New England Province » SS Cyril&Methodius

Celebrating fraternity in our Greenpoint communities on Maundy Thursday, the Priests’ Day

Toma — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 21:00:16 +0000

[Newsletter No. 3/24] It was a blessed and joyous occasion to come together with our fellow priests from Greenpoint parishes on Maundy Thursday. The joint midday prayer at the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius was a beautiful reminder of our unity and brotherhood in our calling.

The festive lunch celebrating Priests’ Day was a heartwarming gesture. The Superior of the House, Father Eugene Kotlinski, shared his kind words, Easter wishes, and blessings with us. Then greetings, wishes, and the Blessing from Superior General Father Tomaž Mavrič were conveyed by Father Rafal Kopystynski, Assistant General, who came from Rome to participate in the liturgies of Holy Week and to help the priests fulfill their liturgical and sacramental duties at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish.

This story was first published in the Provincial's Newsletter March 2024
edition which you can find in our Library along with all previous Newsletters.

The Stations of the Cross on the streets of Brooklyn and other activities during the Lent

Toma — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 20:33:57 +0000

Among various pastoral activities held during the time of Lent the unique Way of the Cross along the streets of Greenpoint, Brooklyn, N.Y. was the most remarkable. The event was a testament to our community’s faith and unity. Read more in the story below.

[Newsletter No. 3/24] Lent, a time of dedicated services for priests in our Vincentian parishes, was marked by unique activities. The liturgical calendar was enriched with Lenten services and local traditions, creating a vibrant daily liturgical program. Notably, stations of the Cross services were held every Friday of Lent in both Polish and English across all four parishes. St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish in Brooklyn even had a special Stations of the Cross conducted in both languages for schoolchildren. The poignant Bitter Lamentations (Gorzkie Żale) were sung every Sunday, accompanied by adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Lenten retreats, led by Fr. Hipolit Brożek, a Bernardine Franciscan friar and exorcist from Poland, and our confrere Fr. Matthew Aneesh Chittadiyil, from CM India-South Province and currently a faculty member of St. John’s University, Queens, NY, were held in both Polish and English. St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish also hosted Lenten adorations, concerts of Lenten sacred music, and an exhibition of sacred art related to the passion and sufferings of Christ.

The unique Way of the Cross was held on the fifth Friday of Lent. For the first time, this celebration took place in 2018 (on the same route). Due to COVID-19 restrictions, it wasn’t possible to organize this activity in the following years until 2023 when people walked from St. Cyril & Methodius Church to St. Stanislaus Kostka Church.

This significant event was a testament to our community’s faith and unity. Commencing after the evening Mass at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, the Stations saw a remarkable turnout. More than a thousand people united in their devotion, marching through Greenpoint’s streets to the Church of St. Cyril and Methodius, 1.5 miles away. The faithful, shouldering a giant wooden cross, paused to reflect on the Passion of Christ and sang penitential songs, creating a powerful and moving atmosphere.

Among the daily activities of priests in our parishes is the Sacrament of Penance. Many faithful make great use of this sacrament, coming to our churches even from very distant places. But during Lent, the number of those using the sacrament of reconciliation is always much higher. No wonder confession hours were extended each day, and in the second half of Lent, there were long lines for confessions despite the 3-to-4 priests present. It is worth being tired for such moments.

It should also be noted that throughout the Lent, donations were collected for the poor and needy in the area and for the needs of the poorest.

This story was first published in the Provincial's Newsletter March 2024
edition which you can find in our Library along with all previous Newsletters.

Rev. Roman Kmieć, C.M., passed away

Toma — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 19:39:08 +0000

After long suffering and painful illness Fr. ROMAN KMIEĆ, C.M. passed away at night, December 21, 2022 at Regional Hospice, 30 Milestone Road,Danbury, CT, where he was staying for several weeks. His brother Jan was in his presence. He was 61 years old, 42 years of vocation and 36 years of priesthood.

