A Jubilee Mass at 6:30 PM on Thursday, June 16, 2011 in St. Joseph Church, honors this special anniversary and reception prepared by parishioners will follow in the church hall.

Rev. Mitchell “Mitch” Wanat CM was born on August 5, 1942 in New Haven, CT. As a child he met Vincentians in St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Parish. Records of  The Holy Name Society of St. Stanislaus Parish (established 1951) list him among prominent members who later became priests. After pursuing normal schooling Mitch Wanat joined the Congregation of the Mission in then Polish Vice-Province in the USA on June 11, 1963. He got through seminary formation in the Mary Immaculate Seminary, Northampton, PA staffed by Vincentian from Eastern Province. He graduated with Master’s of Divinity and on May 29, 1971 he was ordained priest in Mary Queen of All Saints Chapel there.

Known for his athletic ability, immediately after ordinations Father Mitchell was assigned to St. John Kanty Prep in Erie, PA where he proved his worth till the end of athletic activities with the closing of the school in 1980. He was idolized by the students as a teacher and last athletic director in the school’s history.

Sport was very important and significant activity at Kanty Prep. The first sport to be organized in Kanty was baseball, because there was no gym for other sports. Tha ball playing took place in the cornfield, before the baseball diamond was laid out, with donated equipment. The first basketball game in the “old” gymnasium, built over the boiler room took place on February 12, 1924.

The excellence of sports at Kanty continued until the school’s closing in 1980. Beside the regular sports of football, basketball, and baseball, there were at times, winter skiing and sledding, tennis, bowling, golf, cross country running and even horseback riding.

A hiatus occurred in Kanty athletics when Kanty ceased to be solely a boarding school and became a day school in 1967. The resumption of an athletic schedule was slow but gained strength with time until, in 1980, there were undefeated in footbal (The Eagles), 10-0. The basketball (Varsity) record was excellent as well with 16 wins and 6 losses in final year.

When the Kanty Prep was closed in June 1980 Fr. Wanat together with Father John Sledziona CM and Brother Joseph Zurowski CM moved to Concord, NH, invited by the Bishop of Manchester to take over management of the Bishop Brady High School. While Fr. John became principal of the school and Bro. Joseph headed English department, Father Mitchell was a chaplain. Assigned to teaching and chaplaincy work at Bishop Brady High School Concord, NH Vincentians lived at Laboure House, expressly formed for that purpose at Bow, NH. When the parish of  St. Peter’s in Concord, NH was acquired in 1983, Father moved into the rectory and continued his teaching and chaplaincy activities at Bishop Brady until the contract expired in 1989. Father Mitchell honed in parochial work as vicar in St. Joseph’s Ansonia, CT until 1992.

Next, Father was sent to Lisbon Falls, ME in Diocese of Portland. Vincentians took over the parish of  SS. Cyril & Methodius in Lisbon Falls in 1976. Once it was an ethnic parish community created by Slovak immigrants. During the years and due to various circumstances number of parishioners declined almost leading the parish to closure. With the arrival of Fr. Edward Gicewicz CM as pastor life retuned to the parish. Thus, the Bishop of Portland initiated the project to merge three parishes in Lisbon Falls in to one. Besides St. Cyril and Methodius (placed on National Register of Historic Places on May 20, 1977) Vincentians started to work in Holy Family parish and St. Ann’s parish. Fr. George Dabrowski CM became pastor of first two parishes in 1992 and Fr. Mitchell a pastor of St. Ann’s parish. In 1993 he was appointed pastor of all three parishes. By the bishop’s decree of January 1, 1995 the three parishes became one – Holy Trinity Parish. In 1996 Fr. Anthony Kuzia CM replaced Fr. Wanat as pastor. In 2000 Vincentians left Lisbon Falls.

In 1996 Father Mitchell returned to St. Peter’s Parish in Concord, NH as Pastor and community Superior. Also in 1996 Father was elected Provincial Councilor and continued until 1998. His pastorate in Concord finished in 2001 when he was moved to St. Michael’s Parish in Derby, CT as pastor and superior again. Finally, in 2008 Father returned to Ansonia. First as administrator and then, since September 2 as a pastor of St. Joseph Parish. Meanwhile, on September 9, 2005 he has been elected as Provincial Councilor for another time.

You can view more pictures in the Facebook gallery

On this special day we wish Fr. Mitchell
plenty of graces from Heavens.
May the Lord bless, strengthen and protect you
on your Vincentian pathway!

It reads more, “Erie is selected to encourage local alumni and friends to attend. In addition, the city has changed for those of us who boarded and now offers many venues to make your extended weekend very interesting. From Presque Isle Downs and Casino, golfing, a drive-by on East 38th Street to the gorge; your opportunity for fun and amusement is only limited by your time and imagination.”

