Similarly like in all of Poland, the yesterday's Papal Day in Wieliczka was celebrated in a very special way. The celebrations began with the holy service at 6 PM in the Franciscan Brothers monastery, accompanied by the "Camerata" choir.

After the solemn liturgy, the vice-president of the Town Council, Adam Marek Panuś presented the most talented pupils from the Wieliczka Municipality with the Papal Scholarships.This year, for the first time,the Małopolska Cooperative Bank of Wieliczka participated in the scholarships campaign.

John Paul II, the youth educator" - was the motto of the celebrations in all of Poland related to the 30th anniversary of the beginning of Karol Wojtyła's pontificate.It was the reference to his words, to an encouragement to deeper love of the God, who is the guidepost for the generation most prone to getting lost.John Paul II always cared for the young people, it was them to whom he spoke:"You are the salt of the earth - You are the light of the world".

The Papal Scholarships is one of the campaigns which are an answer to the plea, frequently repeated by John Paul II, concerning surrounding the young generation with special care.The third edition of the John Paul II Programme is a sort of live monument by the means of which the Mayor of Wieliczka offers support to the most talented youth from the schools of our Municipality.

So far 22 scholarships have been awarded;this year a monthly financial support shall be offered to 13 pupils from the schools of Wieliczka.

The scholarships are supposed to create possibilities for the development of talents, abilities and improvement of our pupils' qualifications.