Father Roman Kmieć, was born on October 10, 1961 in Szarwark, a village near Dabrowa Tarnowska and Tarnow, South Eastern Poland as one of the ten children of the local organist. As a child he inherited a lot of his father’s music skill who taught him to play piano, saxophone and accordion. As long as he was able to do it, on various occasions, Father was seen and heard playing accordion.

After completing secondary education he was admitted to the Congregation of the MIssion in the Province of Poland in Krakow on December 8, 1980. Vincentians are very much recognized in his native area. Besides the Holy Family in parish in Tarnow where they are present as long as they were in New Haven, they also take care of the local Marian Shrine in Odporyszow. He studied philosophy and theology at the Vincentian Fathers Institute of Theology (ITKM), which he graduated with Master of Theology diploma. On December 8, 1984 he took his vows and finally on may 24, 1986 he was ordained priest.

His first and the only assignment in Poland was the ministry of parochial vicar at the Our Lady of Rosary Parish in Pabianice in central Poland. A year later, in September 1987, he moved to the New England Province in the United States.

His first steps on American soil lead him to St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Brooklyn, NY. This location was chosen to let him improve his English and become engrossed in the large concentration of Polish immigrants. After spending one year at Greenpoint in 1988 he was assigned to St. Michael’s Parish in Derby, CT as vicar. His administrative and leadership talents were quickly recognized by superiors and in 1991, being only five years as a priest, he became Superior of the Community House there (replacing Fr. Ronald Wiktor CM) and held this responsibility until 1993.

Then he moved again to St. Stanislaus Kostka in Brooklynwhere he stayed as vicar until 1995. Next Father was assignment to St. Peter’s Parish, Concord, NH where he was vicar until 1997. On that year he moved to St. Stanislaus Bishop & Martyr Parish in New Haven, CT as vicar, too. He held this ministry until 2003.

In 1996 Vincentians took over St. Cyril & Methodius Parish in Upper Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY with Fr. Joseph Mietelski CM as the first Vincentian pastor of the church at 150 Dupont Street. After sudden death of Fr. Mietelski, his vicar Fr. Rafal Kopystynski became administrator of the parish. In 2003 Fr. Roman Kmiec was appointed second Vincentian pastor of SS. Cyril & Methodius assisted by Fr. Joseph Wisniewski CM. When Fr. Tadeusz Maciejewski CM replaced him in 2006 Father Roman has returned to New Haven. This time as pastor and superior. And again, Fr. Tadeusz Maciejewski replaced him as superior and pastor of the parish St. Stanislaus in New Haven in 2015. At that time neither of them realized the two of them will be the last two Vincentian pastors in the history of the parish. Vincentians left New Haven at Christmas of 2021. The church was handed over to priests of Archdiocese of Hartford.

For the rest of life Fr. Roman manifested his special sentiments and commitments to the community in New Haven.

Meanwhile, on January 15, 2001 Father was elected Provincial councilor for the first time. And again in 2003 and 2004. Finally, he has been elected councilor on November 25, 2008 once again.

In that time Fr. Roman’s health started to deteriorate and he moved to DePaul Residence in Manchester, CT to get some rest and treatment. He was appointed superior of the Provincial House and local treasurer. Over three years ago bad news came. He was diagnosed with pancreas cancer and more intensive treatment including chemotherapy and couple surgeries. He suffered a lot. Doctors weren’t able to kill the pain he felt. The final surgery took place at Hartford Hospital on November 7, 2022. A few days later, his body was in pain again. He went to the hospital again, but unsuccessfully. His pain came back in a few days. Fr. Roman was transferred to John Paul II Center, 33 Lincoln Ave, Danbury, CT. From there he was moved to Regional Hospice in Danbury where he died at night, December 21, 2022. His brother Jan Kmieć, who lives in Connecticut was at his presence all the time and at his death.

Eternal rest, grant unto him, O Lord,

and let perpetual light shine upon him.

May he rest in peace. Amen.

