July 9, 2026, marked the conclusion of the week-long celebration at the Shrine of Our Lady of Tuchów, which this year was celebrated under the theme: “With Mary, we bring Christ to the world!” The final day of this special moment of prayer and encounter with God brought an important message to all the faithful gathered.
God’s call to love
The pilgrims, who arrived at the sanctuary in Tuchów in the days following the festival, listened to the Word of God and participated in the liturgy, eager to understand God’s will for their lives.
The invitation to live in love resounded with particular enthusiasm in the homilies. It is Mary herself—Mother of Beautiful Love—who guides her spiritual sons and daughters toward the fullness of Christian life.
On the last day of the feast, farmers, beekeepers, bakers, pastry chefs, and members of the Housewives’ Circles gathered before the image of Our Lady of Tuchów. The Holy Mass at 11:00 a.m. was presided over by Father Marcin Klamka, CSsR. In his homily, he compared spiritual life to the functioning of a swarm of bees, emphasizing that, just as the life of bees is based on community service, so the foundation of human life is love.
Among the numerous groups of pilgrims, the Liturgical Service at the Altar was also present. The altar servers and lectors arrived in Tuchów on foot, by bus, and by bicycle. The Holy Mass at 3:00 pm was presided over by Father Bartłomiej Wilkosz, who recalled that the fullest encounter with Christ occurs in the Eucharist and that ministry at the altar must lead to the holiness of daily life.
Mother and Educator of Vocations
A delegation from the Major Seminary of the Diocese of Tarnów also arrived at the shrine. The seminarians served during the liturgy and led the vocational presentations, sharing their testimony of their vocation and praying with the faithful for new and holy vocations to serve the Church.
Prayer for vocations holds a special place in the history of the shrine. It was here that Bishop Leon Wałęga entrusted Our Lady of Tuchów with the care of new priestly vocations. The presence of seminarians from Tarnów was a beautiful sign of gratitude for this gift.
The Holy Mass at 6:30 pm was presided over by Father Dariusz Paszyński CSsR, superior of the Warsaw Province of the Redemptorists. The liturgy brought together the donors and benefactors of the sanctuary, as well as all those who support the Redemptorists’ work. The provincial thanked all those who, with their prayers and generosity, support the Congregation’s evangelizing mission.
The patronal feast at the sanctuary: a tradition carried on by many
At the end of the evening Mass, the custodian of the shrine, Father Grzegorz Gut, CSsR, spoke. He thanked all those who dedicatedly prepared and conducted this year’s Great Feast of Tuchów—both those responsible for organizing and holding leading roles, and those who performed quiet and anonymous work. The custodian also expressed appreciation for the dedication of the priests who administered the sacrament of penance and reconciliation.
Summing up the celebration, he emphasized that this year more pilgrims came to Tuchów than last year and that the faithful received approximately 42,000 Communions, which is a great sign of living faith and a fruitful experience of this sacred time.
Sent into the world with Mary
Nine days of shared prayer, listening to the Word of God, and celebrating the Eucharist have come to an end. The veiling of the miraculous image of Our Lady of Tuchów does not, however, mark the end of graces, but rather the moment when all pilgrims are sent back to their daily lives.
The motto of the Great Feast of the Tuchów Shrine in 2026—”With Mary, let us bring Christ to the world!”—remains the life program of every disciple of Christ. Strengthened by the Eucharist and entrusted to Our Lady of Tuchów, the faithful are sent to bring Christ through their words, their actions, and their witness wherever hope, peace, and love are most needed. True indulgence and celebration, in fact, continue—wherever people live the Gospel and the sacraments of the Holy Church.
Br. Patryk Czajkowski, CSsR.
photo: Krzysztof Jasiński, Br. Patryk Czajkowski CSsR.
