PIESZA OPOLSKA PIELGRZYMKA NA JASNĄ GÓRĘ
THE OPOLE WALKING PILGRIMAGE TO JASNA GÓRA

Summary/Abstract: Started on 17th August 1977 the Opole Walking Pilgrimage to Jasna Góra was a result of many centuries of tradition of devotion to Our Lady of Częstochowa in the Opole region. After erection of the apostolic administration of the Opole Silesia in 1945 and Opole diocese 27 years later preparing the whole-diocese pilgrimage was impossible because of two factors: political context of the PPL and reluctance of bishop Franciszek Jop to provoke the government unfavourable towards the Church. Not before 1976, with bishop Jop being deadly sick, his auxiliary bishop – Wacław Wycisk let fr. Edmund Cisak (priest in Grodziec) to prepare the pilgrimage. On the starting day of the First Opole Walking Pilgrimage from the church of St. Apostles Peter nad Paul in Opole, 500 people started. The trail went through Grodziec, Zborowskie and Wręczyca. With time it has been extended, among others, by adding diocesan sanctuaries in Kamień Śląski and Góra św. Anny to the trail. The success of the first pilgrimage effected in a growing interest in this initiative. The highest point was reached in 1987 with 20 000 faithful pilgrimaging. Since then attendance is dropping (with only few exceptions) down to 3000 pilgrims in 2016.

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