Jan Góra
Encyclopedia
Jan Wojciech Góra OP – Dominican
, Roman Catholic
Priest
, Doctor of Theology
, academic chaplain. Since 1997, he has been the organiser of the Polish Youth Meeting Lednica 2000
at the Lednica Fields. Animator for the academic chaplaincy centre "Respublica Dominicana" in Jamna
. Author of numerous books and articles.
In 1966, he entered the Dominican Order
; during the years 1967-1974, he studied at the Dominican College of Philosophy and Theology in Cracow. During the years 1977-1987, he was chaplain to secondary school pupils in Poznań
and since 1987 he is an academic chaplain in Poznań
at the Queen of the Holy Rosary church.
His first evangelising work was the annual summer youth colloquia in Ustronie-Hermanice. In 1991, he was co-organizer of the VI World Youth Day
s at Jasna Góra. It was then that the words of the hymn entitled "Abba Ojcze" were composed for this meeting. During the winter of 1992, he set up the "Dom Świętego Jacka" – a chaplaincy centre on the Jamna Mountain near Tarnów
. Initially the "School of Faith" started in the old building of the school and later on, due to the personal intervention of Pope
John Paul II, he built the Sanctuary of Our Lady
of Unfailing Hope.
In 1997, he organized for the first time the Polish Youth Meeting Lednica 2000
nearby the Lednica Lake near Gniezno
. Since that time youth meetings by the Fish-Gate have taken place, initially on the Eve of Pentecost
and now on the first Saturday of June. Since 2004, annually, at the beginning of September, he also organizes Lednica for Seniors. He is founder of the Museum of the history of Lednica in Poznań and of the John Paul II House on the Lednica Fields.
Father Jan Góra propagates the idea of Small Nations, works closely with many Catholic and cultural publications and publishing houses. He has received numerous prizes and honours for his work up to now:
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
, Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
Priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
, Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology is a terminal academic degree in theology. It is a research degree that is considered by the U.S. National Science Foundation to be the equivalent of a Doctor of Philosophy....
, academic chaplain. Since 1997, he has been the organiser of the Polish Youth Meeting Lednica 2000
Lednica 2000
The Poland-wide Youth Meeting Lednica 2000 is a major gathering of Polish Catholic youth, organized near Poznań, in Lednica . Lednica gatherings have been organized since 1997 and take place on the first Saturday of June every year...
at the Lednica Fields. Animator for the academic chaplaincy centre "Respublica Dominicana" in Jamna
Jamna
Jamna is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Zakliczyn, within Tarnów County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It lies approximately south of Zakliczyn, south of Tarnów, and south-east of the regional capital Kraków....
. Author of numerous books and articles.
In 1966, he entered the Dominican Order
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
; during the years 1967-1974, he studied at the Dominican College of Philosophy and Theology in Cracow. During the years 1977-1987, he was chaplain to secondary school pupils in Poznań
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
and since 1987 he is an academic chaplain in Poznań
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
at the Queen of the Holy Rosary church.
His first evangelising work was the annual summer youth colloquia in Ustronie-Hermanice. In 1991, he was co-organizer of the VI World Youth Day
World Youth Day
World Youth Day is a youth-oriented Catholic Church event. While the event itself celebrates the Catholic faith, the invitation to attend extends to all youth, regardless of religious convictions....
s at Jasna Góra. It was then that the words of the hymn entitled "Abba Ojcze" were composed for this meeting. During the winter of 1992, he set up the "Dom Świętego Jacka" – a chaplaincy centre on the Jamna Mountain near Tarnów
Tarnów
Tarnów is a city in southeastern Poland with 115,341 inhabitants as of June 2009. The city has been situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship since 1999, but from 1975 to 1998 it was the capital of the Tarnów Voivodeship. It is a major rail junction, located on the strategic east-west connection...
. Initially the "School of Faith" started in the old building of the school and later on, due to the personal intervention of Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
John Paul II, he built the Sanctuary of Our Lady
Blessed Virgin Mary (Roman Catholic)
Roman Catholic veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary is based on Holy Scripture: In the fullness of time, God sent his son, born of a virgin. The mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God through Mary thus signifies her honour as Mother of God...
of Unfailing Hope.
In 1997, he organized for the first time the Polish Youth Meeting Lednica 2000
Lednica 2000
The Poland-wide Youth Meeting Lednica 2000 is a major gathering of Polish Catholic youth, organized near Poznań, in Lednica . Lednica gatherings have been organized since 1997 and take place on the first Saturday of June every year...
nearby the Lednica Lake near Gniezno
Gniezno
Gniezno is a city in central-western Poland, some 50 km east of Poznań, inhabited by about 70,000 people. One of the Piasts' chief cities, it was mentioned by 10th century A.D. sources as the capital of Piast Poland however the first capital of Piast realm was most likely Giecz built around...
. Since that time youth meetings by the Fish-Gate have taken place, initially on the Eve of Pentecost
Pentecost
Pentecost is a prominent feast in the calendar of Ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai, and also later in the Christian liturgical year commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ after the Resurrection of Jesus...
and now on the first Saturday of June. Since 2004, annually, at the beginning of September, he also organizes Lednica for Seniors. He is founder of the Museum of the history of Lednica in Poznań and of the John Paul II House on the Lednica Fields.
Father Jan Góra propagates the idea of Small Nations, works closely with many Catholic and cultural publications and publishing houses. He has received numerous prizes and honours for his work up to now:
- 1983 - Literary Prize Kościelskich in Geneva for the book "Mój dom"
- 1996 - distinction in "Małe Ojczyzny. Tradycja dla przyszłości" contest
- 1997 - "GIGANT 97", Gazeta WyborczaGazeta WyborczaGazeta Wyborcza is a leading Polish newspaper. It covers the gamut of political, international and general news. Like all the Polish newspapers, it is printed on compact-sized paper, and is published by the multimedia corporation Agora SA...
prize - 1998 - Honorary Citizenship of Zakliczyn nad Dunajcem Gmina
- 1999 - Włodzimierz Pietrzak Prize
- 2001 - Honorary Member of Poznań Town
- 2001 - Piotr Wawrzyniak Prize
- 2003 - Prize of "Głos Wielkopolski" and Great Seal of Poznań Town
- 2005 - TOTUS prize from the Polish Episcopate
- 2007 - "Honorary Citizen of PoznańPoznanPoznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
Town" - 2008 - Poznań Television Creator Prize.