Poland is a country in the continent of Europe and shares borders with Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Russia. Poland is a large country, (it is two and a half times as large as the United Kingdom), with a variety of landscapes, from sandy beaches in the north to snow-capped mountain peaks in the south. In the winter temperatures in Poland can drop to below -20° C and snow can lie on the ground for 60-70 days!

People from Poland are called Poles and the language they speak is Polish. For centuries, Poland endured invasions and wars, but the Polish people have kept their language and their culture. Faith is a very important part of Polish life. Most people are Catholic and are very proud of Pope John Paul II, who was born in Poland in 1920 and who was made a saint in 2014.

As you listen to the Polish children below sing of their mission to share God’s love, watch out for the photograph of St Thérèse of Lisieux, whom Pope John Paul admired greatly. Did you know that St Thérèse was a member of Mission Together (Holy Childhood, as it was then known) when she was your age?