A VISIT OF THE TRIPTYCH IN CANADA

May 18, 2020 marks the 100^th anniversary of the birth of St. Pope John Paul II. In order to celebrate this milestone event – only one Polish Man in the history of the Catholic Church has held such an honourable and responsible role as the successor of Saint Peter on the Holy See – many churches around the world are offering thanksgiving devotions and celebrating Holy Masses. Hence, for this reason three portable altars called Triptychs, consisting of a central part and two side wings with the image of Our Lady of Częstochowa (Black Madonna), St. Sister Faustina and St. John Paul II and their relics are travelling across three continents of the globe (Europe, Asia and North America), so that the Faithful People of God can receive many God’s favours and blessings.

In December of last year, the Ordinary of the Diocese of Hamilton, Bishop Douglas Crosby issued a pastoral letter to all priests in which he encouraged them to open the doors of their churches and welcome this Triptych. Its peregrination in Canada began in January of this year. At the request of the Foundation of St. John Paul II, whose head office is in the Vatican, I was asked to take on the role of a custodian and organizer of the peregrination in the Province of Ontario. At the beginning of January, I had the privilege of receiving the Triptych from the State of New York, USA to Canadian soil.

Now, I would like to present the general program of the jubilee celebrations of the 100^thAnniversary of the Birth of John Paul II at the Parish of St. Joseph in Brantford:

1. Our parish, for the last 5 consecutive years has printed and distributed a free calendar. The bilingual calendar for this year, 2020 contains beautiful pictures with the Holy Father and his selected “golden thoughts”, and quotes from numerous homilies and speeches.
2. From January 1^st of this year, on Saturdays and Sundays before the celebration of the Eucharist, and on week days after Mass, all the faithful recite together the prayer for the intercession of St. John Paul II.
3. Two large banners with the image of the Pope have been placed in the sanctuary of our church, as well as at its exit, with an inscription in English and Polish, emphasizing the importance of the jubilee celebrations.
4. On Sunday January 5, 2020, His Excellency Bishop Matthew Ustrzycki celebrated Mass at St. Joseph’s Church in Brantford, officiating the inception of the Year of John Paul II. I arranged, in an innovating way a Nativity Play which was performed by altar servers and accompanied by a children’s choir “The Merry Notes – Wesołe Nutki”. This Christmas play was dedicated to the greatest Pole of all time, who was born in Wadowice.
5. On January 7^th in Toronto at the Christmas Dinner for Polish Priests serving in various dioceses of the Province of Ontario, I did a presentation about the peregrination of the Triptych and offered proposals for its visitation to various parishes.
6. At the beginning of January, I was a guest on the Catholic Radio Station “Radio Maryja”, in Toronto. On the radio waves where its voice reaches all the listeners of the world, I again presented pastoral proposals for having the Triptych visit other churches, not just Polish ones.
7. Good News! The long-awaited Triptych arrives for the Feast of St. Joseph – the Patron of our Faith Community. Its peregrination will take place from March 14^th to March 20^th. The main celebration will occur on Sunday, March 15^th at 11:30 am. The principal celebrant and homilist will be Bishop JÓZEF Dąbrowski (what a meaningful connection!), auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of London, whom we hosted two years ago. Before celebrating the Eucharist, we will recite the Litany to St. Joseph. The solemn ceremony will end with a Litany to St. John Paul II and a prayer to obtain favours through his intercession. Following this, we will meet our dear guest – Bishop Joseph, on a brotherly Agape in the parish hall, for a time of fellowship and opportunity to enjoy delicious donuts from the Szyszka International Bakery and refreshments.
8. On Thursday, March 19^th and Friday, March 20^th we will pray the Stations of the Cross with St. John Paul II, in the presence of the Triptych located in the sanctuary. Our faith community will follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ in carrying his cross to Golgotha. In a spiritual way, we will invite St. John Paul II to this redemptive Way of the Cross. We will meditate on his dedicated service to the Catholic Church and the whole world, where he experienced suffering, illness, attempted assassination, aging years and carrying a very heavy cross. “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”
9. During the peregrination of the Triptych, the order of Eucharistic celebrations in our church will change. This is the following schedule from Monday to Friday.

• • Morning Masses at 8:00 am will be celebrated in English & evening Masses at 7:00 pm in Polish.
  • Daily Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be from 8:30 to 10:00 am, from 3:00 to 6:30 pm and from 7:45 to 10:00 pm.
  • Daily Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) from 7:30 – 7:55 am and from 6:30 to 6:55 pm.

10. On the website of our parish www.brantfordcr.ca a Litany to St. John Paul II and Novena have been posted. These prayers are printed weekly in our parish bulletin.
11. In the parish office or sacristy after Mass anyone can purchase a book in English titled “Miracles of John Paul II” at a promotional price of $ 7.00.

12. On April 2^nd we celebrate Canada’s Pope John Paul II Day. For this occasion, a special insert will be included in our newsletter.

Emphasizing the importance of the 100^th anniversary of the birth of Karol Wojtyla – St. John Paul II – the Government of the Republic of Poland has designated Year 2020 as the “YEAR OF SAINT JOHN PAUL II”.

On behalf of myself and this faith community of St. Joseph in Brantford I cordially invite and encourage all people to visit our church and pray together in the presence of the Triptych and the relics of the two saints. May celebrating this beautiful Jubilee help us all obtain God’s blessings and graces for ourselves and others through the intercession of St. John Paul II the Great.

Fr. Adam Wroblewicz, CR