“We are all born to serve, who we will serve depends on ourselves” – this thought expressed by Zofia Kossak can be applied not only to scouting service.
On Wednesday, December 20, the Bethlehem Light was handed over to the Mayor of the City, Włodzimierz Żak, by scout leaders and scouts from Mysłowice, along with the Scout Leader dh. Mateusz Dudek. The light had already been passed on to the residents on Sunday, December 17, when the scouts distributed it during the Holy Mass at the Church of St. Stanislaus.
“I thank you for your scouting service. The values promoted by scouting are important and timeless values. I wish you a lot of joy and scout adventures” – said Mayor Żak to the visiting scouts.
The Bethlehem Light of Peace is an annual scout and scout action of passing on a symbolic flame before Christmas, lit in the Grotto of the Nativity of Christ in Bethlehem. The Bethlehem Light of Peace is a symbol of warmth, love, peace, and hope – traditionally placed on the Christmas Eve table.
The action was initiated in 1986 by radio and television in Linz as a charity event for disabled children and people in need. Thanks to the participation of scouts, the action covers almost the entire Europe. The light is brought from Bethlehem to Vienna every year, where it is passed on to scouts from neighboring countries in the cathedral. Then, with a relay, it reaches the farthest corners of the continent.
In Poland, the action has been led by scouts from the Polish Scouting Association since 1991, who receive the Bethlehem Light of Peace from Slovak scouts at the border crossing of Łysa Polana in the Tatra Mountains. Then, after a solemn Mass, the Light is passed on to all scout units, and through them to the residents of cities and villages. The Bethlehem Light of Peace is solemnly received by, among others, the President of Poland, from the hands of the scouts.