Wedding of the Weddings
2026 Wedding of the Weddings
2026
The 32nd meeting of couples who held alcohol-free weddings—known as the "Wedding of Weddings"—took place in Rzeszów from July 30 to August 2, 2026AD.
We would like to express our gratitude for those who prepared this excellent event and contributed to it. First of all to the four bishops that took part in the meeting, Pater Grzegorz Kot, the main organizer and supervisor of the event, Pater Władysław Zązel who initiated the meetings of Wedding of the Weddings, all the Paters that directed their word to the participants, the sisters taking care of children, all the volunteers supporting the event and the staff of the Diocesan House Tabor who took care of us. Last not least, we thank all the participants of the event. Your non-alcoholic weddings are the reason for this event and the reason why this event is so important for entire Poland.
The first day coincided with the 20th anniversary of the founding of the "Wedding of Weddings" association. The founders had gathered in Wrocław during the 12th "Wedding of Weddings" meeting with the aim of changing Poland's image through their initiative. Having demonstrated that the most beautiful and joyful wedding requires no alcohol, these couples decided to join forces to spread the concept of alcohol-free weddings in entire Poland and to foster a healthy new culture of alcohol-free living within society.
For two decades, the association has been tirelessly and wholeheartedly committed to fostering the development of conscience and strengthening social awareness. Key objectives and tasks that have been consistently pursued over the years include:
The 32nd National Meeting of Couples that Had Non-Alcoholic Wedding Celebrations, called "Wedding of the Weddings", was officially opened on Thursday, July 30, at the "Tabor" Diocesan House in Rzeszów in the evening. The meeting is a unique event that brings together couples who bear a courageous and moving witness to a life of sobriety and true freedom.
After a shared supper, the participants took part in a group event where each couple had the opportunity to briefly introduce themselves and share a personal story. Many participants emphasized their connection to the "Crusade for the Liberation of Man" movement, founded by late Pater Franciszek Blachnicki, now referred by the Church with the title Venerable Servant of God. People came from all corners of Poland. There were also several mixed Polish-Slovak couples present.
The meeting was honored by the presence of the first Bishop of the Diocese of Rzeszów, Kazimierz Górny, who began his episcopal ministry in the Archdiocese of Kraków.
The bishop addressed warm words to those present, thanked the couples for their moving testimony, and recalled Saint Maximilian Maria Kolbe—a wonderful patron saint of sobriety. Just the day before, on July 29, marked the 85th anniversary of his heroic act at the Auschwitz concentration camp, where he volunteered to enter the starvation bunker in place of a fellow prisoner. He died in the bunker, while the other prisoner survived the war. This also provided the Bishop with an opportunity to remind everyone that the first inmates and victims of the German Nazi concentration camps were Poles; the extermination of the Jews did not begin until two years later. He emphasized that only a deep Catholic faith could motivate people to sacrifice themselves for others, and he therefore called for the protection of the true faith. In doing so, His Excellency criticized the smear campaign recently directed against the Polish nation and the Catholic Church. He also called upon us to work towards sav
ing Polish families in order to resist the extinction of the nation, for it is within the family that one learns the value of making sacrifices for others. In this context, the bishop also spoke out strongly against mass immigration—particularly that of Islamists, who are the arch-enemies of the Catholic faith. His Excellency referred also to the Bloody Sunday in Bydgoszcz (September 10th, 1939AD) as a good counterexample to the common saying “Alcohol softens manners”, because Germans, well-known beer lovers, proved that day to be extremely cruel, executing on one day dozens of thousands of innocent Poles.
The focal point of the first day was the solemn Holy Mass with Bishop Górny as main celebrant in the chapel of the "TABOR" diocesan center. The homily was delivered by the bishop’s secretary, Father Dr. Wiesław Matyskiewicz. The preacher emphasized the virtue of abstinence as a gift to the family and highlighted the diverse achievements of the diocesan service dedicated to sobriety and liberation from the grip of addiction. He also mentioned numerous organizations within the Diocese of Rzeszów that are working towards these goals. These include, among others:
The preacher warmly encouraged the participants to carry forward and consolidate in their home dioceses the initiatives launched during the meeting. He thanked the couples from the bottom of his heart for an attitude that expressed the highest love for God and neighbor.
