On October 1st, 2023, the Fifth Avenue in New York belonged to the Poles and to the Polish Society in America! This year it was an exceptional parade because, for the first time, the acting President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, took part in it. He flew from Poland for this special occasion.
A solemn Mass in St. Patrick Cathedral (Manhattan) preceded the parade. A Mass filled with prayers for the intervention of Saint John Paul II. It was celebrated by Bishop Edmund Whalen and co-celebrated by Bishop Janusz Stepnowski from the Dioceses of Lomza (Poland).
President Duda headed the parade, followed by the representatives of Polish Associations from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. The white and red parade (the colors of the Polish flag) was composed of policemen, war veterans, boy-scouts, Polish parishes, students from Polish and other schools, Polish folk music and dance ensembles, and by all those persons with roots in Polish traditions, religion, and culture.
Among the participants of the Polish parade were Members and Friends of the New York Chapter of John Paul II Foundation. Our platform was decorated with portraits of Saint JPII, white and red Polish flags, yellow papal flags, and with a special inscription celebrating the 45th Anniversary of the Pontificate of Saint John Paul II.
By participating in the Pulaski Parade of New York City, we displayed our pride of being Polish, our national identity, our patriotism rooted in Christian traditions—and most of all, our enormous pride toward our illustrious countryman: Saint John Paul II.
Zofia Twarowska
(translated from Polish by Jadwiga Orzechowska-Ancaya)
