The Minor Capuchins on Tram #8
Trip Start
Apr 09, 2010
1
18
19
Trip End
Apr 26, 2010
Kraków, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland
Monday, April 26, 2010
I had already noticed in Kraków many members of religious orders in habits - nuns of all ages, monks, and priests. Now there was a young Capuchin monk on the tram with a PA system talking about Africa. Teenaged volunteers were circulating through the car collecting money. I had no change left so I contributed a mere two US quarters. There was a boy sitting near me who spoke English, so I asked if the monk had been to Africa himself and was telling first-hand stories (I think I actually understood the part about women walking many kilometres to get water.) He affirmed this. He also said the brother was saying that our tram was going to Chad ... This was a 40-minute tram ride so I got to listen to quite a lot, although I understood very litte.
As it went through the center of town, the tram got too crowded for the money collectors to circulate trhough the car. Thinking of my China adventure and the way the Chengdu bus riders would pass their fares up through the car, I suggested (in English - there were lots of students who could understand me) that one of the collection boxes be passed hand to hand through the car. The idea was scoffed at - no one would trust their fellow Poles with a box of coins for charity.
Later at home I found mention of "14 hours in a Tram" on the order's website. It seems like a young, vital order. I lik their imagery ("branding") so I am posting a graphic from their website here: I don't think they would mind. The volunteer T-shirts showed the head of a bearded monk, his eyes obscured by his hood, but with a delighted and slightly secretive (contemplative?) grin on his face.
When I exited, I wanted to say "Thanks for Cappucino" to the brother, but thought that would be a little too flip given the context ...
Here's a condensed, interpreted, Google-translated version of the event:
14 hours in A Tram! "On Sunday, along with the volunteers we spent 14 hours on a bus No 8. We have wells - that is, 8 000 PLN.
It's great message. We managed to build wells in Krakow for Chad. Thanks to you who contributed, for your good heart.. Benek
www.misje.kapucyni.pl
http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.misje.kapucyni.pl%2F&sl=pl&tl=en
