[Weronika Ostrowska] Host
How do we go to God? Can we go straight there? Can the road to God be simple?
Today we will try to answer that question. Why is it worth setting aside time on August 15th to go to the seaside—not only for the sea itself, but to adore Jesus? Jerzy Szkamruk, organizer of the worship festival A Simple Road to God, is with us in the studio.
Good morning, welcome.
[Jerzy Szkamruk]
Hello to all the listeners.
[Host]
And Marcin Kwaśny, actor and host of the festival. Good morning.
[Marcin Kwaśny]
Good morning, God bless you, welcome everyone.
[Host]
A Simple Road to God. Is it simple for you, Marcin?
[Marcin Kwaśny]
For the past 13 years, yes. I have a clear goal. Of course, the road is bumpy and there are obstacles, but those obstacles are also part of the journey. The goal is clearly defined—salvation. So yes, it is simple. I believe in “yes means yes, no means no.” I’m a simple man.
[Host]
Jerzy, what about you?
[Jerzy Szkamruk]
It’s not that simple. But when you carry the cross—as Simon helped Jesus carry His—you have to realize that Jesus helps us carry our cross too. Then the road becomes much easier.
[Host]
What will this Simple Road to God festival be? Why this name, and what is it connected with?
[Jerzy Szkamruk]
We want to show everyone that the road to God is also worship, joy, and being together. That we can all gather in one place and create a community. Nowadays community is often lacking. People go to church, put 20 or 50 złoty in the collection basket, and think everything is fine.
But that’s not enough. We create the culture, media, and environment around us—not only for ourselves but also for our children and friends. The peace we received from Jesus begins in our hearts. If we unite and stay together, we will certainly achieve that peace.
[Host]
What will the festival look like? A festival may bring to mind several stages, huge crowds, a large venue. Where will it take place?
We know it’s by the sea, but let’s reveal the exact place because it’s important.
[Jerzy Szkamruk]
Yes—Ergo Arena Gdańsk–Sopot, at 4:30 PM.
[Host]
This is not a joke. Ergo Arena Gdańsk–Sopot.
[Jerzy Szkamruk]
Of course. Ten thousand people. I hope we fill the entire air-conditioned arena on August 15th this year at 4:30 PM. We’ll begin with Holy Mass, presided over by Cardinal Sarah.
Then there will be adoration. Throughout the festival there will also be a separate chapel. And right after Mass we’ll begin the worship festival with some amazing performers.
Maybe Marcin can say more about that.
[Host]
Marcin, when you saw the lineup, did your jaw drop?
[Marcin Kwaśny]
Well, I quickly picked it back up from the floor. We’ll have the worship group Adonaj, anMari, Schola Adonai, and Padre Guilherme performing.
Jerzy combines what seems impossible—fire and water. On one hand there’s the very conservative Cardinal Sarah, and on the other the modernist Padre Guilherme.
[Jerzy Szkamruk]
But that’s exactly why we designed it this way. First there will be Holy Mass for those who cherish silence, peace, and the Eucharist—the most important thing, receiving Jesus. Only afterward will we celebrate joyfully. And let’s remember: this is also the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The date was not chosen by accident.
The day before is the anniversary of the death of Saint Maximilian Maria Kolbe. All these things connect together.
[Host]
Marcin, have you become permanently connected with Saint Maximilian? Because whenever I think “Maximilian in Poland” and an actor who knows and loves him deeply, I think of you.
[Marcin Kwaśny]
I don’t know if this is the place for a short anecdote about how alive Maximilian still is in my life. Imagine this: I was flying to the American Częstochowa in Doylestown near New York. At the airport I stopped briefly in a chapel. As I was leaving, a man stopped me and handed me a Miraculous Medal of Our Lady.
[Jerzy Szkamruk]
Did you know him?
[Marcin Kwaśny]
No, he was a complete stranger. He said he felt in his heart that he had to give it to me, and that it came directly from Paris, from Rue du Bac. I accepted it and wanted to give him something in return. I noticed I had a magazine from the Michaelite Fathers called Who Is Like God? with me on the cover as Maximilian Kolbe. So I gave it to him and said:
“You know, I played a saint who, just like you, distributed these miraculous medals.”
And that was it. Two weeks later, director and producer Tadeusz Syka called me and said: “Marcin, I think you’ll be acting in my film about Antoni Patek.” I asked why so suddenly. He said: “They changed their minds. I got a call from the French co-producer asking about you—whether you were acting in it. If not, then you must, because his CEO met you at the airport and gave you a medal.” So I thought: wow.
[Jerzy Szkamruk]
Did he look like a CEO?
[Marcin Kwaśny]
No, not at all. Just like an ordinary man. Nothing remarkable about him.
But I think maybe I have good connections with Maximilian up there.
[Jerzy Szkamruk]
And Maximilian is still working. We also hope he will work during the festival, because all the good we gather—our motto is “good for good”—will go toward producing a film we’ve been fundraising for for a long time. We already have quite a lot of support and I thank everyone sincerely, but the fundraising continues…
[Marcin Kwaśny]
It’s important to say that Jerzy wants to make a film about Maximilian’s spirituality.
[Jerzy Szkamruk]
Yes, a completely different kind of film.
[Marcin Kwaśny]
Showing a side of him no film has shown before.
[Jerzy Szkamruk]
And Marcin will act in it.