⇒ THE 2011 KANTY REUNION FLYER ⇐

2011 is not only the 50th Anniversary of the graduating class of 1961 celebration. It is also a centennial of laying the cornerstone of the St. John Kanty Prep building. The ceremony took place on Memorial Day (May 30) in 1911. So, there is double occasion to celebrate!

The Kanty Reunion Weekend starts on Friday, September 16 in the The Avalon Hotel & Conference Center, 16 West 10th Street, Erie (get directions).
The Hospitality room in the hotel opens at noon to 10:00 PM. For those who sign up earlier, Winery Tour with hors d’oeuvres is scheduled 7:30 to 9:30 PM.

On Saturday, September 17, hospitality room opens at 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM. There will be banquet dinner at the Erie Maennerchor Club, 1607 State Street (get directions).

Sunday, September 17,  Mass at 8:30 AM in St Peter Cathedral, 230 West 10th Street (get directions) followed by
Brunch and Annual Meeting in The Concourse of Union Station, 121 West 14th Street (get directions).

For more information and registration details read the OFFICIAL FLYER or visit www.kantyalumni.com website.
If you have questions, feel free to email Mr. Leonard OLEN (G’61) or Mr. Michael TROTT (G’77). You can also call Mr. Walter MIELCAREK (G’61): (216) 849 3447 or Mr. Michael TROTT: (814) 454 8879.

To sign up for the event fill the REGISTRATION FORM and mail it to Mr. Walter MIELCAREK on the address shown in the form.
Registration Fee is $100 per person (complete package) or $50 per person for banquet only. Discounted rates ($79 – double and $99 for suite) at Avalon Hotel are available for reservations through August 8, 2011.

☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ GET REGISTRATION FORM ☜ ☜ ☜ ☜ ☜

Following the invitation from the Preparation Committee we say, “Please call who you know and encourage your classmates to attend”.

70 years ago

Rev. Joseph Slupina CM (Józef Słupina) was born on March 4, 1880 in Królewska Huta (until 1922 – Königshütte, since 1934 Chorzow), diocese of Katowice, Upper Silesia, Poland. He entered Congregation of the Mission in then Province of Krakow on November 11, 1898. He took his permanent vows on November 27, 1900. Ordained priest in St. Vincent de Paul Church (Kleparz House) Krakow, Poland on January 20, 1906. After the ordination he worked in Krakow (Kleparz), Tarnow (Holy Family Parish) and Lviv (then part of Poland).

In 1909 came to the United States accompanying the Visitor of Krakow, Fr. Kasper Slonimski CM who was visiting the Polish Vincentian mission in the United States established in 1905 in New Haven, Connecticut. While conducting the mission in St. Stanislaus Parish, Erie, PA he became, together, with Father Ignasiak, pastor of St. Stanislaus and other Confreres Fr. Goerge Glogowski CM, Fr. Paul Waszko CM and Fr. Anthony Mazurkiewicz CM, the co-founders of the St. John Kanty College Association, which initiated establishment of later St. John Knaty Prep and mission house in Erie, PA (closed in 1982). When the college was opened in 1912 Fr. Slupina became Director of mission team stationed in Erie. He hold this post successfully and eagerly until 1921.

After return to Poland he became chaplain in Daughters of Charity house in Przeworsk (diocese of Przemysl) and later was sent to Lviv again as catechist and organist. From 1927 he was Prefect of the church in Lviv. In 1929 moved to Vilnius and was appointed Mission Team Director (as he was in Erie, PA)which was located in that house before WWII.

After return to Krakow was assigned to Kleparz House and appointed chaplain at Montelupich Prison (7 Montelupich Street), Krakow and at run by Daughters of Charity St. Lazare hospital in Krakow (15-17 Kopernika Street, presently part of Jagiellonian University Hospital complex) and chaplain of St. Nicholas church (near the hospital). Finally, he was given responsibility of the Prefect of St. Vincent de Paul Church at Kleparz which he hold with great zeal and dedication until being imprisoned. He was known of his ministry in the confessional and as a good homilist. Always cared about church decorations. For long time Fr. Joseph was Director of the Association of the Children of Mary (today known as Vincentian Marian Youth).

After the World War II broke up he stayed in Krakow. On July 15, 1940 he was arrested among the group of other Vincentians from Kleparz House suspected of patriotic and anti-German activity manifested by spreading of illegal booklets. They were held into Gestapo’s Montelupich Prison. There, he was interrogated and tortured regularly by Gestapo officers. He prayed continuously. According to witnesses, he never left the rosary from his hands.

