The first present academic year meeting of Belarusian students of Lublin Catholic University took place on October 26 where participated guests from Ukraine, Lithuania and Poland. There were Catholics of both Roman and Greek rites on the meeting.

We offer your attention the article composed by our students where they themselves tell about the event.

Lublin is one of the largest cities and intellectual centers in Eastern Poland. It is for several years that Belarusian students have been studying at its universities as well. The majority of our countrymen both laity and clergy are gaining knowledge at different faculties of Lublin Catholic University (CUL). In spite of the hospitality of our neighbours the residence in a strange land arouses yearning for home. That is why regular meetings of students coming from Belarus have been taking place since 1997. First meetings were held at the convent of the Capuchin Friars Minor, since 1998 they have been taking place at the chapel of St. Cyril and St. Method that belongs to the fund of John Paul II. This organization is in charge of material help to students of CUL coming from Central and Eastern Europe.

On October 26 took place the first meeting of the present academic year, where guests from Ukraine, Lithuania and Poland took part as well. It is worth saying that in our meetings participate Catholics of both Roman and Greek rites. As usual the meeting began with the Holy Mass in the native language. One of the celebrators was neopresbyter Valery Bykousky, the homily was said by deacon Andrej Zhylevich OFMCap.

After the prayer, strengthened by the Eucharist we usually gather together for a cup of coffee or tea to share news, our joys and troubles, to discuss, to rejoice and to sing together…

The main thing that unites us is the possibility to hear Belarusian speech, to touch something which is dear to our heart, to sense our belonging to the same homeland, that we have no possibility to do in the circumstances of our everyday student life abroad. Hope that such meetings will leave deep traces in our hearts. They fulfill us with love to our native language, culture, homeland and with the sense of responsibility for its future. Thanks to the meetings we appreciate our originality and unity in a strange land.

It is in these circumstances that a new generation of Belarusian intelligence obeying Christian principals is being prepared. It is on their backs that they will carry the work of regeneration of Belarusian families, Belarusian society and creation of a new Christian Belarus.

When we come back home (with the diploma in the pocket) I think we will never forget that the beginning of the future took place in the atmosphere of kindness and great value of everything what is native, that we fully experienced and appreciated here in Lublin.