There were also moving moments during the Mass. Father Ząze, the founder of the meetings “Wedding of the Weddings”, who had undergone major surgery last month and now walks with a crutch, helped the 92-year-old bishop to go up and down the steps at the altar.
We sincerely thank the bishop and his secretary for their presence, for praying with us, and for the words they addressed to us.
We also extend our thanks to the "Domestic Church" movement of the Diocese of Rzeszów and the music ministry for their active participation in organizing the event and the service.
On both Friday and Saturday, we began the day with morning prayer (Matins) in the chapel of the "TABOR" Diocesan House. There, Father Grzegorz Kot—organizer of this year’s "Wedding of Weddings," chaplain for those struggling with addiction, and chairman of the "I Help Because I Love" Foundation—reminded us of the immense responsibility we bear for our words, as well as the great power inherent in them.
Later that morning, a presentation on the subject of addiction was given. Father Nikodem Rybczyk delivered a highly insightful talk on the topic, explaining how the human brain functions and the role the reward system plays in the development of addiction. He discussed the diagnostic criteria for addiction and highlighted warning signs that should not be overlooked.
At the same time, the Sisters of the Presentation offered a varied program for children.
Following the presentation, we traveled to the parish of Markowa (Archdiocese of Przemyśl), where the highlight of the day was Holy Mass celebrated by Bishop Krzysztof Chudzio, the Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Rzeszów.
The Bishop reminded us that sobriety entails responsibility for oneself, for others, and for one’s family, as well as a shared responsibility for the entire community.
He pointed to the lived example of the Blessed couple Józef and Wiktoria Ulma—who loved to the very end and even laid down their lives—and encouraged us to take responsibility for others and to cultivate a compassionate heart. He also recalled that it was in this very church where Mass was being celebrated that Józef and Wiktoria had once received the Sacrament of Matrimony before God on July 7th, 1935 AD.
Before we proceed with this story of Wedding of the Weddings, we need a short break for some explanations for English-speaking readers. For many people in the world, world war two is an “unknown war”. The war began with an aggression of Germans, Russians and 3 other countries on Poland in September 1939. The idea fix of German leader (“Führer”) Adolf Hitler was to exterminate the entire Polish nation. For this purpose he let build so-called “Konzentrationslager”, in fact death camps where Poles died of heavy work and undernutrition. But after the German invasion of Russia in 1942, Hitler’s extermination ideas were extended also on Jews, in particular Jews living in the occupied Poland. Germans issued a law forbidding Poles to help Jews in any way. However, Poles did not subordinate and they fed Jews or even hid them in their houses, just like the Ulma Family. This was quite dangerous of course, because anybody helping Jews was condemned to death by an execution squad. The German police got somehow the information that Ulma Family is violating this “law” and they were killed therefore, together with the Jews they were hiding. So, you are surely now ready to follow the subsequent story.
After Holy Mass, we set out to explore this unique place further. We visited the Museum of Poles Saving Jews. We learned the moving and heroic story of the Ulma family and were deeply touched by the testimony of the martyrdom of the entire Ulma family, including their unborn child (on March 24th, 1944 AD). We were confronted with the cruelty of an atheistic regime that scorned God’s commandments and, in doing so, imposed a contempt for human beings. The murderers went unpunished by their own state. The residents of Markowa were horrified by the murder, yet no one abandoned the practice of hiding Jews persecuted by the Germans. Most of the hidden Jews survived the war.
Afterwards, we visited the open-air museum, which displays several reconstructed traditional farmsteads from Markowa. The buildings and architecture of that era allowed us to experience firsthand the atmosphere of those difficult wartime days.
Next, we visited the cemetery where the Ulma family was once buried. Their remains are now housed in a sarcophagus in the parish church, having been transferred there following their beatification on September 10, 2023.
In the evening, we prayed the Rosary together in the Tabor Chapel. We prayed for those in urgent need of spiritual support—especially people trapped in addiction or dependency—that they might find true freedom and peace of heart. The prayer was led by Father Rafał Głowacki, who is responsible for the parish’s nocturnal Stations of the Cross.
Late in the evening, the members of the "Wedding of Weddings" association held their meeting. It provided an opportunity to review current activities, outline future plans, determine new directions for development, and share information regarding the organization of the 33rd "Wedding of Weddings" meeting scheduled for 2027.
The meeting also served as a wonderful occasion to mark the association's 20th anniversary—an organization that, for two decades, has played such a significant role in our shared endeavor to promote the concept of alcohol-free weddings.
