New England Province » Manchester

Celebration of Diamond and Silver Priesthood Anniversaries

Toma — Fri, 10 May 2019 23:13:28 +0000

Most of the Confreres of our Province gathered in DePaul Provincial Residence in Manchester, CT on Wednesday, May 8. They came to celebrate priestly ordinations anniversaries which are commemorated in May and June this year. We have four Jubilarians this year: two “Diamond” and two “Silver”.

Diamond Jubilees (60th) are the experience of FR. CHESTER MROWKA, C.M., 92, ordained May 23, 195,9 in Northampton, PA; and FR STANLEY MIEKINIA, C.M., 88, ordained June 21, 1959, in Krakow, Poland. Silver Jubilarians (25th) are FR. G. MAREK SADOWSKI, C.M., 53, Provincial and FR. JAN SZYLAR, C.M., 51 both ordained May 28, 1994, in Krakow, Poland.

First, the Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated in the chapel of the Provincial House. Provincial chaired the liturgy. Next, when the spiritual celebration was over they went to LongHorn SteakHouse, Manchester, (Fr. Chester’s favorite dining place) for a lunch and to have some fraternal sharing.

2019 Provincial Assembly and the Foundation Day

Toma — Sun, 27 Jan 2019 18:23:12 +0000

Confreres from all over the New England Province of the Congregation of the Mission gathered at DePaul Residence, Manchester, CT for triennial Provincial Assembly which was held on January 23 and 24, 2019 prior to the Foundation Day which celebration closed the event on January 25.

Delegates to the Provincial Assembly were Fathers: G. Marek Sadowski, C.M. (Provincial), Mitchell Wanat, C.M. (Ansonia), Anthony Kuzia, C.M. (New Haven), Rafal Kopystynski, C.M. (Derby), Tadeusz Maciejewski, C.M. (New Haven), Eugeniusz Kotlinski, C.M. (Brooklyn, St. Cyril & Methodius), Jan Szylar, C.M. (Derby) and Slawomir Szucki, C.M. (Brooklyn, St. Cyril & Methodius). Various topics were discussed during the Assembly regarding current situation of the Province and upcoming future. According to Provincial Norms assemblies are convoked every three years. No longer new administration of the Province is elected during the assembly because there is direct voting for major posts. New Provincial superior will be elected in such procedure later on this year.

On January 25, the Feast of Conversion of St. Paul, the Apostle, the date when Congregation of the Mission celebrates the Foundation Day, when St. Vincent preached his first so called mission sermon in the rural church of Folleville in 1617 and which lead to establish eight years later the community of the priests of the mission known as Vincentian Priests and Brothers nowadays. A solemn Eucharist was celebrated in the chapel o the Provincial Residence on Friday. Fathers Edmund Gutowski, C.M. and Chester Mrowka, C.M. joined the delegates to the Assembly in the liturgy

Let us keep the ministry and works of the New England Province of the Congregation of the Mission in your prayers, so that there come new laborers to the Master of the Harvest and let the harvest be plentiful.

(from left) Frs. Rafal Kopystynski, Tadeusz Maciejewski, Eugeniusz Kotlinski, Jan Szylar, Anthony Kuzia, Mitchell Wanat, Slawomir Szucki, Marek Sadowski, (sitting, from left) Edmund Gutowski, Chester Mrowka

Fr. G. Marek Sadowski, C.M. – new Provincial of the New England Province

Toma — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 20:39:29 +0000

In the New England Province, Feast of St. Vincent de Paul, September 27, 2016 was marked by the installation of new Provincial Superior, Fr. Grzegorz Marek Sadowski, C.M.. All members of the Province gathered at DePaul Residence in Manchester, CT for the celebration. In fact, the elections took place in May, but taking over the office was set for the September feast.

Father Grzegorz Marek Sadowski, C.M. was born May 20, 1966 in the parish of Our Lady the Queen of Martyrs in Radule (pronounced: Rah-doo-leh), a village in the commune of Tykocin, 10 miles West from Bialystok, North East Poland. He entered Congregation of the Mission in the Province of Poland December 8, 1985 and ordained priest on May 28, 1994 in Krakow, Poland.

