Shared celebration and wishes for the time ahead

A Christmas tree with white baubles stands in the foreground. Next to it is a bouquet of red flowers wrapped in jute and tied with a red ribbon. In the background, there is a hall with red chairs and blurred silhouettes of people. Bright snowflake-shaped projections are shining on the ceiling.

The Rector, the Student Government, and the Doctoral Students’ Government invited members of the academic community to celebrate together. The meeting was a reminder that we all, students, doctoral candidates, and staff, form one strong academic community. The festive atmosphere was created by the most beautiful Christmas carols performed by the WUM Choir, as well as pieces performed by the student band Music Based Medicine. At the end of the event, all participants joined in singing “Midst Quiet Night”, a popular Polish Christmas carol.

“Just as divisions disappear at the Christmas Eve table and mutual kindness, attentiveness, and warmth become the most precious gifts, I would like the joy of the coming holidays, mutual understanding, and acceptance to be the most important theme of today’s meeting, and not only of today’s meeting,” the Rector said when addressing members of the community. He then wished everyone good, beautiful holidays filled with peace, rest, and closeness, and encouraged them to make bold plans for the coming New Year.

Prof. Krenke also addressed our international students, “We are pleased to have you as members of our community and to learn from each other’s diverse cultures and traditions. I would like to wish you a peaceful and joyful Christmas, regardless of how you choose to celebrate it. Wishing you all the very best in the New Year.”

Warm wishes were also conveyed by Anna Kupczak, Chair of the Student Government, and Karol Sadowski, Chair of the WUM Doctoral Students’ Government. They thanked the university authorities for supporting student and doctoral initiatives throughout the year and wished everyone joyful, peaceful holidays filled with time spent with loved ones, as well as a successful 2026. A Christmas message was also delivered by Rev. Canon Mateusz Gawarski, Rector of the Academic Church of St. Anne.

Nine people are standing in a row and singing, holding sheet music in their hands. Behind them, two Christmas trees decorated with lights are shining, and large snowflake projections can be seen on the wall. On the left side, there is a screen displaying an image of a bright Christmas tree in a winter forest. In the audience, a dozen or so people are seated, watching the performance. The hall is decorated with festive elements.

A smartly dressed man, the Rector of WUM, is standing at a lectern and speaking into a microphone. Next to him, two Christmas trees decorated with white baubles and lights are shining.

A smartly dressed young woman, Anna Kupczak, and a young man, Karol Sadowski, are standing at a lectern. The man is speaking into a microphone. In the background, three Christmas trees decorated with white baubles and lights are shining.

Canon priest Mateusz Gawarski is standing at a lectern and speaking into a microphone.

Four people are standing on stage and singing into microphones. In the background, there are two Christmas trees decorated with white baubles and lights, as well as two large screens displaying an image of a bright Christmas tree in a winter forest. On the left side, a person is playing the guitar. The hall is decorated with festive elements.

Two young women are standing next to each other, holding microphones. Behind them, there are three Christmas trees decorated with white baubles and lights. Snowflake projections are visible on the wall, and on the left side, part of a screen showing an image of a bright Christmas tree in a winter forest can be seen.

Several rows of people are seated in the hall on red chairs, looking toward the stage. In the foreground, part of a Christmas tree decorated with white baubles and lights is visible. Dozens of people are present in the hall, participating in the event.

Two people are standing on stage. One is playing the violin, and the other is holding a microphone directed toward them. In the background, a person is playing the guitar, and two large screens display an image of a bright Christmas tree in a winter forest.

Several rows of people are seated in the hall on red chairs, looking toward the stage. Dozens of participants are attentively watching the event.

The auditorium is filled with participants seated on red chairs. On the stage, two people are standing at a lectern, next to which there are three Christmas trees decorated with white baubles and lights. Snowflake projections are visible on the ceiling, and two large screens display slides with white text on a blue background.

Baskets filled with packaged gingerbread are placed on the floor in a hall decorated for Christmas. In the background, Christmas trees adorned with lights are shining. Bright snowflake-shaped projections are visible on the wall.