I am glad that in Turkmenistan I have many friends from different confessions. I rejoice and congratulate you that you have managed to build a diverse country, there is room for different cultures and religions. And this is the main feature and wealth of Turkmenistan.”
The Catholic Church was officially recognized in Turkmenistan in 2010. Today the small community numbers more than 200 believers and has three priests.
Freedom of religion and religious organizations is legally enshrined in Turkmenistan. As a secular country, society respects other religions, recognizing the importance of interfaith harmony and religious tolerance.
Andrzej Madej was born on October 6, 1951 in the Vistula town of Kazimierz Dolny. After graduating from high school, he joined the Congregation of Missionary Oblates (people who dedicate their lives to serving God) of Mary Immaculate. In 1977 he was ordained to the priesthood. He studied philosophy at the Higher Theological Seminary in Obra and Krakow, theology at the Gregorian University in Rome and the Catholic University in Lublin. In the 1980s, he became famous as a youth pastor and initiated evangelism during the rock festival in Jarocin (at that time it was one of the largest and most important rock music festivals in Europe, a kind of Polish Woodstock). Since 1997, he has been the head of the mission of the Catholic Church in Turkmenistan.
He is a priest and poet by vocation, and has published several collections of poetry and prose. In addition, Andrzej Madej is the recipient of the 2019 Benemerenti in Opere Evangelizationis medal, an award given by the Polish Episcopal Missionary Commission for “patient and loving preaching and leading ecumenical dialogue.”
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