His first pastoral assignment was the Sacred Heart of Jesus parish in Ilowa, Western Poland where he was catechist for one year. In 1995 Father was moved to St. Vincent de Paul parish in Bydgoszcz, Northern Poland. He religion teacher in public schools until 2001. Next, we has assigned to newly founded and under construction the “Good News 2000″ Education Center in Piekary near Krakow. He was a Treasurer there 2002 – 2004. In 2004 Father Marek started new stage of his pastoral journey and arrived to the United States.

At the beginning he stayed at Provincial Residence in Manchester, CT and later in 2004 he was assigned as parochial vicar in St. Peter’s parish, Concord, NH which was administered by New England Province in that time. On October 9, 2008 Father was moved to St. Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr parish, New Haven, CT as vicar and also appointed Provincial Treasurer. He held this position until being installed as new Provincial. He served in other parishes in the Province, too according to pastoral needs. In November 2013, soon after the death of Fr Roman Gorowski, C.M. he was appointed superior of the house and pastor of St. Michael’s parish, Derby, CT. During his pastorate he run complete renovation of the rectory and all necessary renovation works in the church. Additionally, Fr. Marek was elected to the Provincial Council and started his tenure September 29, 2014.

In May 2016, in direct voting by members of the Province Fr. Sadowski was elected new Provincial (Visitor in Vincentian terminology). His nomination was approved by the Superior General, Fr. G. Gregory Gay, C.M. shortly before the General Assembly of the Congregation of the Mission started in Chicago, IL. Although Fr. Marek was not a delegate he was present as guest at the Assembly in the time new Superior General was elected. Recently, together with Fr. Rafal Kopystynski he participated in the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of Vincentian presence in USA which took place in the Miraculous Medal Shrine in Germantown, Philadelphia, PA, September 24.

Fr. Marek Sadowski, C.M. is taking over the office of Provincial from Fr. Rafal Kopystynski, C.M., who will in turn replace him as new Pastor of St. Michael’s parish in Derby. On Feast of St. Vincent de Paul, Fr. Sadowski became eighth Provincial (Visitor) of the New England Province of the Congregation of the Mission.

May God’s power help new Provincial in his service to the Church and the Congregation of the Mission in the Province of New England as well as possible.

Celebrating Thanksgiving Day in the Provincial House

Toma — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 05:01:41 +0000

We had a wonderful time here in DePaul Residence in Manchester on Thanksgiving Day. Almost half of the Province members were present. From various houses. The Youngest and the seniors. It was a great opportunity to let fraternity and community grow. It was a great time to share. We believe all of you had same gorgeous time of giving thanks and family making. Here we want to share some image impressions from our festivity. Enjoy! We welcome your stories on your Thanksgiving Day, too. Tell us, what was your Thanksgiving Day this year. What you were thankful for?

or view the picture gallery on FACEBOOK

Annual Retreat in Provincial Residence

Toma — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 13:40:26 +0000

Regular spiritual exercises are very important for members of the Congregation of the Mission. So are for other religious communities. Regarding the Common Rules each year, every member of the community has to take part in five days retreat. This week, twelve Confreres gathered in DePaul Residence, Manchester, CT for days of reflection, dedication and sharing. Others have had their annual retreat in other time. The retreat started on Monday, October 8 in the late afternoon and the common lunch on Friday, October 12 retreat concludes. A Polish-born Cappuchin Friar, working among Christians in the Middle East leads the exercises. Earlier this year he lead Lenten Retreat Program in St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Brooklyn, NY.

