Past Administrator of John Paul II Foundation, Father Krzysztof Wieliczko, OSPE received the distinction “Pride of Polonia,” for his contribution in spreading the inheritance of Saint John Paul II
On August 27 2023, in Doylestown (PA), at the National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Czestochowa, took place the usual indulgence celebrations. Thousands of pilgrims arrived for that occasion, among them a large number of members of John Paul II Foundation, who came to participate in the ceremony of the “Pride of Polonia” prize, given this year to Father Krzysztof Wieliczko—past Administrator of John Paul II Foundation. The National Polish Apostolate Committee in USA had decided to offer this prestigious distinction to Father Wieliczko for his extraordinary efforts to promote the spiritual and cultural inheritance of Saint John Paul II in USA and in the world.
The prize was given during the high Mass, celebrated by Father Archbishop Thomas Wenski of the diocese of Miami. During the sermon, which he said in Polish, the archbishop underlined the great importance of the Polish traditions–honored by Saint John Paul II—and that they should be kept up and passed to future generations. Father Wieliczko had done it in more than thirty counties/places of the world, mainly where there were Friends of the JPII Foundation.
Invited by Father Wieliczko, the new Administrator of John Paul II Foundation, Father Prelate Dariusz Giers, arrived from Rome to attend the ceremony. For the first time, he had the occasion of meeting a large group of members, sympathizers, and friends of FJPII, who had arrived from New York, New Jersey, New England, Washington DC, California, and even from Indonesia and Singapur.
Father Giers thanked for being able to participate in such a distinguished occasion. He also described the great role Father Wieliczko had played in the development of the John Paul II Foundation, his sacrifice and his dedication for its success. Father Giers also expressed hope that what our Pope, Saint John Paul II, had began will persist and attract new members/souls.
A short conference that preceded the prize ceremony organized by The Polish National Apostolate Committee and titled “The development of Saint John Paul II inheritance.” During the conference, we discovered that this year is the 45th anniversary of the election of the Pope from Poland. This date is compared to such important dates as the Baptism of Poland in 966 AD, or the independence of Poland in 1918. Father Tadeusz Lizinczyk, the Provincial of the Pauline Fathers, expressed his joy that his friend, Father Wieliczko had been able to reach such heights of accomplishments in America.
Father Krzysztof Wieliczko received the prize from the Polish Society in the US (Polonia) with great surprise and delight. He stated that before he served as the administrator of FJPII, he had served for twelve years as parish priest at a church in Manhattan. He also had been in charge of the Pauline Fathers and had always cared about spreading the knowledge of Polish faith and traditions—a result of that was the creation of a chapel of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Saint Patrick Cathedral in Manhattan.
(translated from Polish by Eduvigia Orzechowska Ancaya)
