(ANS – Kraków) – In recent weeks, specifically on the Day of Gratitude of the Salesian Missionary Volunteers (SWM) Młodzi Światu of the Salesian Province of Krakow (PLS), a number of volunteers received their missionary crosses. The missionary send-off took place during Holy Mass presided over by Fr Andrzej Król, Provincial Economer of PLS. The 16 volunteers, who have been trained within the SWM community over the past year, have been engaged in voluntary work in Poland and have completed their discernment process ahead of their missionary departure, subsequently receiving their missionary crosses as a sign of blessing for their departure to mission posts in Africa, South America, Asia and Europe. This is always one of the most important moments for the volunteer community, marking the end of a phase of formation in Poland and, at the same time, introducing the volunteers to a ‘new journey’: the period of departure and missionary work abroad. The missionary crosses were blessed and presented by Fr Król. The Holy Mass was concelebrated by Salesian missionary priests Fr Ryszard Łach, Fr Piotr Wojnarowski, Fr Waldemar Jonatowski, Fr Artur Bartol and Fr Czesław Lenczuk, as well as Fr Łukasz Wójcik, Fr Franciszek Janyga, Fr Mirosław Kosiec, Fr Andrzej Urbańczyk and Fr Wiktor Ławnicki. Over 300 people attended the Mass: the families of the volunteers about to set off, friends, other volunteers and benefactors, without whose support the organisation of missionary trips and the presence of missionaries would not be possible. After the solemn Mass in the Seminary Chapel, everyone made their way to the Villaggi del Mondo Park, where a missionary picnic was held, serving as a continuation of shared joy, celebration and fellowship. (Text: Maria Kargulewicz. Photos: Monika Zarębska)