We began the day once again with morning prayers (Matins) led by Father Grzegorz Kot. In his address, the chairman of the "I Help Because I Love" Foundation highlighted the extraordinary faithfulness required by marriage. He emphasized the importance for married couples of cherishing the gift of their vocation, growing steadily within it—both personally and in their relationship with one another—and nurturing this sacred bond daily with care and tenderness.
After a time of quiet morning reflection, we took a walk with Father Paweł Batory through the charming corners of the capital of the Carpathian region, exploring the history of the place where this year’s "Wedding of Weddings" took place. Rzeszów was a private city governed successively by three families: the Rzeszowskis, the Ligęzas, and the Lubomirskis. The first family built a castle that now houses the district court; the last built a summer palace that now accommodates the Medical Chamber. These families also left behind three churches where their remains rest; we visited two of them.
The highlight of the day was Holy Mass at the (modern) Cathedral of Rzeszów. It was a deeply moving and solemn moment for all participants of this year’s 32nd National Meeting of Married Couples that Had Non-Alcoholic Wedding Receptions, " Wedding of Weddings 2026". The liturgy was celebrated by Bishop Jan Wątroba, the Bishop of Rzeszów, with numerous priests from the Diocese of Rzeszów gathering at the altar to concelebrate. Following the homily, the married couples—participants in the "Wedding of Weddings"—renewed their marriage vows.
The sermon itself was delivered by Bishop Tadeusz Bronakowski, Chairman of the Polish Bishops' Conference Committee for the Apostolate of Sobriety and Care for Addicted.
Reflecting on the martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist, he reminded the faithful that proclaiming God's truth requires courage and often meets with rejection. He noted that the Church is frequently attacked and hated not because of the faults of its members, but because of its fidelity to the Gospel, because of clearly teaching God's commandments, because of refusal to adapt the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ to human wishes, weaknesses and desires. Sometimes it is even dangerous to proclaim the Gospel, but His Excellency encouraged the faithful to remain strong in faith by citing Christ's words: "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul."
Bishop Tadeusz Brinkowski reminded in his sermon that August is being proclaimed by Church in Poland as a month of voluntary abstinence from alcohol. He called for prayer for families, the renewal of marriage vows, and acts of self-denial as reparation for the societal sin of drunkenness. Invoking Blessed Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, he reminded the congregation role of the family in the life of the nation, quoting the Primate's words: "For us, the family has the value of a Polish *raison d'état*—it is a matter of our very existence."
Drawing on the teachings of Cardinal Wyszyński, the Preacher highlighted the devastating consequences of alcoholism. He quoted the words of the Blessed Primate of Poland: "Drunkenness is a great social scourge, more dangerous than waterborne infectious diseases or earthquakes." His Excellency insisted that the faithful should support social and legislative initiatives aimed at curbing the availability of and advertisement of alcohol, independently of their political views or options.
The Bishop paid tribute to the heroes of the Warsaw Uprising of 1944 and the Solidarity movement, initiated in 1980, holding them up as models for service to the homeland.He quoted Father Franciszek Blachnicki’s words that "If Poles need a patriotic act today—an act of liberation—it is the act of sobriety." In this context, he expressed his gratitude everyone involved in the apostolate of sobriety. At the end of the sermon he entrusted Polish families to the care of the Mother of God, praying for the strengthening of the nation's faith, unity, and sobriety.
In the evening, following such profound spiritual experiences, it was time for joy and a celebration filled with dancing. The traditional alcohol-free "Wedding of Weddings" ball got into full swing under the guidance of the irreplaceable master of ceremonies, Anna Marut—a guarantee of a great atmosphere.
An electric energy filled the dance floor at the "TABOR" Diocesan Center, and smiles never left the participants' faces—proving that true happiness requires absolutely no alcohol!
We thank everyone for their presence, their witness, and the time spent together. May this joy endure!
Let us note that several couples had their wedding anniversaries in the days of the Wedding of the Weddings meeting in Rzeszów. So during the break in the dancing party, they were congratulated on these occasions, and the famous Polish song “Sto lat” was Sang for each of them separately.
After the ball and a hearty breakfast, we made our way to the Parish of St. Stanislaus (Bishop and Martyr) in Rzeszów-Dworzysko to thank God together for this extraordinary time of grace.