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
Friday, December 23, 2022

St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr Catholic Church,
784 State Street, New Haven, CT 06511
(crossing with Eld Street)

11:30 AM – viewing at the church

12:00 PM – funeral Mass

Burial – Vincentians’ plot, St. Michaels Cemetery,
28 Silver Hill Road, Ansonia, CT 06401

…

St. Stanislaus RC Church

GET

DIRECTIONS

TO:

St. Michael’s Cemetery

Among his classmates: Fr. Jerzy Berdychowski CM (left) and Fr. Zdislaw Gora (right) during the celebration of a Centenary of the Vincentian Institute of Theology in Krakow, Poland, 2010

Mother of Fr. Tadeusz Maciejewski died

Toma — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 22:13:39 +0000

Regretfully we share the sad news coming from Poland. Mrs. THERESA MACIEJEWSKA, 72, died, October 8, 2012 in Bydgoszcz, her hometown in Poland. She was mother of Rev. Tadeusz Maciejewski CM, currently Pastor of Saints Cyril And Methodius Parish, Upper Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY. The funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 1:00 PM local time (7:00 AM EST) in the Resurrection of the Lord parish church in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Burial will follow at 3:00 PM local time (9:00 AM EST) at community cemetery in Biale Blota in the outskirts of Bydgoszcz.

We would like to express our sorrow to Fr. Tadeusz and his entire family, on the death of his mother. We sincerely request your prayers for her soul.

READ THE ANNOUNCEMENT / PRZECZYTAJ NEKROLOG

Z żalem przekazujemy smutną wiadomość, która nadeszła z Polski. W poniedziałek, 8 października 2012, w wieku 72 lat zmarła p. TERESA MACIEJWSKA, mama ks. Tadeusza Maciejewskiego CM, Proboszcza parafii św. Cyryla i Metodego na górnym Greenpointcie, Brooklyn, NY. Msza św. pogrzebowa zostanie odprawiona w sobotę, 13 października 2012 o godz. 13:00 czasu miejscowego (7:00 AM EST) w kościele Księży Misjonarzy pw. Zmartwychwstania Pańskiego w Bydgoszczy . Następnie, o godz. 15:00 czasu miejscowego (9:00 AM EST) ciało zostanie złożone w grobie na cmentarzu komunalnym w Białych Błotach, na przedmieściach Bydgoszczy.

Pragniemy przekazać ks. Tadeuszowi i jego rodzinie nasze kondolencje z powodu śmierci jego mamy. Prosimy o modlitwe za duszę zmarłej.

Pastor of SS. Cyril & Methodius Awarded

Toma — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 21:09:47 +0000

On June 6, in well known Polish owned and styled Princess Manor Restaurant (92 Nassau Ave) Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY an annual banquet event was held hosted by New York Group of Friends of the Association of John Paul II Foundation. NOWY DZIENNIK, Polish daily newspaper in New York, brought the story on the event in June 16 edition. During the banquet, each year some Polish priests are awarded in recognition of their merits for JP2 Foundation and Polish-American community. This year award went to Rev. Tadeusz Maciejewski, CM, the Pastor of SS. Cyril and Methodius Parish, Lower Greenpoint (since 2006). Earlier, he was vicar in St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Upper Greenpoint (2000-2005). Representatives of Polish organizations in New York and numerous priests from Polish parishes, including Confreres from both Greenpoint Vincentian parishes were present at the reception. Mr.Mieczyslaw Pajak, Chairman of the John Paul II New York Group of Friends of the Association welcomed guests. He was assisted by Mrs. Stanislawa Bogun, chair of the banquet. They briefly introduced history and goals of the Foundation to attendants.

John Paul II Foundation was established by a Papal Decree of October 16, 1981 as a religious, educational, charitable and non-profit organization in response to the historical event which was the election of Cardinal Karol Wojtyla to Peter’s Chair. Its official seat is located at the Vatican. The Foundation owns a building in Rome at 1200 via Cassia (known as Polish House) where the secretarial offices are located. The main goals of the Foundation are: preservation and development of the Christian heritage and culture; collection and preservation of documents and propagation of the teachings of Pope John Paul II; assistance to Christian pilgrims on visits to the Holy See, particularly pilgrims from Poland and Eastern countries; providing educational assistance and scholarships to young intellectuals from Eastern countries to study at the Catholic University in Lublin, Poland. These goals are carried forward by the various established institutions of the Foundation such as Groups of Friends. Such Group of Friends was established in New York in 1997.

