The annual banquet of the New York section of the John Paul II Foundation took place on June 4, 2023, in the banquet hall of Princess Manor in Greenpoint, New York. In accordance with a long-standing tradition, the banquet pays tribute to a clergyman who particularly supports the Polish community and the John Paul II Foundation. This time, Father Dariusz Blicharz, the administrator of St. Matthew’s Parish in Ridgewood, Queens, was honored. Originally from Bigoraj, Poland, Father Blicharz was assigned to the Archdiocese of New York in 2003, detached from the Archdiocese of Lublin, and currently works at the diocesan tribunal in Brooklyn.
After welcoming the guests at the banquet, Mieczysław Pająk, the president of the Friends of JPII in New York, thanked Father Blicharz for his support to the Foundation and the Polish community in the city. He recalled the goals of the Foundation and mentioned that October 16 of this year marks the 45th anniversary of the pontificate of Saint John Paul II.
Father Blicharz, the guest of honor for the evening, expressed his gratitude for the distinction bestowed upon him. In his speech, he evoked the time when, as a high school student, he was deeply involved in pilgrimage pastoral work. He recounted how he organized bicycle trips to Rome with young people and was invited to a private audience with Pope John Paul II. His memories of the Pope were very personal and moving. He alluded to the common feeling of belonging to the “John Paul II generation,” as most of the attendees had lived under his pontificate.
The Polish School of St. Matthias Parish, led by Małgorzata Starzec and Mariola Dudek, prepared the artistic part of the event. The children sang religious and patriotic songs and recited poems about Saint John Paul II.
Priests and parishioners from Polish parishes in New York attended the banquet. Bishop Witold Mroziewski was present, as well as representatives of Polish businesses and organizations, many young people, local teachers, members, and donors of the Foundation.
The funds raised during the banquet will be used to provide scholarships for young people from Central and Eastern Europe, as well as to further develop the goals of the Foundation, maintain the Polish House in Rome and the Foundation House in Lublin, and support the Center for Documentation and Studies on the pontificate of John Paul II.
Zofia Twarowska
