SACROEXPO (10-12.06.2024)

25th International Exhibition of Church Construction, Church Fittings and Furnishings and Religious Art SACROEXPO

Europe's most important meeting of the church and religions sector goes down in history. Religious an spiritual art from almost all corners of the world were presented at Targi Kielce

For a quarter of a century, Sacroexpo has attracted relogious and spiritual art aficionados and creators from all over the world. The event abounded with various exhibitions, including those which featured contemporary religious art, Slovak religions paintings, the richness of the Maronite tradition and the icon writing school's display. The expo offer proved much to the audience's delight owing to the variety of devotional items, accessories, liturgical vestments, and church furnishings on show. Nearly 200 exhibitors from 14 countries participated in the event. The exhibition hosted several thousand people.

One-stop shop - where traditions meet modernity

In addition to Sacroexpo's permanent offer - paintings, icons, sculptures and figurines, religious gadgets and souvenirs, there were also clothing items from head to toe - original footwear from Polish craftsmen, the highest quality liturgical vestments and shirts in the most fashionable patterns, various headgear from renowned clothing manufacturers. Studio Prata offered a unique "St. Stanisław, the Patron Saint of Poland" chasuble. The ZYGZAK Artistic Embroidery Studio put forward a collection of liturgical vestments decorated with regional Kashubian embroidery. The anniversary Sacroexpo was also the showcase for the latest technological solutions for the church and the faithful; the products porftolio included the e-kuria.pl system - a modern platform facilitating management, administration and everyday duties and functioning of church communities. Indico Plus also offered a wide range of products supporting church activities and among them the signpost application showing the faithful the way to the Church, the nearest places where Holy Masses, confessions and services are offered. Another interesting solution from Parafia Plus - an electronic intentions book, the system for booking Holy Mass intentions and an application for accepting and managing intentions. Cashless donations collection has been made possible with the "eDatek" device offered by the private company Numen. Modern donation machines from M13 Group were also put on show at the expo.

Art exhibition complemented by an auction and meetings with artists.

Upon the initiative of the Art In House - Auction House, the Kielce exhibition and congress centre again hosted the Art Zone, presenting modern and original works on religious themes: paintings, sculptures and icons by Expo visitors could meet and talk personally with the respected artist, including Sylwia Perczak, the painter and sculptor Aleksander Grzybek, and Krzysztof Sokołowski, who designs minimalist interiors of chapels. The second day of the expo, i.e. 11 June, witnessed the Auction of all the presented works; all auctioned works were sold for a total of almost PLN 150,000.

Slovak religious paintings and the richness of the Maronite traditions

This year's of Sacroexpo presented religious and spiritual art from almost all over the world; the agenda included the first-time presentation of almost 100 works by Slovak artists. The exhibition was organised in cooperation with the Artem gallery in Slovakia. The works offered a wealth of ideas, currents of opinion, artistic perfection, united by respect for the Supreme, they reflect the quest for the value of life, relate to history and spread goodness, while maintaining the authenticity of artistic expression. For the first time Saroexpo includeded the premiere exhibition held under the banner of "The Light of the East in the Heart of Chaos", whose aim is to present the liturgical richness of the Eastern Catholic Church, especially the Maronite tradition. The exhibition presented original manuscripts, facsimiles of the Book of Psalms from the 17th century, as well as Catholic liturgical books in Arabic and Syriac; the liturgical vestments used in the Maronite rite, designed by the Lebanese designer Maged Bou Tannous, aroused the visitors' great admiration. The artist designed robes for Pope Francis on the occasion of the Holy Mass he celebrated in Cyprus and for Pope Benedict XVI.

Meet the creator session featuring Fr. prof. Witold Kawecki and Fr. Sebastian Picur

A unique conversation with Father Witold Kawecki, author of the book "Travels through Italy with Artemizja Gentileschi" was a part of the expo; the publication is more than a guide book to the picturesque corners of Italy, but also a story about the life and work of one of the most significant but unknown Baroque artists. Father Kawecki's lecture combined historical, artistic and spiritual elements, offering deep insight into the context of the era and the artist's i.e. Artemizja Gentilescha individual approach to painting. The epxo visitors could also listen to a conversation with a tiktoker and YouTuber - Father Sebastian Picur, a priest of the Przemyśl Archdiocese, He is known for his love for God. For several years he has been actively involved in evangelism on the Internet, with a special focus on TikTok. He wants this "new continent" where many people live to be filled with God's content to the greatest extent possible. Two books by Fr. Sebastian Picur are the fruit of love for God and evangelistic service among young people - "Holy Game" and "What does the priest think about...".

The conference on the future of the Catholic Church in Poland

The meeting's objective was an open conversation about the role and importance of the Church in Poland in the era of external and internal changes. "Catholicism of Tomorrow. Lay people's discussion about the Polish Church" debate was organised by WESOŁA54 Pastoral Centre Monika Białkowska, a theologian and journalist, Aneta Liberacka, the editor-in-chief of the Stacja7.pl portal and Stacja7 Publishing House, Paweł Milcarek, a historian and philosopher, and Zbigniew Nosowski, a theologian and sociologist, joined the discussion panel. They offered tips on what should change in the Polish Church. The main theses that dominated the discussion revolved around the question, of steps that should be taken to save Catholicism for future generations.

Expo awards and honorary medals awarded at the show

The Kielce Sacroexpo's gala ceremony put the limelight on the innovative products, unique expo stand arrangements and wonderful people who made an invaluable contribution to the development of the church industry. The Polish Dominican Province's Publishing House "W Drodze" was awarded for the series of Catholic commentary on the Holy Scripture, and the Jedność Publishing House received the Honorary Medal of His Primate of Poland, Fr. Archbishop Wojciech Polak for the Torah, i.e. the Five Books of Moses. Innovative solutions were also appreciated. An amplifier with a digital mixer from CTS and restoration of the historic tower clock mechanism's function by Rduch Bells & Clocks also gained recognition. The value of unique works and projects of the "St. Stanisław the Patron of Poland" chasuble from Studio Prata, a collection of liturgical vestments decorated with regional Kashubian embroidery from the ZYGZAK Artistic Embroidery Studio and coffee from the Pallottine Missionary Foundation SALVATTI.pl were also appreciated. Targi Kielce medals and distinctions were also awarded to Jawa for the aesthetic and educational values of the "Great Evacuation - Noah saves animals" board game and Andrzej Burkot's Woodcarving Workshop for maintaining the tradition of the woodcarving workshop. The expo presentation style was by Miranda, Axencia Turismo De Galicia, Krakowski Stained Glass Workshop SG Żeleński and Haftina Textile Group and God's Atelier for the collective expo presentation of companies were also awarded.

The 26th Sacroexpo Exhibition will be held from 2 to 4 June 2025 at Targi Kielce.