On Sunday, October 15th (Pope’s Day), Polonia in New York celebrated the 45th Anniversary of John Paul II’s election as St. Peter’s successor. The representatives of the Board and the supporters of the Friends of John Paul II Foundation participated in religious and patriotic events.
The New York Chapter of the Friends of John Paul II Foundation took part in an Anniversary Mass at the Saint Stanislaw Kostka Church in Greenpoint commemorating the October 16th, 1978, election of a Polish Pope. The 39th Anniversary of the martyrdom and death of the blessed priest Jerzy Popieluszko was also commemorated there. The Mass was co-celebrated by the Chaplain of the New York Friends of Foundation Chapter Fr. Jozef Szpilski, and by the parish priest, Fr. Grzegorz Markulak. The homily addressed the accomplishments of Saint John Paul II and the martyrdom of Fr. Popieluszko.
Many organizations and groups participated at the Mass, among them, Boy Scouts from Warmia group, children’s folk and dance ensemble Krakowianki i Gorale, Marine League, the representatives of the Polish American Congress, the teachers of Polish schools, Friends of Foundation Chapter and Angelus Choir.
After the Mass, the faithful walked to the monument of the blessed Father J. Popieluszko located next to the McCaren Park. There, Fr. Szpilski led the prayers, Boy Scouts presented an artistic program to honor Father Popieluszko, and the President of the New York Chapter of the JPIIF, Mieczyslaw Pajak, gave a speech. The participants placed the flowers and lighted the candles next to the monument and sang the Polish religious anthem “Boże coś Polskę.”
In the afternoon, the special Mass to honor St. John Paul II was celebrated by the Bishop of the Diocese of Charlottetown in Canada, Jozef Dabrowski, at the St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Brooklyn. The co-celebrants were bishops from the Dioceses of Brooklyn: the Brooklyn Vicar, Bishop Robert Brennan, Bishop Nicolas Di Marzio, Bishop Octavio Cisneros, Bishop Witold Mroziewski, and priests from Polish parishes. In his sermon, Bishop Jozef Dabrowski remembered St. John Paul II, his accomplishments, and his love for Poland and its culture and traditions. New York Polonia participated in large numbers. The cathedral was full to the brim. At the end of the Mass, Father G. Stasiak, the coordinator of the Spiritual Services for Polish Immigrants, said, “This beautiful Mass of the Polish Heritage is a great opportunity for us to thank Our Lord for all the blessings and also for the Pontificate of Saint John Paul II.”
Following the Mass, the musical play “The Saint from Wadowice – John Paul II” was presented. It had been premiered in year 2016 in Cracow and Katowice during the World Youth Days. The actress, Urszula Grabowska, presented fragments of testimonies of those who, thanks to Saint John Paul II intervention, had been cured physically and spiritually. The roll of the “devil’s advocate” was played by Patryk Szwichtenberg, who explained the road to sainthood of John Paul II.
We are happy that we could see in New York such touching and beautiful show on the eve of the 45th Anniversary of the election of Cardinal Karol Wojtyla to the Papal Throne. Additionally, we need to mention that one of the sponsors of this concert was the New York Chapter of Friends of John Paul II Foundation.
Zofia Twarowska