It was a Mass in which participants of "Wedding of the Weddings" prayed jointly with the local parishioners.
The Holy Mass was celebrated by Father Rafał Głowacki (organizer of the parish’s nocturnal Stations of the Cross, featuring prayers for sobriety) and Father Grzegorz Kot (pastor and chaplain for sobriety in the Diocese of Rzeszów, and provost of this St. Stanislaus parish, for three years now).
Also concelebrating was the esteemed initiator and chaplain of the "Wedding of Weddings," Father Władysław Zązel.
In his homily, the prelate reminded the congregation that the month of August represents a special time of national abstinence and sobriety for the Polish people. He encouraged all participants and the assembled faithful to reflect on their own lives in this regard and to cherish this important virtue.
The priest emphasized the importance of holding religious and family celebrations entirely without alcohol, thereby allowing them to become a living testimony of faith and freedom.
A special moment during the Eucharistic celebration was the baptism of little Aleksander, who was solemnly welcomed into the community of the Church. A child, Father Zązel noted, is the fruit of the wedding. At the very moment of baptism, all shall be concerned with the religious growth of the child. Pater Zązel recalled an old folk song in which the child was cursing its God-parents because they drank alcohol at the baptism reception and taught him to drink and thus ruined the life of this child. Pater challenged the frequent phrase “Alcohol is for people”. He recalled that also the hospital is for people, the prison is for people, the hell is for people. Do you want to go there because it is for people?
After Holy Mass, Father Grzegorz Kot—chairman of the "I Help Because I Love” Foundation—shared the history of the parish, which is one of the newest in the Diocese of Rzeszów. He noted with pleasure that the small community is characterized by great vitality and strong engagement of the residents in parish life.
He did not hesitate to share with us his problems. He noticed that there are many parishioners engaged in parish life, whose personal life is however detached from the Catholic faith. They attend various parish meetings but do not think it is necessary to attend the Holy Mass. There are couples living together without sacramental marriage. They do not think about their future – their eternal future. These are the predominant challenges for the pastoral work of Pater Grzegorz.
Finally he gave each couple a gift: a book about the blessed family Ulma. The participants of Wedding of the Weddings, congratulated him on his birthday that day. As our stay at the Dworzysko parish drew to a close, we—the "Wedding of the Weddings" community—expressed our heartfelt gratitude and great joy at having been guests in Rzeszów.
We thank the parish provost for his dedication, his care, every kind word, and his warmth, as well as for allowing us to spend the final part of the meeting at this special location, which serves as the diocesan center for prayer for sobriety within the Diocese of Rzeszów.
Upon returning to the "TABOR" Diocesan House, a moving session of sharing testimonies took place, allowing participants to recount their experiences from this year’s meeting. Afterward, commemorative certificates were presented, and we received a pastoral blessing from Father Władysław Zązel.
The remarks of the participants were very insightful for our personal lives. One couple shared their experience of life when the father is working abroad. They did not recommend anyone a life like that – the couple shall live always together. Another pointed at their motivation for non-alcoholic wedding and abstinent life drawn from one of the sermons of Pater Zązel. Pater Zązel described frequently the life of children in an alcohol-driven family where the children do not know when to cuddle and when to run away. The couple did not want such a fate for their children. Another couple pointed to the necessity of being humble. They recalled the warning of the Apostle Paul: "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!" (1 Kor 10-12). Still another couple recalled the experience from a business trip where the American host was convinced that spring water was Poland’s National Drink. It isa puzzle why the American thought this way, but this is a hint that we, as a Nation, shall return to this our Catholic tradition, destroyed by the impact of Protestantism. Not bear, not wine, not vodka – but the spring water shall symbolize celebration in Polish patriotic houses. We couldgo on and on recalling the very interesting reflections. Sobriety is a very good foundation for thinking about our lives.
We extend herewith our deep gratitude to everyone who contributed to organizing this gathering—especially Father Grzegorz Kot and the "Pomagam bo kocham" ("I Help Because I Love") Foundation he leads, as well as the couples from the "Domestic Church," the family branch of the Light-Life Movement in the Diocese of Rzeszów.
We sincerely thank all the participants for their presence, for praying together, and every testimony of true Catholic faith. Above all, we thank you for the decision you made years ago to organize an alcohol-free wedding reception. This is a great gift to your families and local communities, as well as to the entire nation.