Raymond Nader’s 2026 Visit to Poland: A Journey of Witness and Spiritual Communion

​From April 27 to May 9, 2026, Raymond Nader, President of the Family of Saint Sharbel, visited Poland as part of an ongoing effort to strengthen the spiritual bonds between the Family of Saint Sharbel in Lebanon and its growing presence in Poland. The visit included parish encounters, spiritual talks, media interviews, Church meetings, and public conversations centered on the message of Saint Sharbel and the mission of the Family of Saint Sharbel.

​During the visit, Mr. Nader met with those responsible for the Family of Saint Sharbel in Poland. These meetings allowed for an exchange of spiritual experience and a sharing of updates about the mission of the Family of Saint Sharbel in Lebanon, Poland, and other parts of the world. 

Mr. Nader also participated in Divine Liturgies and spiritual gatherings at several parishes, including the Parish of St. Florian in Kolbudy near Gdańsk, the Parish of St. Anthony of Padua in Osieki, the Parish of St. Martin in Słupno, and the Parish of Christ the King in Olsztyn. During these gatherings, he shared his personal testimony and spoke about the impact of Saint Sharbel in his own life and in the lives of many believers around the world.

​One of the most spiritually focused parts of the trip was a four-day retreat at the Oblate Youth Center NINIWA in Kokotek. The retreat was held under the title “Qadisha Valley,” a name deeply connected to Lebanon’s monastic heritage. During the retreat, Mr. Nader offered talks on ascetic life, the spirituality of the Cross, Saint Sharbel, and the way his spirituality has touched the lives of believers in many places.

​The visit also included meetings with Church leaders. Mr. Nader met with Bishop Andrzej Przybylski of the Diocese of Katowice, where the main center of the Family of Saint Sharbel in Poland is located. Their meeting included an exchange of spiritual experience and a discussion of the mission of the Family of Saint Sharbel in Lebanon, Poland, and beyond.

​In Warsaw, Mr. Nader visited the Field Cathedral of the Polish Army. The gathering began with a Divine Liturgy presided over by Bishop Wiesław Lechowicz, followed by Mr. Nader’s testimony before many faithful. This moment placed the visit in a broader ecclesial context, bringing the spirituality of Saint Sharbel into a setting marked by national memory, service, and public witness.

​The trip also reached beyond strictly parish settings. Mr. Nader participated in a meeting at the Polish Parliament concerning the persecution of Christians. There, he spoke to the parliamentary committee about the commitment of the Family of Saint Sharbel to evangelization, peace, and the spreading of Saint Sharbel’s spirituality throughout the world. He also visited the Presidential Palace in Poland, where he met Professor Piotr Czauderna, adviser to the President of the Republic of Poland, and Fr. Jarosław Wąsowicz, chaplain of the Presidential Palace, in preparation for a future celebration in honor of Saint Sharbel.

​Media outreach was another part of the visit. Mr. Nader gave interviews on Polish television, including TVP1 and Polish Television 24, speaking about the spiritual message of the Family of Saint Sharbel, its presence in the world, and the influence of Saint Sharbel in the lives of the faithful.

​Raymond Nader’s 2026 visit to Poland stands as one expression of the Family of Saint Sharbel's broader mission: to help the faithful encounter, through Saint Sharbel, a path of prayer, repentance, peace, and holiness.