– We selected Poland’s Independence Day to be the climax of our celebrations with full awareness. This is the day on which we honor our national heroes, and the miners from Jastrzębie mines who, 40 years ago, had the courage to demand freedom and dignity for all of us, belong to this group. We are a mining community which, even in times of pandemic, will remind the whole of Poland that the independent Homeland was born also in Jastrzębie mines, said Włodzimierz Hereźniak, President of the Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa Management Board.
The role of Jastrzębie miners in Poland’s recent history is also shown by the National Patronage that the President of the Republic of Poland assumed over the “Celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Jastrzębie Agreement – Silesian contribution to 100 years of the Independent Republic of Poland”. The celebrations were prepared by the JSW Foundation.
The anniversary celebrations started in a location that has a special place in history. Zofiówka, formerly “Manifest Lipcowy”, was the mine where the Jastrzębie Agreement was signed. It is there where an exhibition of Józef Żak’s archival photographs of the events from 40 years ago was opened.
At the time, simple miners, without a team of advisors, drafted and negotiated an unusual agreement based on social solidarity and respect for workers. The Agreement was the first step towards freedom. – NSZZ “Solidarność” is the heir of these social postulates, which we will not allow to be forgotten, stated Roman Brudziński, vice-chairman of the JSW “Solidarność” Trade Union at the exhibition opening.
This was not the only exhibition of photography as part of the anniversary celebrations. In the church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church in Jastrzębie-Zdrój, an exhibition was opened under the title “Meritious Chaplain of Solidarity” devoted to prelate Bernard Czernecki. The photographs presented at the exhibition show this outstanding man, amazing chaplain and devoted patriot who goes back with his memories to his home Kobiór, the starting point of the life path of the workers’ chaplain.
In the same church, a holy mass for the Homeland will be held, concelebrated by prelate Czernecki. He was the builder and long-term parson of the “Na górce” church, erected 40 years ago by Jastrzębie miners and their families, in defiance of the communist authorities.
– Within the walls of this church the miners who signed the Jastrzębie Agreement and their successors could always find help and support of the Chaplain of Solidarity, shepherd of souls and outstanding man, whose life and attitude will always be a model to follow, an inspiration to always be a better man, said Sławomir Kozłowski, chairman of NSZZ “Solidarność” in JSW.
The celebrations of the 40th anniversary of the Jastrzębie Agreement had also an artistic dimension thanks to a concern entitled “Heroism of Witold Pilecki” which also took place in the “Na Górce” church.
– With the artistic formula we want to emphasize that patriotism has many dimensions, and the road to an independent Homeland is marked both by the heroism of Witold Pilecki, and the steadfast attitude of the miners who signed the Jastrzębie Agreement and their priest, prelate Bernard Czernecki, said Artur Dyczko, President of the JSW Foundation opening the concert.
Due to pandemic restrictions the concert was broadcast online. Its full record can be seen at www.PorozumienieJastrzebskie.pl. The second part of the concert was devoted to the life of the prelate, whose life was described by artists as a perfect film script.
– I never did anything for show. I only did what was expected of me by hard working people, the Church, Homeland and, primarily, God, said prelate Bernard Czernecki after the concert. This evening another surprise awaited him: thanks from Jastrzębie’s sport fan community, and homage paid in front of the church building to the heroic miners and their spiritual guide.
The anniversary events were diversified. One of them was a light show. In the evening on several tens of buildings – from Dąbrowa Górnicza to Jastrzębie-Zdrój – illuminated windows marked the symbolic number 40.
– With this light show, and with the candles in the windows, I believe, we managed to at least temporarily light up this dusk that has spread over our pandemic reality. A reality that has mercilessly undermined our anniversary plans. Despite these difficulties, we managed to encourage many people to make this simple gesture yesterday, paying homage to Jastrzębie miners. I mean all the people of good will who lit a candle in the window yesterday and those watched all our celebrations online. I also mean firemen and representatives of local communities, such as local governments, schools and associations which have creatively supported our campaign for many days. This is proof that our mining community manages to leave the gates of the mines and our values have a timeless dimension, said Artur Dyczko, President of the JSW Foundation.
