A fourteen year-old schoolgirl from  Bydgoszcz, northern Poland, will be the only Pole to take part in the liturgy of the beatification ceremony of Pope John Paul II in Rome on 1 May. 

Daria Barszczyk will sing, in Polish, a fragment of a prayer to the Divine Mercy before the start of the pontifical mass.

Daria, who is blind, has been taking voice lessons for several years. Her teacher of religion at school managed to get in touch with the organizers of the beatification ceremony. Having heard Daria’s recording, they are said to have been enthralled and invited her to join a group of singers for the event. It will include several artists of Polish descent but Daria will be the only one arriving from Poland.

Daria leaves for Rome on Easter Monday to attend the rehearsals for the beatification ceremony which begin on 26 April.  She says it is a great spiritual experience for her,  and calls herself ‘the happiest person in the world’.

The travel costs and all the expenses have been covered by the town authorities of Bydgoszcz and a local bishop. (mk)