On Saturday, January 13, 2024, a Christmas reunion took place at the Polish Republic’s Embassy in Paris. Jan Emeryk Rosciszewski, Ambassador of Poland in France, welcomed all the guests thanking them for coming and wishing them a lovely evening.
Fr. Prelate Pawel Ptasznik, Director of the Administrative Council of the Vatican JPII Foundation, was the guest of honor. Among other guest were the Polish priests in France: Fr. Boguslaw Brzys, Director of PMK, Fr. Pawel Pietrusiak, Vice-director of PMK and Director of the Polish Seminary in Issy les Moulineaux, Fr. Lukasz Skawinski, the parish priest of the Polish Parish in Paris, and Fr. Stanislaw Jez, ex-director of PMK.
The Director of the Circle of Friends of the JPII Foundation in Paris, Daniel Brzakowski, thanked the Ambassador of Poland, Jan E. Rosciszewski, as well as the Polish Consul Andrzej Szydlo and Mrs. Consul Annie Majda, for the reception at the prestigious diplomatic quarters.
Representing the Administration of the Circle of Friends of the JPII Foundation were present: Henryk Rogowski, Member of the Administrative Council, Krystyna Tomkiewicz, Liliane Brzakowska, Christine Vincent, Elisabeth Neyraud, Marcel Caserio, Florjan J. Zaluski, and many other guests.
Nine members of the Circle were decorated with the Commemorative Cross of the JPII Foundation. Among them the conductors of the choir (thirty singers): Mrs. Urszula Szoja-Cuvellier, Mrs. Ewa Lenartowicz, who had conducted the choir for over ten years, Mrs. Brygida Rucinska, as well as those members of the Circle who had belonged to it for at least 20 years.
The Choir Totus Tuu, under the tutelage of Mrs. Urszula Szoja-Cuvelier, sang Polish carols interlaced with French carols and songs, giving the evening a festive atmosphere
After the carol Bog Sie Rodzi, Fr. Prelate Ptasznik blessed the wafers (Polish custom) and the guests—according to old traditions—parted them, while rendering each other their best wishes for the coming year. The festivities continued at the appetizing dinner table.
Florjan J. Zaluski