Mieczyslaw Pajak (left) and Fr. Tadeusz Maciejewski (right) during the awarding ceremony. (Picture Marcin Zurawicz/Nowy Dziennik)

“Thank You for coming to this banquet in such big number”, said Mr Pajak, the Chairman of the Group of Friends of the Foundation, “Today, we’d like to give thanks to one magnificent priest out of many, the patron of our New York Polish community. Father Tadeusz Maciejewski made himself recognized as superb manager and a great friend of the John Paul II Foundation. He always supports our initiatives in his prayer and his deeds”, Mr Pajak added.

Reverend Canon Witold Mroziewicz, JCD, the pastor of Our Lady of Czestochowa and St. Casimir Pariah, Greenpoint recognized in his speech merits of Fr. Tadeusz for Polish Americans. So, did Fr. Rafal Kopystynski CM, the Vincentian Provincial superior. Followed, the artistic two-part performance with religious and patriotic songs by senior students from Casimir Pulaski Polish Supplementary School (St. Francis de Chantal Parish), Borough Park, NY, conducted by Mrs Izabela Kobus-Salkin.

However, the highlight of the ceremony was, of course, honoring the Father Tadeusz Maciejewski – what Mr Mieczyslaw Pajak did by himself. Next, there were flowers and congratulations. Mrs. Dorota Andraka, President of Polish Supplementary Schools Headquarters and Principal of Polish Supplementary School at SS. Cyril and Methodius Parish, Brooklyn, NY read the benediction message from Pope Benedict XVI on the ocassion.

Father Tadeusz Maciejewski CM, 47, born in Bydgoszcz, Poland, is very well known to inhabitants of Little Poland on Brooklyn. He was ordained priest in May 1988 for the Province of Poland of the Congregation of the Mission in Krakow, Poland. In 1995 he arrived to the United States and St. Stanislaus Parish, New Haven, CT was his first assignment as vicar. In 1996 he moved to Greenpoint and stays there almost all time to present. First he was appointed vicar at SS Cyril and Methodius Parish, which bishop Daily of Brooklyn handed to Vincentian Fathers that year in acknowledgement for they accomplishments in pastoral ministry in his diocese. Temporarily, in 2000 moved to St. Peter’s Parish, Concord, NH. Returned to Greenpoint later in the year i became vicar at Sta Stanislaus Kostka Parish. From here he was transferred to SS. Cyril and Methodius again and has been apponited the Pastor and Superior.

Saint Cyril and Methodius Parish in Lower Greenpoint was erected in 1916, when it became obvious St Stanislaus Kostka Church can no longer hold all the pastoral needs of Polish immigrants in Greenpoint. Additionally, numbers of Polish inhabitants increased in the northern area of Greenpint Avenue. Fr. Emil Strenski, pastor of St. Joseph Parish., Jamaica, NY was assigned as first pastor and builder of the parish. In 1935 due to his health condition he was replaced by Fr. Mieczyslaw Mrozinski, who later became Monsignor. There was Parish School staffed by Sister of Holy Family of Nazaret, but it was closed by the bishop Daily in 2000 with stronger opposition from parishioners. Present church, at 150 Dupont Street was build in 1951 repalcing the previous, post Protestant temple at Eagle Street . Vincentians of New England Province took over the parish in 1996 and Fr. Joseph Mietelski CM became the first Vincentian Pastor. After his sudden death of cancer in 2002, Fr. Rafal Kopystynski CM, the present Visitor of the Province became the Administrator immediately. In 2003 he was replaced by Fr Roman Kmiec CM who held the post until arrival of Fr. Tadeusz Maciejewski CM in 2006.

~~ Tekst polski tego artykułu dostepny jest w FAMVIN.ORG POLSKA~~