“Gazeta Polska Clubs operate all over the world, but this one is special. As you told us, most of your families arrived in Brazil in the 19th century, and for many of you this is the first visit to Poland not just in your lifetime, but in over 100 years. You preserved your Polish identity, you kept the language,” said Tomasz Sakiewicz, editor-in-chief and president of the station. He also announced plans to launch a Polish-Portuguese podcast for the Polish community in Brazil.
A 21-member delegation of the Gazeta Polska Club in Brazil is currently visiting Poland.
They began their stay in Warsaw. On the first day of their visit, the program included a tour of the Sejm, where they were hosted by MP Mariusz Kałużny, as well as a meeting at the Presidential Palace attended by Fr. Jarosław Wąsowicz, chaplain to the President of Poland and to the Gazeta Polska Clubs.
In the afternoon, the club members visited the headquarters of Telewizja Republika.
“Gazeta Polska Clubs are present all over the world, but this one is unique. As you said, most of your families settled in Brazil in the 19th century, and for many of you this is the first visit to Poland in over a century. You maintained your Polish identity and preserved the language,” Sakiewicz said.
“We want to launch a podcast for Poles in Brazil, in Portuguese and Polish. Between three and four million people of Polish descent live in Brazil. It is the second-largest Polish diaspora in the world, somewhat forgotten by us — but they have not forgotten,” he added.
Marcio Rosiak, the Club’s chairman, stated plainly:
“For 120 years there was no contact with Poland — only love.”
In the following days, the delegation will visit Częstochowa, where they will see the Chapel of the Black Madonna and the Jasna Góra Basilica, as well as Kraków, including the Royal Castle and Wawel Cathedral. The program also includes a visit to Oświęcim, the site of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial, the Salt Mine in Wieliczka, and in Wadowice, the Family Home of St. John Paul II.
Throughout their stay, the guests will be accompanied by members of the Gazeta Polska Clubs from Warsaw, Kraków, Częstochowa, Oświęcim, Wieliczka, Wadowice, and Piotrków Trybunalski.