Varia
In Japan as well as in Poland Brother Zeno’s legacy is being preserved in many ways. On the anniversary of his death, the Fuji Welfare Foundation and the Franciscan Fathers in Japan organise a yearly event commemorating Brother Zeno’s charitable work. Keeping the legacy alive, is also displayed by the yearly issuing of Br. Zeno memorabilia such as: Rosaries, T-shirts, hats, post-cards and such like items, many of which are presently in the possesion of Br. Zeno’s family. Commemorative celebrations are planned on this date in Br. Zeno’s home Parish in Czarnia (Poland). In other Polish cities, exhibitions in his honour are organized and special envelopes, post-cards etc, are printed for these occasions.
The newest film about Brother Zeno is a wonderful one. Brother Zeno’s dedicated life is a beautiful example of real love for fewer fortunate people. His unlimited love and great compassion shown in the soil of Japan can inspire the spirit of voluntarism and brotherhood among the people around the globe. I hope that the documentary film “Brother Zeno Boundless Love” will be seen by many people world wide. That will help them to enter into the new Millennium with new hope of Peace, Love and Unity among the people of the world. May the documentary film “Brother Zeno Boundless Love” inspire as many people as possible from all over the world to carry on the wonderful spirit of voluntarism and true love for the needy shown by the Polish Franciscan.
Brother Zeno’s family has kept many of his souvenirs after his death. Among them there are special albums made by Brother Zeno with his pictures and paper clippings. There are original letters written by Brother Zeno to members of his family. Some of them were written by his co-friars. There are also in the family collection: Japanese calendars about Brother Zeno, special T-shirts and hats dedicated to the great missionary. An unusual souvenir is a mysterial wallet made by Brother Zeno with a special code releasing a Japanese coin from inside. In the family there treasured rosaries and other items received from Brother Zeno. One of the amusing family treasure are hairs from Brother Zeno’s famous beard. Many valuable souvenirs are in the Franciscan museums in Nagasaki, Japan and Niepokalnow, Poland. Some of Brother Zeno’s souvenirs can be found in the new museum, opened in the year, 2002, in his home Parish, Czarnia. Just some of the souvenirs dedicated to the great Franciscan missionary to Japan, are shown on the this website.
Many times, as a young boy, I have heard about my uncle, Br. Zeno, working as a missionary in Japan. Although I have never met him personally, I feel as if I actually did. I got to know him quite well through the many letters and pictures sent to my parents in Poland by him and his colleagues from Nippon. I learned about his wonderful missionary work in the “Land of The Rising Sun.”
When Maxmilian Kolbe was getting ready to build a monastery in Teresin near Warsaw in 1927, he needed responsible people he could trust with a number of tasks. His right-hand man was a novice, Władysław ŻEBROWSKI, who took on the name of ZENON upon making his vows entering the friary.