Prof. Dr. Gertruda Uścińska, Rector of the Nicolaus Copernicus Superior School (SGMK), took part in the Inauguration of the 2024/2025 Academic Year at UKSW University in Warsaw. The Inauguration ceremony, held on October 10 at the campus on Wóycickiego Street, brought together the academic community and invited guests.
The inauguration in the Robert Schuman Auditorium was preceded by a Mass in the St. Joseph the Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary Academic Church. The Eucharist was presided over by Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz, Grand Chancellor of the Church Faculties at UKSW. The Mass was concelebrated by Rev. Prof. Ryszard Czekalski, Rector of UKSW, along with priests of UKSW.
“I would like that we, on the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the University, remind ourselves above all that the brand of UKSW is both tradition and modernity, faith and reason,” said Rev. Prof. Ryszard Czekalski, during the inauguration of the new academic year.
In his inaugural address, UKSW Rector reminded those gathered that this year the University is celebrating its silver jubilee, while its predecessor, the Academy of Catholic Theology, is celebrating its 70th anniversary. In his speech, he recalled the history of the UKSW origins. He called the delivery of the inaugural lecture by Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak, Rector of the University of Warsaw “symbolically reaching back to its roots.” It was the faculties of theology at the University of Warsaw, which had been liquidated by the communists, as well as at Jagiellonian University, that gave rise to the Academy of Catholic Theology. As the Rev. Prof. Ryszard Czekalski said, at first it was treated with reserve, but over time it was surrounded with “great care” by Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, who understood “how great is the role of universities in shaping conscious generations of citizens.”
A letter of best wishes to the UKSW community was sent by Polish President Andrzej Duda. In a message read by the Director General at the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland, Barbara Brodowska-Mączka, President Andrzej Duda stressed that the 25th anniversary, a time full of “pride and satisfaction with past achievements,” should also be a time to reflect on the challenges of the future.
The matriculation ceremony of newly admitted students and doctoral students was conducted by Dr. Anna Fidelus, UKSW Professor and Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Education.
The oath was taken by students representing all fields of study at UKSW, and by doctoral students who achieved the best results in the admissions process for the UKSW Doctoral School.
After the oath, the chairwoman of the Student Government Aleksandra Radwańska and the chairwoman of the Doctoral Student Government Mariola Pirek MA, spoke.
