Mike Trott (Kanty G77) has created this video slideshow, a tribute to the Vincentian Fathers who staffed St. John Kanty Prep in Erie, PA. As the author said himself describing the video, “it’s sad, but it also reflects the gratitude many of the Alumni and feel… this tribute honors the Vincentian Fathers, deeply religious men of character, conviction and morals, who spoke to us of God, of hard work, of success”. Thank you all Kanty Alumni, who keep in heart years spent in St. John Kanty. We are honored, that the work we did is so much appreciated and not forgotten. Thank You Kantians.
Independent Trade Union SOLIDARITY in Poland is celebrating 30th Anniversary this week. On this occasion the special concelebrated Mass in Polish was given at 11:30 AM, Sunday, August 29 in St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY. Fr. Marek Sobczak CM, pastor, presided and Fr. Jan Urbaniak CM was concelebrant. In this way the parish commemorated the events from 1980, when after over two weeks of nation wide strike and workers’ protest communist authority was forced to sign agreement with new workers organization. The agreement guaranteed creation of trade union, first such behind Iron Curtain not controlled by the communist party and government. This victory in peaceful battle ignited the light of freedom and change which lead Poland and other East European countries to get rid of the communist regime. Thanks to to this victory, after 30 years Poland is enjoying freedom, democracy and membership in European and world organization as strong and proud nation. August 31, 1980 was one of the most significant and important events in Polish history in at least 20th century. Continue reading “Greenpoint remembers 30th Anniversary of SOLIDARITY Trade Union »
August 31, 1980, Gdansk, Poland. For the first time in the history of after Yalta Europe communist government signed and agreement with protesting workers. Unlike in 1956 in Budapest and Poznan, 1968 in Prague, 1970 in Gdansk and 1976 in Radom, this time a peaceful protest and strike in many areas of the country lead to unprecedented solution – free, independent trade union, not controlled by the communist authority. Soon, the union created in the shipyard developed into strong social movement – SOLIDARITY. Today, Poland celebrates 30th anniversary of this moment when the Spirit of the Lord “came down and renewed the face of the Earth, that soil” as Pope John Paul II said during his first visit to homeland in 1979. Continue reading “SOLIDARITY: sparks of peaceful change and freedom »
70 years ago, in the afternoon of August 30, 1940, Servant of God, martyr of WWII, Fr. Joseph SLUPINA CM was massacred in the KL Auschwitz. He is one of over 50 Vincentian priests and brothers from Province of Poland who died during World War II and one of 11 recognized as martyrs. For almost a decade Fr. Slupina was working in New England conducting popular missions in parishes in North Eastern United States. He was one of the Founding Fathers of St. John Kanty Prep, Erie, PA and first Mission Team Director in Vincentian community in New England.
The board of trustees has petitioned the Board of Regents of the State Education Department (the University of the State of New York) to form a corporation to operate a nursery school for preschool children from three to five years of age, a universal pre-k program, a kindergarten for five year olds, and a grade one through eight elementary school. The Office of Nonpublic School Services recommends that a provisional charter be granted for a period of three years. Continue reading “St. Stanislaus Kostka School becomes Catholic Academy »
The Vincentian Family in St. Louis marks 350th anniversary of the deaths of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac with charity acts and prayer. Celebrations are planned for upcoming weekend, August 21 and 22. Saturday will be the day of service at more than a dozen sites across the St. Louis, Missouri, area and East St. Louis, Illinois. On Sunday there will be special Mass at Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. Continue reading “St. Louis celebrates 350th Anniversary of Vincent and Luise »
On June 4, 2010 Pope Benedict XVI named Rev. David O’Donnell CM, stepping down President of Catholic University of America the Coadjutor Bishop of Trenton. Msgr. O’Donnell is member of US Eastern Province of the Congregation of the Mission. On Friday, July 30 he was ordained bishop at St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton during two-and-a-half hour long Mass. Four Cardinals, some 45 bishops and more than 250 priests attended. Taking part in the Mass at St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral were Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia, Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, and Archbishop Emeritus of Baltimore Cardinal William Keeler. They were joined by about 45 bishops from around the country, more than 250 priests and dozens of members of various religious orders. Continue reading “Episcopal Ordination of Fr. David O’Donnell CM »
“The length of our days is seventy years —
or eighty, if we have the strength;
yet their span is but trouble and sorrow,
for they quickly pass, and we fly away.” (Psalm 90,10)
On July 20, 2010 in age of 74, 53 years of vocation and 47 years of priesthood, Father Ronald A. WIKTOR CM died at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Bridgeport, CT. He was the long time teacher and last Principal, Rector and Superior of St. John Kanty Prep, Erie, PA. Since 2006 he was resident of St. Joseph Manor Rehabilitation & Medical Center, Trumbull, CT. Condolences can be added as commentaries to this post.
Wednesday, July 14 was National Holiday in France. For General Assembly participants this day was marked by Vincentian Family festivity. In the morning representatives of the JMV and SSVP gave their speeches. In the afternoon, at 5:00 PM special Eucharist celebration was held in the chapel of St. Vincent de Paul at Maison Mere. It was presided by Father Jean-Yves Leboeuf (Visitor of Toulouse) and many members of the the Vincentian Family attended. At the end of the Mass there was a surprise. The letter from Pope Benedict XVI to Vicentian Family was read. Here is the text of this very special message from His Holiness: Continue reading “Letter of Benedict XVI to Vincentian Family »
“To do or not to do” is one of the hihlighted themes in the homily which Superior General, Fr. Gregory Gay CM gave during the Eucharist closing the 41st General Assembly. The other developed theme is derrived from the text above the silver coffin holding the body of St. Vincent de Paul – “Pertransit Beneficiendo” (“He went about doing good”). The Eucharist according to the liturgical text of Mass of Saint Vincent de Paul began at noon in the chapel with relics of St. Vincent de Paul at Maison Mere. Fr. Gregory Gay CM, the Superior General presided and all Assistants General concelebrated. Here is the full text of the homily, which one can recognize as Superior’s General exposé for another six years of his mission as the leader of Vincentians Family and Congregation of the Mission:
