27.05.2010

THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF CHANGING THE NAME TO THE JOHN PAUL II HOSPITAL

The main event to mark the celebrations was the Holy Mass for a prompt beatification of the Servant of God Pope John Paul II conducted by Cardinal Franciszek Macharski. Special guests included Marek Nawara, Marshal of the Malopolskie Voivodeship; Stanisław Kracik, Governor of Malopolska; Elżbieta Lęcznarowicz, Vice-President of the City of Krakow; Bronisław Dutka, Member of Parliament; Prelate Jan Kabziński, Chairman of the John Paul II Center “Be Not Afraid”; and representatives of academia, priests and nuns.

It was also an occasion for sharing reminiscences and reflections. On 16 January 1991 the Council of Dr. Anka Specialist Hospital applied to the Metropolitan Curia for approval of changing its name to the John Paul II Hospital. With the Holy Father’s consent the ceremony was held on 18 May 1990, the day commemorating the 70th anniversary of His birth.

The history of the Hospital started in 1913 when on the initiative of the municipal Doctor Tomasz Janiszewski the Krakow City Council passed a bill that would allow construction of the Municipal Sanitary Hospital at Pradnik Bialy (the choice of the location was dictated by the fact that in the Middle Ages bishop Iwo Odrowaz of Konskie founded there the first ever hospital in Krakow). The Hospital was officially opened in 1917 and until 1946 it admitted patients with infectious diseases, mainly scarlet fever and tuberculosis.

The discovery of antibiotics and new approach to treatment of infectious diseases changed the structural organization of the hospital. Baths, enormous and complex disinfection devices became obsolete. In 1947 a department of disinfection and transport disappeared and the Municipal Hospital was established.

Today the mission of the Hospital is to fight against the major epidemic and chronic diseases in society induced by factors related to the environment, civilization, psychological and socio-economic impact. On 9 June 1997 our Patron Pope John Paul II addressed us who work in the hospital: “…As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” - With these words of Christ I address you who work in this hospital and, through you, all health-care workers in Poland. (…) Your profession deserves the greatest respect. It is a mission of extraordinary value, the best definition of which is found in the word "vocation". I am well aware of the extremely difficult conditions in which you sometimes have to work. I am confident that in Poland all the problems of health-care services will be solved, in a wise and fair manner, for the good of the patients and those who take care of them.”

We are in the John Paul II Hospital in Krakow, where we remember its past and we continue to create its history and legend hoping to pass it on to the future generation.

The name of John Paul II is binding on us and we hope to continue standing up to the challenge.