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Dolno¶l±ski 
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White Service „Biała Służba” (BS)
Foreword The history of the BS starts in the early 80ties of the XX century. In that times polish independent scouting Was organized inside Polish Scouting and Guiding Association (ZHP) as the movement of officially registrated Movement of Scout Instructors Troops in name of Andrzej Małkowski (Kręgi Instruktorów Harcerskich im. Andrzeja Małkowskiego - KIHAM). This movement of KIHAM started in 1980, after the first Papal pilgrimage that had happened in Poland in 1979. In 1982 official leadership of Polish Scouting and Guiding Association (ZHP) decided to forbid the activity of the KIHAM movement. From that time was started the organization of underground scout structures by instructors, that had been associated before in KIHAM movement. Polish scouting was recognized by the public opinion as damaged through the atheistic and totalitarian politics of scouting leadership in ZHP. Particular problem of the renovation of Polish Scouting was led not only in the change of instructor's consciousness. The main problem of the renovation of Polish Scouting was to change the image. Moreover the main problem was related to ways of forming the public opinion. This thoughts among the instructors was carried out in the same time wit two facts - forming of the underground scouting structures and preparatios to the second papal pilgrimage to Poland. After consultation with members of Conference of polish Bishops it was decided to organize first scouting service during the coming papal pilgrimage to Poland. It was named as „White service” (Biała Służba - BS). First White service in 1983 was taken as illegal both by the official gouverment of People Republic of Poland and scouting leadership. It evoked into repressions of the scout instructors in their places of work and to many dissolved scout troops. It is necessary to say, that this service was not only understood as the preparation of the single activity. It was planned as the upbringing program for the guirlguides and scouts. Program was intended to be held at every each opportunity of service to the pilgrims and religious service to God, especially at every papal pilgrimage. This program of the scouting upbringing was planned in several complementary fields related to the religious formation, first aid service, information service and service of pilgrimage order. First White Service in 1983 was finished by the reorganization of the local scout commands of White services into the structures of underground scouting called „Scout movement” - (Ruch Harcerski). BS 1983
It was decided that the better place of the service it would be Clare Mountain Monaster (Jasna Góra) in Częstochowa. In this service it took part more than 2000 girl guides and boy scouts. There happened the unusual sign of renovation of scouting. Representation of the group of 500 instructors of „The Scout Movement” handed in to the Holly Father a table with inscribed traditional old Scout Law and Scout Promise. At that time official Promise and Scout Law in ZHP was without God and with inscribed service to communism. It is also necessary to point out, that during the pilgrimage it was also visible service in Warsaw, Cracow and Katowice. „I am turning to scouting youth. I warmly greet you and I bless You in yours way, that is founded in that Scouting Promise and the best traditions of yours movement. Do be prepared. (...)” John Paul II, 1983. BS 1987
This time the requirements of preparation to the white service included one more individual task for each scout – individual gift for the Holly Father and necessity of the taking part in one of two papal meetings: at Westerplatte in Gdańsk (on north coast of Poland) or in Tarnów (South mountain region close to border of Poland). Tarnów was the place of regular service. There happened one more important sign of renovation of Polish Scouting – common promising the traditional old Scout Promise was said by over than 5000 girl guides and boy scouts: „On my own will with all my life I will serve to the God and Poland, I will give sincere aid to neighbor-man and I will obey the Scout Law.” In 1987 there happened several more facts around the white service. Many scout instructors were threatened by the Services of Order (Służby Bezpieczeństwa - SB), releasing them from their places of work and releasing them form the Polish Scout Association (ZHP) as the punishment for the joining the white service. Nevertheless in all the places of papal pilgrimage there was organized the white service. „(...) Every one of You, my young friends finds in yours life their own „Westerplatte” (...) Every one finds some good idea, that obvious to fight for. And it is not possible to release. Finally it means some order of truth and ideas, that is necessary both to be kept and defended. Yes, defend – for your own and for others (...)” John Paul II, Westerplatte 1987 BS 1991 „Do be thankful to God and do not allot spirit asleep”
„(...)Do be prepared - it means that I am a man of conscience. It means, that I neither deafen nor deform my conscience. I name good and evil, I don't efface. I create inside of me the good and I try to made good from the evil, I try to overcome the evil inside of me (...) Do be prepared - it means I see another person (...) Do be prepared – it means to love the fellow-man - it means the basic human solidarity.(...)” John Paul II, 1991 80th Anniversary Jamboree 1991 In September 1991 there was held The 80th Anniversary Jamboree of Polish Scouting under the patronage of Prime Bishop of Poland Józef Cardinal Glemp. In Olsztyn close to Częstochowa there were set the camps of independent scout organizations: organizations ZHPr.z.1918(Polish Scouting Association, founded 1989), ZHP p.g.K. (Polish Scouting Association over the borders of Poland, heir of ZHP) SHK „Zawisza”(Association of the Catholic Scouting in name of „Zawisza”, founded 1982) and POH (Polish Scouting Organization (founded 1986)), and ZHR (Scouting Association of The Republic of Poland, founded 1989). More than 7000 girl-guides and scouts arrived to the jamboree from all over the world, including over 2000 guests from abroad. There is no doubt, that it was an event in the history of Polish Scouting. I was first jamboree of this kind after the second world war. Moreover, for the first time after second world war we officially welcomed leadership, girl guides and boy scouts of ZHP p.g.K. (Polish Scouting Association over the borders of Poland, heir of ZHP) - the only one legal of Polish Scouting Association (1909-1945).
