| Poland – The final salute to Fr Rybinski |
| Poland – The Order of Rebirth of Poland for Fr Marek Rybiński |
| Tunisia – Archbishop Lahham remembers Fr Rybinski |
In spite of the serious outbreaks of fighting at the weekend, with the death of 5 demonstrators in the centre of Tunis, affection for Fr Marek Rybinbski led many people to overcome their fears and take part in the funeral. The Cathedral was packed.
Archbishop Lahham presided at the Mass which was concelebrated by Fr Mario Mulè Stagno, Director of the Salesian School in Manouba, Fr Laurence Essery, Rector of the Salesian community and about thirty other priests. Among those present at the Mass were the Polish Ambassador in Tunisia accompanied by his wife, the Ambassador of Malta and the Consul and representatives of the Muslim and Jewish communities in Tunisia. The teachers from the school, all Muslims, were present in force together with the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians from their community in Menzel Bourghiba and the city of Tunis.
The readings and intercessions at Mass were in Polish, French and Arabic respecting the various cultures represented and involved in the tragic episode. The Archbishop gave his homily first in French and then in Arabic.
He spoke about some of the details of the death of the Polish missionary: the general panic and the violence and he exhorted everyone to pray for the assassin and to find the strength to forgive as Jesus taught. Archbishop Lahham praised Fr Rybinski for his joyful and reliable service on behalf of the people of Tunisia, of the young people in the school and for the development of the centre in Manouba. He then invited the Salesians to pray for Fr Rybinski, for the Congregation and for Tunisia, a country which after years of authoritarian government was seeking with difficulty to find its freedom.
Some moments in the service were particularly moving. At the offertory procession some teachers brought the work some of the pupils from the infant school had done in memory of Fr Rybinski. After the communion a priest from Jordan sang in Arabic a prayer of abandonment by Blessed Charles de Foucauld and then the Polish community sang a hymn to Our Lady in their language.
The Mass ended with the singing of the “Salve Regina”, while the Archbishop and the procession of the concelebrants escorted the coffin to the doors of the Cathedral.
The body of Fr Rybinski has been taken to Poland where on Wednesday 2 March there will be a Mass in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Warsaw.
Published 01/03/2011
