Conception Abbey
Conception, Missouri

Tower Topics ~ Winter 2007

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A painter from Poland, 25 years of dedication

by Jarrod Thome

When Br. Leo picked up a Polish-born painter from the Kansas City airport, he told him that there was enough painting to be done at Conception to last him 300 years, and after he got done with that he’d have to start over. Twenty-five years later, Juliusz Draganski is still at it, tackling the jobs one brush stroke at a time.

A Painter from Poland

Juliusz would say that he’s at home at Conception, and indeed he means this in a broader sense than just the simple apartment in Marian Hall that serves as his place of repose. Conception means friends, brothers, and yes, his job, but to not mention anything of Juliusz’s homeland would be to miss out on a major part of what makes him who he is. He is from Poland, and if his name and salient accent weren’t enough to clue me in on the fact, the Poland t-shirt he wore during our interview put all doubts to rest.

But “being at home” and “homeland” are two different things. Twenty-six years ago, Juliusz was faced with a difficult choice when the inimical presence of communism in his country made it difficult for him to feel at home in his homeland. It was the Cold War and the Soviet Union had to fuel its arms hungry juggernaut, which left the proletariat to deal with meager wages and dearth on the store shelves while Western countries seemingly enjoyed prosperity. Juliusz recounts his first visit to East Berlin in 1971, eating in a restaurant atop a TV tower that afforded him a view over the wall: “It was at night and when I saw West Berlin, it was like it was on fire. East Berlin was all dark. That’s when I saw for the first time the difference between east and west.”

Juliusz applies varnish to a newly crafted votive stand for the seminary chapel. The stand was made by George Downing and the icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe which will take up its place on the stand was written by Br. Pachomius Meade. Photo by Jarrod Thome.

The realization of this disparity would continue to wear on Juliusz until and beyond his eventual emigration from Poland around ten years later. Some significant events that happened during this time frame proved to be catalysts of change and windows of opportunity for him.

One of these events was the election of the first Polish pope, John Paul II. Elected to the papacy in 1978, he was a beacon of hope not only to the people of Poland but also the whole world. He spoke truth to people who longed to hear it and not even the communists could censor him. In 1979, “Do not be afraid” shot straight to the core of a Polish crowd in Warsaw, Juliusz included. From then on, his faith played a bigger part in his life; he joined the solidarity movement, participating in protests and strikes, and began to believe along with the rest of his countrymen that people really could bring about change. Until that speech, he had never imagined that communism would end in his lifetime.

The solidarity movement took off and by the early 80s the passport restrictions that at one time made it nearly impossible to visit western countries were now beginning to be relaxed. So, Juliusz applied for a passport and was granted one. He interjected, “It wasn’t official, but they really didn’t want people that were against the government in Poland…” With his newly acquired opportunity to leave the country, he decided to travel to Switzerland. It was then that what Juliusz had seen and suspected from afar while in that restaurant in East Berlin now materialized in front of him in the form of fully stocked food stores and shopping centers. He recalls, “It was really a shock. I came back from Switzerland and I decided I have to leave this country.”

The Journey

In September 1981, Juliusz planned a two week vacation to Vienna. He took all of the necessary steps of going to the police station and handing over his identification card, telling them where he was going and for what purpose, and headed south to Austria. Once he arrived in Vienna, he headed straight to the police station there and asked for political asylum. Not a moment too soon either—two months later, Marshall Law was declared in Poland, essentially putting the country in a state of lock down. No one could leave, no one could enter, no mail could be sent in or out. Poland was closed.

The following 16 months found Juliusz in a Vienna refugee camp, awaiting an opportunity to move on with his life. There wasn’t really much to do at the camp; there was no work and a good deal of drinking that went on, which was not a good environment when facing a battle with alcoholism (a challenge he would later overcome during his time at Conception). It was welcome news, then, when Juliusz learned that he had a job and a place to live in the United States.

After Marshall Law had been declared in Poland, President Reagan had extended an invitation to any Polish refugee seeking work to apply for a visa and come to the U.S. At the refugee camp, Juliusz had joined up with a Catholic organization called Caritas whose Washington, D.C. office did work in matching up these refugees with various organizations who might be willing to offer them employment and a place to stay. A Benedictine monastery in northwest Missouri named Conception Abbey had need of a painter and Juliusz fit the bill. So, two days before departure, Juliusz found out he was flying to Kansas City but had no idea where he would be working.

Photo by Jarrod Thome

Upon arrival, Juliusz found Fr. Anthony and Br. Leo waiting for him and it was then that he first learned that he was headed to a monastery. “God has a good sense of humor,” he told me. Well, so does Juliusz. He jokingly recalls, “I asked ‘why?’ I thought it was some punishment…why am I going to a monastery? […] When I arrived here it was night. That was Feb. 8 and there was a big snow—the next day when I looked out of my room in the bunk house, there was just a few buildings and a big snow and nothing else and I thought, ‘My Gosh’. You know I was born and raised in Warsaw, the capital city—a pretty big city—and to come here was a pretty drastic change. It’s the middle of nowhere and I thought ‘If I can stay here 6 months, that’s the maximum.’ But 25 years later, I’m still happy to be here.”

The Simple Life and a Second Home

While coming from a city like Warsaw to rural northwest Missouri made for a bit of an adjustment at first, Juliusz now appreciates the peacefulness and simplicity of his lifestyle. Anyone who has had contact with Conception will not find this hard to believe. He told me, “I started to really like this place and the monks are really nice people and I started to enjoy living here.” No one forgets their homeland though, and Juliusz still tries to make it back to Poland every two years for a seven week vacation. Even so, he still says, “You know, when I’m here, sometimes I miss Poland but when I’m in Poland, I miss the Abbey. So it’s like a second home.”

Several times throughout the course of our conversation Juliusz reiterated the theme of his thankfulness for what he has. He sees it as God’s will that he came to Conception because of the way it’s influenced his life for the better, and he doesn’t have any intention of leaving anytime soon either. In fact, when I asked him if he had ever thought about building a house for himself, he said, “Well, I was never used to a big place. Besides, when you have a home, how much do you have to clean? My apartment is much easier to keep clean and really, I am happy with what I have here.” In his final reflections on his 25 years here at the Abbey, Juliusz added, “I don’t regret my decisions. I left Poland and I’m grateful I got here—this is like my family.”

In turn, the family Juliusz refers to has nothing but positive things to say about him too. Br. Mark Kosiba (also of Polish descent) told me, “I would trust Juliusz with anything—in prayer and work—he’s just a man you can count on. I consider him a friend, Pole to Pole.” Br. Blaise Bonderer, who has worked closely with Juliusz over the years, had this to say: “Juliusz possesses monastic values far and above that of any other lay person. This did not happen overnight nor without difficulties. There have been a few bumps in the road which he has overcome with great admiration. His Eastern European work ethic has been a great attribute to him and to Conception Abbey.”

These words only bespeak the appreciation of an entire monastic community for the work, dedication, and friendship of a good natured painter from Poland. Here’s to 25 years down, and only 275 more to go.

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