Renovating Joseph Engling’s birthplace together and bringing the summer academy to life
In northern Poland, in a small village called Prosity, stands a simple house. It is neither a large building nor a monumental site, and yet it is a place full of history, hope, and promise. This is where Joseph Engling was born.
Over the past few decades, I have witnessed this simple house—hidden in the rolling hills of Warmia—gradually become a vibrant place of encounter, prayer, and inspiration.
Pilgrims come here to connect with the roots of a young man whose life continues to move many to this day. Here, people discover a quiet friendship with Joseph Engling and are inspired by his spirit to answer the questions of their own lives.
And time and again, the question arises in the hearts of many visitors:
What else does God want to do with this place?
A dream that has accompanied generations
Long before I myself came to know Schoenstatt, people were already making pilgrimages to Prosity.
Above all, Schoenstatters from East Germany found a place of prayer here during the time of division, because the road to Cambrai, in France, was closed to them.
When I was two years old, members of the Women’s Federation of the former German Democratic Republic crowned the Blessed Mother in the parish church of Prosity, trusting that one day a special place of grace would grow here.
This dream lives on to this day
In the 1990s, I myself had the opportunity to get to know Schoenstatt and, with it, Joseph Engling. Later, when I accompanied groups of pilgrims from Germany, I heard one phrase over and over again:
“We need to build here.”
Many young people who come to Prosity today—often for the first time—sense something of the place’s mystery. Especially the young people from Poland say after their visit:
“This is a place with a future. The Blessed Mother Mary has made her home here.”
In 2016, a decisive step was taken
The Blessed Virgin Mary has, so to speak, taken up residence in Joseph Engling’s childhood home: in the old barn, now converted into the MTA Chapel.
Thus, the house where Joseph grew up has become a place of God’s presence.
Anyone who enters the house immediately senses the atmosphere of a simple family life: the kitchen, the tiled stoves, the well, the garden… Many visitors say that this place reminds them of their own childhood.
The house tells the story of a life that was very ordinary and, precisely for that reason, open to God.
A school becomes a summer academy
Now, the old village school is also part of this place. Here, Joseph Engling learned to write as a child. Here, the first thoughts that later found their way into his diaries took shape.
Today, a new idea is taking shape in this school: a summer academy.
A place where pilgrims and young people can gather for a few days to take a break, learn, pray, and find new inspiration.
Various modules will explore topics such as:
- Character formation
- Schoenstatt spirituality
- Ecological spirituality in the spirit of Laudato Si
The nature surrounding Prosity—quiet, vast, and untouched—offers a unique setting for this.
Now the house needs our help
Joseph Engling’s birthplace still stands, simple and faithful as it has been for over a hundred years. However, the passage of time has left its mark.
In particular, it is urgent to stabilize the house’s foundations. Water flowing down from the hill is exerting increasing pressure on the building. Cracks in the masonry indicate the need for fundamental reinforcement.
To ensure this house continues to welcome pilgrims in the future, careful renovation is required.
Let’s build the future together
There are many ways to be part of this story. You can:
- Come to Prosity and have a special experience in this place
- help with the renovation by volunteering
- participate in the summer academy
- or support our development with a donation
Any help, big or small, helps this place continue to grow.
A question for our time
The Church is currently examining, as part of the beatification process, a fundamental question: Can Joseph Engling be a model for today’s youth?
Perhaps part of the answer lies precisely here, in the place where his life began.
By renovating his parents’ home, we are at the same time opening a space where young people can rediscover his spirit. A spirit of self-giving. A spirit of friendship with God. A spirit of brotherhood and family.
A warm invitation
We invite you to be part of this journey, so that a small house in a quiet village may continue to be a place where people find hope.
Contact for donations and information:
Alicja Kostka, Vice-Postulator,
akademiaposity@gmail, tel. 17651112621