[Marcin Kwaśny]
But not as Maximilian this time.
[Jerzy Szkamruk]
No, he’s too tall to play Maximilian.
[Host]
So this time…
[Jerzy Szkamruk]
But I think he’ll be able to “take revenge” on Maximilian a little, ask him some interesting questions, and explore that spirituality.
[Marcin Kwaśny]
Maybe tell us who will play Maximilian then?
[Jerzy Szkamruk]
No, not yet.
[Marcin Kwaśny]
You don’t want to reveal it.
[Jerzy Szkamruk]
But there are many great actors involved.
[Host]
We’ll wait for those details.
[Jerzy Szkamruk]
Let me return to the topic. We’ve already raised a lot of funds, but unfortunately I still want to shoot scenes in Rome.
That’s because in Rome Maximilian developed this very powerful spirituality—especially in the monastery during the Spanish flu pandemic, when his fellow brothers were dying. And, surprisingly, they died joyfully.
That shocked me deeply when I read about it. They already knew they were going to heaven and were not afraid at all.
That’s a very important part of the film. I think it will make people reflect and strengthen their faith. And it will awaken curiosity and wonder—that people once died so peacefully and lightly.
[Marcin Kwaśny]
What Jerzy says is incredible. To die joyfully. Bruno Borgowiec, who cleaned the death cells after Maximilian, noticed that after 14 days Maximilian was still alive, before he was killed with a phenol injection, there was a smile on his face.
[Jerzy Szkamruk]
That made an enormous impression on me. I hope this festival will help speed up work on the film so we won’t have to wait many more months to complete the budget. I hope after this festival we’ll move forward quickly and that soon you’ll all be able to see this film.
[Host]
Why should people come?
[Marcin Kwaśny]
We should rejoice and constantly give thanks, as Saint Paul says. As Father Leon Knabit once said: “With a face like a cemetery, you won’t save the world.” This is meant to be a joyful celebration.
And I forgot to mention Roksana Węgiel. Roksi Węgiel will also be there.
[Jerzy Szkamruk]
Yes, yes. She’ll be dressed appropriately.
[Marcin Kwaśny]
She’ll be glowing on stage.
[Jerzy Szkamruk]
In a long dress with covered shoulders.
[Marcin Kwaśny]
But I think that’s an added value—the purpose is to worship God.
People of all ages can meet here. We’re not limiting anyone by age.
[Jerzy Szkamruk]
Exactly. Everyone can come—young and old. But we especially care about young people today because they need guidance. They need friendship, togetherness, and communal prayer.
We want to provide that. Adults also need to understand young people. If they don’t come to us, they’ll go somewhere else—places without evangelization.
They need to feel strong. Though in truth they don’t have to do anything. They know very well what they want. And they are often wiser than we are. Parents should remember that.
So we are reaching out to them. I think this will be a wonderful opportunity for them to feel part of a community. So that later, if someone at school says: “What, you went to pray?” They can answer: “Yes—and there were ten thousand people with me.”
[Host]
Because Roksi Węgiel was there—perhaps for some people that will be the reason. For others it will be anMari, or Schola Adonaj.
[Jerzy Szkamruk]
Yes. “I’m Catholic and I’m proud of it.” That’s what we strive for.
[Host]
And for some people, Cardinal Robert Sarah may be the key reason.
[Jerzy Szkamruk]
Yes, that speaks more to mature audiences. But you can see that bringing these two worlds together makes sense. We need to understand one another if faith is to move forward.
Today even the Catholic Church is divided into many parts. We would like that to change.
People must understand that only together can we achieve anything. Look at the media—there’s no money for anything.
We pay taxes, yet culture with spiritual or Catholic values receives no support. Everyone talks about it and complains about it.
The same is true in the press, radio, and other institutions spreading culture.
So we need to realize that together we are capable of carrying this burden. And ensuring our children have something meaningful to hold onto. So they feel cared for and safe.
That’s all. Nothing more.
[Host]
If you feel close to Saint Maximilian Maria Kolbe, if you love the Blessed Virgin Mary, then join us on August 15th in Sopot for the Feast of the Assumption.
[Marcin Kwaśny]
Stella Maris.
[Host]
Which means “Star of the Sea.” Exactly.
So if you’d like to come, we warmly invite you to the Simple Road to God festival. August 15th—I feel like all our listeners already have the date marked in their calendars.
[Jerzy Szkamruk]
Yes, there’s a website: drogadoboga.com, where you can buy support tickets. I warmly invite everyone. I don’t know if Marcin would also like to invite people…
[Marcin Kwaśny]
Of course I do. I also invite all pilgrims. I’ll be coming straight from Częstochowa to the seaside myself.
On August 14th in the evening I’ll be reading the Stations of the Cross on the embankments. So if any of you feel you still have energy after the pilgrimage and want to continue worshipping God with us, I invite you warmly. I’ll be traveling to the sea myself right afterward.
[Jerzy Szkamruk]
Drive carefully.
[Host]
Our guests were Jerzy Szkamruk, organizer of the worship festival A Simple Road to God. Thank you very much.
[Jerzy Szkamruk]
Thank you very much.
[Host]
And Marcin Kwaśny, actor and festival host. Thank you.
Weronika Ostrowska spoke with Marcin Kwaśny and Jerzy Szkamruk.
