My experience of Woodstock.
July 30 – August 1, 2010by Cecylia Bachalska, Msola
My experience of Woodstock.
Kostrzyn is a small town in the western part of Poland at the border with Germany. Each summer it enters the spotlight. Why? The answer is Woodstock Festival (Przystanek Woodstock) in Poland. The Festival is organized at end of July and the beginning of August in the outskirts of this town with some thirty thousand inhabitants. For a few days Kostrzyn becomes the biggest youth town in Poland. This year the 16th Woodstock Festival gathered about three hundred thousand youth from all corners of Poland, as well as Europe. I even bumped into young fans from Liberia. It was amazing to see young people stay together mainly in tents, share food and enjoy various types of music, usually at night.
Woodstock -Topography.
Huge crowds gather around a big stage in the centre of the festival grounds in order to listen and enjoy various musics. Thick dust rises around the jumping youth. The concert is accompanied by many additional attractions. Little stalls tempt with T-shirts, drums and all kinds of bits and pieces for home. A courtyard is occupied by Hare Krishna believers who can be easily recognised by their Indian robes and a very characteristic music. A number of youth come here to enjoy some of their food like rice with some cheeps.
A field marked by a big white cross is the Catholic youths' grounds. This is where Catholic youth meet the regular Woodstock fans. It usually takes place during the day or in the evening, before the concerts start. Occasionally some of the Woodstock fans come up to the cross and spit on it. Still, a number of them come looking for someone to talk to about faith and the problems of their young lives.
My participation.
I had heard a lot about the Festival and decided to go there this year in order to experience the togetherness of young people in this multiethnic gathering. And I met so many of them. Some did not want to engage in conversations, did not wish to be disturbed stressing they had come to the concert only. However many did come to talk about their doubts in faith, the generation gap issues and particular problems in their families.
The presence of the Church.
The Catholic Church has been present at Woodstock Festival since the beginnings of the festival. However, the nature of its presence has evolved over time. At the very beginning the Catholics were a very small group of youth and one priest (currently a bishop), Edward Dajczak. Later on it became evident that a greater commitment and logistics were needed. This year the Catholic youths had a week's training in how to reach out to their Woodstock peers. At the moment evangelisation is carried out in three ways:
1. There is one team praying before the Blessed Sacrament recognizing in Jesus the ultimate Evangelist.
2. Some pray at the cross and have chats with those who decide to come up to them.
3. Everybody who has time to spare goes out to the main tent field to meet the festival participants.
Conclusion
Woodstock Festival is the biggest festival for young people in Poland. The numbers speak for themselves. Five hundred Catholics is only a drop in the ocean of needs, but that little drop is indeed very important. My experience of this year's festival showed me how many young people are eager to share 'the pearl' which they have found and how important it is in their lives. Clearly, it is Jesus.
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