The Journey of Fr. Urban.

The discovery of my vocation? A complex process. I attended the classics lyceum. I wasn't thinking about consecrated life or even about the priesthood. Mathematics was my great passion and I also wanted to continue university studies in this direction. I therefore chose computer science at the Krakow Polytechnic. It was through my elder sister that I got in touch with the Jesuits.

Every Sunday, the scholastics offered to teach catechism to the children living in the orphanages of Krakow.  During the communist era these children were forced to grow up in complete atheism. Students were allowed to visit the children during the week to help them with their homework. Instead, on Sunday they could go out and take a walk, but actually they participated in mass and a simple catechesis, including lunch. During the summer the children could participate in the 2-week camps coordinated by a Jesuit and accompanied by scholastics and volunteer students. It was in this way that I befriended and came in touch with the Society. Pastoral work with children is fundamental. Several students also involved themselves in teaching catechism to the children undercover. The directors of the orphanages, after making sure of the commitment and maturity of the students, allowed them to welcome some of these orphans into their families for the holidays.  3 boys were under my care, 2 of whom were Romanian.

So, gradually I started to involve myself in this commitment, definitely more spiritual than my computer work. This was a slow but constant process. I started questioning myself about the future, about how to spend my life. The answer came after a spiritual experience of which I still remember the place, day and time. It was the day I asked to be admitted into the novitiate.

The reaction of my student peers was positive, both those close to the church groups and those involved in the anti-communist resistance. Even my parents welcomed my decision with great enthusiasm. Today, after almost 40 years in the Society, what strikes me and amazes me most as a Jesuit is the rapid changes taking place in the world, in the Church and obviously also in the Society. This requires a constant evaluation of the present while keeping an eye on the future which is still unknown. As Darwin pointed out, the species that have the greatest probability of surviving their development are not the strongest, and not even the most intelligent, but those who know how to best adapt to the environment where they live. And reflecting on inculturation, I am convinced that the Society belongs to this species.