Fr. Dr. Andrzej Halemba from the Pontifical Foundation “Aid to the Church in Need” receives the “Pro Redemptione” Award
Poland, 19 October 2019
Today, during a ceremony at the Major Seminary of the Redemptorist Congregation in Poland Fr. Andrew Halemba PhD, director of the Middle East section of the Pontifical Foundation “Aid to the Church in Need” (Kirche in Not) received the “Pro Redemptione” award for his relief endeavours and diplomatic efforts to promote peace and to save the presence of Christians in their native lands in the Middle East, the cradle of Christian faith. Founded in 2014, the “Pro Redemptione” prize is an initiative of “Homo Dei” publishing house and quarterly appearing under the same title. This prize aims at promoting the ideal of work for salvation by pointing to the example of people who, through their work and commitment, put this model into practice.
Fr. Halemba spent 12 years in Zambia, in Africa, furthermore he worked as Director of the Centre for Missionary Formation, a Secretary to the Commission for Missions at the Bishops’ Conference of Poland and Delegate for Missionary Affairs. In the scope of his activities he also developed translation and scientific work, which brought a range of achievements. For 15 years now associated with the international charity and pontifical foundation “Aid to the Church in Need” (Kirche in Not), Fr. Halemba is responsible for helping the Church in 23 countries of the Middle East and in the countries of the Arabian Peninsula.
The awarded priest said: “The founder of “Aid to the Church in Need”, father Werenfried van Straaten, whose name means “warrior of peace”, invited people to compassion and to have courage of opening their hearts to peace, but to cherish peace is not enough today, we must become instruments of peace in our environment and for our brothers and sisters who suffer persecution all over the world.”
Besides Fr. Andrzej Halemba, in the sixth edition of the “Pro Redemptione” award were honoured the following: the Movement of Pure Hearts with Fr. Mieczysław Piotrowski at its forefront, in recognition of his contribution to the evangelization of young people; Fr. Mirosław Cholewa PhD together with the magazine “Pastores”, for his concern for priesthood formation; Fr. prof. Marek Starowiejski, renowned scholar of theological sciences, expert in ancient Christianity and patrology, for outstanding scientific achievements and testimony of life, and deacon Dr. Jacek Pawłowicz, for his long lasting cooperation with the quarterly “Homo Dei”.