Retreat schedule includes:

MONDAY

1700 – Arrival,
1745 – Evening prayers and Opening Conference
- Dinner followed

TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY

0800 – Breakfast
0910 – Morning prayers
0930 – Conference
1145 – Eucharist
1230 – Lunch
1330 – Silence, time for personal reflection and meditation. On Thursday, time for Confession.
1630 – Conference
1745 – Evening prayer
1800 – Dinner

FRIDAY

0800 – Breakfast
0910 – Morning prayers
0910 – Conference
1145 – Eucharist
1230 – Lunch and departure

This is the extraordinary time for community life and sharing, so important when regularly Confreres are so involved in their pastoral ministries and responsibilities. Everybody enjoys this time greatly.

2012 Assembly – Opening Address from the Provincial

Toma — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 14:40:02 +0000

The address delivered by Very Rev. A. Rafal Kopystynski CM, Visitor of New England opening the Assembly of New England Province on Tuesday, June 5, 2012 describing the theme of the Assembly: “Read the signs of the time and look for the future”.

Download: 2012 Assembly - Opening Address - Provincial (1505)

This introduction to the Provincial Assembly 2012 is a continuation of my reflection regarding the future of the New England Province which members of the Province discussed during our heritage pilgrimage to St. Louis on October 13, 2011. Let me remind you of the theme: Look forward and make right decisions.

Let me make a theme of this Assembly 2012:

Read the signs of the time and look for the future

In a letter regarding my decision that we will have two sessions of our assembly I wrote a sentence: “Our Province, recognizing signs of the time, should make very important decisions regarding its future”.

Let me explain my understanding of the term “signs of the time” in a context of our Province.

In 1904 Vincentian Fathers arrived from Poland to the United States. It was a sign of the time. There was a great need to serve immigrants from Poland who at that time were arriving to the States. in great numbers. It was a mission to provide to those people sacraments and serve them in their native language. Later this Polish Mission became Vice Province of Poland.

In 1975 the Vice Province became independent Province and took the name the New England Province. It was a sign of the time. At that time there was a great hope that numbers of local vocations to our Province will grow and mission of the Province will expand.

This is year 2012. Let’s read the signs of the time.

Frs. Kuzia, Sledziona and Wanat are the youngest American born priests in our Province. We haven’t had local vocation to our Province for many years.

Our Province belongs to (NCV) National Conference of Visitors in the USA. This means we are an American Province. However out of 27 members of our Province 18 are from Poland. In our Province 10 members are below age 60 and all of them are from Poland. I repeat my question from our meeting in St. Louis: Due to lack of local vocations in America, confreres from Poland will be responsible for the leadership of our Province. How can we prepare ourselves for these responsibilities? How can the American Province be governed by foreigners?

According to our Provincial Plan 2009-2012: “The Province of New England will continue to concentrate its pastoral work among Polish immigrants and the American Polish within the confines of its New England territory as well as in their established Houses beyond the territorial limits of the New England Province”.

On March 8, 2012 the Bishop of Bridgeport Diocese informed us that he would not prolong a contract with the Province and we have to leave the Holy Name Parish in Stamford by July 1, 2012. The diocese has enough priests from Poland who are able to serve in this ethnic parish.

We have asked the Archbishop of Hartford Archdiocese Henry Mansell for an ethnic, Polish parish, according to our Provincial Plan. We are aware that the Archbishop has also enough diocesan priests from Poland who serve in his diocese and he cannot remove them and give a parish to the Vincentians.

An additional sign of the time is that the number of Polish emigrants has drastically dropped every year since Poland joined the European Union in 2004. You have also noticed in your parishes that there is no new wave of emigrants from Poland. To the contrary many Poles decide to return to Poland for good.

This is my observation but I know that each member of the assembly would add his “signs of the time” which we should be aware making our decision for the future of our Province.

Reading these signs of the time how should we continue the mission of our Province? What is a plan for our Province for the future?

I officially open our assembly of 2012.

Our goal during this assembly is to make necessary changes in our Provincial Norms and Policies but most importantly to read the signs of the time and try to make right decisions for the future of our Province.

St. Vincent de Paul. Pray for us.

A. Rafal Kopystynski CM
Provincial

Manchester, June 5, 2012