BS 1993
This white service took part around 300 girl guides and scouts, including 118 girl guides and scouts from Poland. In Latvia there happened event, that had never took place before. After the holly Mass in Agłona The Holly Father expressed the wish to meet the girl guides and boy scouts, that had served as „White Service”. „(...)I am very happy because of your presence here. Please do fulfill your ... papal service - White Service. All of you helps in various methods. Also here in Agłona You have helped in preparings to this meeting. All this things goes along my imaginations, that I have had around the scouting. Let God bless you in former service.(...)” John Paul II, Agłona 1993 BS 1995
However the day before we were also present with our service in the capitol of the Czech Republic - in Prague, all of the members of this white service were ready in their points of service at 4 a.m. in Skoczów. „(...)The time of probation of the human's consciences lasts! You are to be strong in yours faith! Today, when you are about struggle of a future shape of the social life and national state, please do remember, that it depends on the condition of a man. It depends on the shape of consciences.(...)” John Paul II, 1995 Pilgrimage to The Holly Father 1996 The year 1996 was for ZHR unusual. It was the year of Act of Belief to Holly Mother of the whole ZHR. „(...) We put ourselves under your throne and all that we have. We believe to you Mother of The Claire Mountain our service, all the efforts, all the beatings of hearts and impulses of a will ... and following to your recommendation we sacrifice ourselves here and now in service to God, Poland and any fellow-man. (...)” With this Act of our Belief as the most expensive gift we set up into our pilgrimage to Rome. For the first time after the second world war the scout leadership - leadership of ZHR with many instructors from the independent organizations (SHK „Zawisza”(Association of the Catholic Scouting in name of „Zawisza”) and POH (Polish Scouting Organization), and ZHR(Scouting Association of The Republic of Poland )) pilgrimed to the Holly Father. This group of scout leaders was also present on 1 September 1996 in Castel Gandolfo, when the Holly Father told this words: „(...)I am very sorry to be informed, that Polish Parlament set the law, that again legalize the practice of murdering not borne children. (...) There is no justice of law, when there is allowed to kill not responsible people. The Nation, that kills its own children is the nation without the future(...)” John Paul II, Castel Gandolfo 1996 BS 1997 „You are the salt in the earth”
In the service was engaged more than 5000 of girl guides and boy scouts of ZHR. The most important point of preparing to papal pilgrimage was spiritual preparing of every member of White Service - in recollections and days of scout recollections. It was spiritual gift for coming Holly Father. All of those that were preparing to first aid services were obligated to complete first aid courses and pass official exam in first stage of the first aid. Scout services of information were equipped not only in radio communication, but also in mobile phones donated by one of the operators. Their service was on the best possible level and helped in many situations both to regular services pilgrimage of order and police. Scouts were divided in hundred members troops and then to ten-members troops. Every hundred was sent to serve in different sector and consisted both services of order and first aid services. There one more unusual event. Several buses with girl guides and boy scouts was following along the Holly Father and served in his places of pilgrimage. From that time this way of movable service will take place in each of the white service. BS 1999
This pilgrimage was also record in meaning of scout service of girl guides and boy scouts of ZHR. Total amount of members of the White Service reached 7000 members of ZHR and was held in 17 places of papal pilgrimage. „(...)Dignity of this name: blessed is fully belonging to Steven Vincent Frelichowski, who was risen to the glory of altars. This thorner priest (...) gave Claire proof of his devotion to God and people. He was teaching secrets of human soul and adapted personal methods to the requirements of any person, who he met. This skill he brought from the scout school of sensibility, that is connected with requirements of a fellow-man. This skill he had been developing continuously. (...) I am turning in my words to the whole family of polish scouts, to whom new blessed was deeply associated. Let he be the patron for all of you, the teacher of noble and intercessor of pace and reconciliation.(...)” John Paul II, 1999 BS 2001
This was unusual service, during the mass that was celebrated in Latin, Polish and Ukrainian languages, and also in prayer meeting of the youth. One thousand of young people, who were authentically ready to serve all of the pilgrims. „(...)Please, do love the church! It is yours family and spiritual building, which you are supposed to be live stones. (...) Your spiritual food let it be the Communion Bread! Filled with It in Communion, do hold out in Its love and please bring plentiful fruit (...). Don't be afraid! Christ will be your power and your joy.(...)” John Paul II, 2001 BS 2002
In this service took part more than 2000 girl guides and boy scouts from all the scout regions of ZHR from the whole Poland. Moreover about 2000 younger girl guides and scouts took part in the Holly Mass as regular praying pilgrims but dressed in scout uniforms. We were present with our service during main Holly Mass in the fields of Cracow called „Błonia”, in meeting at the Cracow Curia Palace, in Sanctuary of Misery in Cracow-Łagiewniki, in Rakowicki Cementary, at Cracow-Balice airport and along the routs of papal moving. All BS's logos are from „DROGOWSKAZY” webmastering by Wojciech Smolak |
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