Seven weeks later, early in the morning of August 30, 1940 a large group of prisoners was moved to transitional concentration camp in Podgorze, the southern quarter district of Krakow. First prisoners were washed and deloused in the bath. Next lead to railway station. 550 prisoners were packed in cattle wagons, 80 people in each. Fr. Joseph predicted something wrong might happen. The day before, August 29, he asked his Confrere, Fr. Francis Malinowski to hear his confession. He seemed to be aware of upcoming death. After the confesson he said: “It seems to me this was the last confession in my life. Oh, God. If it were possible, I would like to take the last sacraments. But I know,these Sacraments are granted only to the dying. However, who knows what else might happen to us and if we ever would be able to receive this religious solace at all”. In this day he recited the rosary more earnestly, what returned attention of a number of other prisoners.

At about 1400 the train stopped in the field over a mile from Auschwitz Concentration Camp. This was one of the earliest mass transports to KL Auschwitz I. The first one with 780 people took place on June 14, 1940 from Gestapo Prison in Tarnow. Together with Fr. Slupina were Fr. Malinowski and Fr. Jedrychowski (also recognized as WWII martyr). The prisoners were herded and beaten, urged like wild animals. Some SS-men were riding bicycles herding the prisoners ahead of them. Prisoners had to run a trot to keep up. Especially elderly and obese men were mistreated and Fr. Joseph was among them. He was dressed in cassock, reciting rosary all the time.

On arrival to the Nazi Concentration Camp weakened by suffering and severe conditions, tired and exhausted Fr. Joseph Slupina felt down on his shoulders right at entrance to the Camp. A SS-man named Palicz jumped with two feet on his chest, which broke down with a clatter. On the iron wheelbarrows he was taken to gathering place. It was roll-call ground for checking in new arrivals. They made him stand alongside other Vincentianpriests. Fr. Malinowski managed to grant him absolution at the hour of death. A few minutes later, Fr. Joseph ended his life. Fr. Malinowski was badly beaten for his help. The next day the body of late. Fr. Slupina was burned in the camp crematorium.

Fr. Joseph Slupina CM was a great worshiper of Mary Immaculate and her Son Jesus Christ. Up to the last moment he turned out to be a faithful son and worshipper of Mary – died with a rosary in his hand. He died in priestly attire. By his death, until the end he testified of his faithfulness – the faithfulness to God, the Church, the priesthood of Christ, the Vincentian vocation.

On September 17, 2003 in Krakow, a Diocesan inquest of eleven Polish Vincentians, martyrs of World War II, toward beatification was initiated. Fr. Joseph Slupina is in this number. The Visitor of Province of Poland Very Rev. Arkadiusz Zakreta CM is the vice-postulator of the case.

Priests from the Province of Poland of the Congregation of the Mission, martyrs of WWII, Servants of God are:

• Rev. Joseph FLORKO CM, died in KL Bergen-Belsen on February 25, 1945
• Rev. Hieronim GINTROWSKI CM, shot in the forest near Bydgoszcz on November 1, 1939
• Rev. Michael JACHIMCZAK CM, put into death by lethal injection at KL Dachau on January 30, 1941
• Rev. John JEDRYCHOWSKI CM, killed by toxic gas in KL Dachau on May 6, 1942
• Rev. Norbert KOMPALLA CM, killed by toxic gas in KL Dachau on December 1, 1942
• Rev. Adam MALUSZYNSKI CM, died during evacuation of KL Mittelbau on January 31, 1945
• Rev. Joseph SLUPINA CM, trampled to death on arrival to KL Auschwitz on August 30, 1940
• Rev. Peter SZAREK CM, executed at Stary Rynek square in Bydgoszcz on September 9, 1939
• Rev. John WAGNER CM, shot in the forest near Bydgoszcz on November 1, 1939
• Rev. Leon WIECKIEWICZ CM, died exhausted by slave work and illness in KL Gross-Rosen on August 4, 1944
• Rev. Stanislaus WIOREK CM, executed at Stary Rynek square in Bydgoszcz on September 9, 1939

Prayer for Beatification

Allmighty God, You show your paternal love in any time, and in the world distracted by struggles and dissension You make man capable of forgiveness and reconciliation. Martyrs of the faith are symbol of victory of fidelity over defection and the triumph of love over hatred. Thus, we ask You give us your blessing during the inquest of Martyrs of World War II. Let the martyred death of your servants from the Congregation of the Mission, starred into suffering and risen from the death Christ and their introduction to the glory of altars will be a gift of your never ending love, source of strength in faithful submission to Your Will and the declaration of participation in the final triumph of good over evil. We ask for this, Good Father through Christ, the crown of Saints and Our Lady, the Queen of Martyrs. Amen.