The event started at Father Jerzy Popieluszko Square in McCarren Park, Greenpoint,(corner of Nassau Ave and Bedford Ave in the mouth of Guernsey Street). Look at the monument in the Square from Bedford Avenue on GoogleMaps Streetview The monument of the blessed martyr priest designed by Polish artist Mr. Stanislawa Lutostanski was installed in 1990 there. Under unclear circumstances, few days after being unveiled the monument was devastated. Head of the priest made in white granite was detached or cut off the monument and left fallen on the ground. Hundreds of people gathered at the monument on Sunday morning in commemorative ceremony lead by pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, Rev. Marek Sobczak CM (center in the picture).

Among those present at the monument were Mr. Michael Pajak (in the picture, left), President of the New York Chapter of the John Paul II Foundation and members of the organization, Mr. Frank Milewski (in the picture, right), President of the Downstate N.Y. Division of the Polish American Congress,  members of the Sea League of America, Liga Morska), dressed in traditional white marine uniforms and with Polish and American flags and emblems, provided the honor guard, members of Maria Konopnicka Polish Supplementary School in Greenpoint, on the premises of St. Stanislaus Kostka,  Polish scouts and children.

Mr. Pajak opened this commemoration gathering called on the occasion of the 26^th anniversary of death of Fr. Jerzy with brief history of life of  Fr. Popieluszko and thanked people for attending the event. In his speech, he pointed out it was widely acknowledged that Poland’s 1989 victory attaining the goal of fight for its freedom and independence, and the subsequent collapse of the Communist system should be significantly attributed to the influence of this fearless priest and the moral encouragement of Pope John Paul II. Next, Rev. Marek Sobczak CM, recited a prayer of thanksgiving for the beatification of Poland’s SOLIDARITY priest, Father Jerzy Popieluszko.

After this outdoor observance concluded, all participants marched through the streets of this well-known Polish community, to St. Stanislaus Kostka Church at the corner of Humboldt Street and Driggs Avenue, distant some 1,000 yds from the Popieluszko’s monument. Marching in many people were singing traditional Polish religious songs and hymns as it is very usual in this kind of processions in Poland.

Solemn, concelebrated High Mass at 11:30 AM followed. Bishop Wojciech Polak, Auxiliary bishop for diocese of Gniezno, Poland and the delegate of Poland’s Episcopate for Polish diaspora was the main celebrant. Other concelebrating were Rev. Tadeusz Isakowicz-Zalewski, well-recognized chaplain of worker and opposition groups, persecuted by Communist authorities and priests from St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Rev. Jan Szylar CM, Rev. Jan Urbaniak CM and the pastor, Rev. Marek Sobczak CM. Church was packed with people who came to pray and to witness the introduction of the First Class Relics of the Blessed Jerzy Popieluszko in to the parochial church.

Two choirs provided the music. One was the 40 members St. Jakobus Jugend Chorus (St. Jacob’s Youth Choir) from St. Jacob parish in Masholte, Germany, where a classmate of Fr. Sobczak works. The other one was recently established parochial choir from St. Stanislaus Kostka, Greenpoint.

German choir sang traditional Polish hymn Gaude Mater Polonia (Rejoice Mother Poland), Panis Angelicus, Ciagly niepokoj na swiecie(Continuing Concerns in the World), and few other pieces after the Mass. The parish choir sung parts of the Mass and two songs dedicated to Fr. Jerzy Popieluszko: “Nie daj sie zwyciezyc zlu” (Do Not Be Overcome by Evil) and “Zlo dobrej zwyciezaj…” (Overcome Evil With Good…”). Father Jaroslaw Lawrenz CM prepared altar servers for the occasion.

Bishop Wojciech Polak delivered homily dedicated to the heroic life of Father Jerzy Popieluszko, inviting people to live in love of God and to fight for the freedom from sin and evil. After the homily he blessed the stone, incensed the relics of Blessed Jerzy and venerated them. All the priests  followed him and kissed the relics. For now, the stone reliquary stands in front of the pulpit at the main altar.

The relics are placed in the 5,000 pound, 6ft high finely polished black granite stone monument, dedicated to Fr. Jerzy. Mr. Stanislaw Lutostanski was the artist who made design and did the carving of the stone reliquary and Mr. Adam Czekanski prepared the bronze, Celtic Cross shaped reliquary insert . Next to the reliquary, in the circle whole, which symbolizes evil meant as lack of good, the head of Fr. Popieluszko which was cut off from the monument in McCarren Park was installed. It is marked by scratches and wholes remained after devastation.

Inscription in Polish, on the granite face of the stone reads “Zło dobrem zwyciężaj. Błogosławiony ksiądz Jerzy Popiełuszko 1947-1984. Zginął za wiarę, prawdę i wolną Polskę” (“Overcome Evil with Good. Blessed Father Jerzy Popieluszko 1947-1984. He died for the faith, truth and the freedom of Poland”). Mr. Michael Pajak, President of the New York Chapter of the John Paul II Foundation and his wife Mrs. Regina Pajak are donors of the stone reliquary to the church. They also played essential role in preparing the project.

After the Mass people venerated the relics of Blessed Father Jerzy Popieuszko. The reliquary will stay in front of the church, so people have an easy access to pay homage the this great Blessed priest. Additionally, at 5:30 PM a Polish film titled “Popieluszko” about life and martyrdom of of Blessed Priest was shown in the Church.

Friday and Saturday evenings, before this Sunday events were dedicated to Fr. Jerzy as well in St. Stanislaus Kostka. On Friday after prayers, a youth choir from the St. Jacob (James) Parish in Mastholte gave a recital. Their first performance was in Poland at the grave of Fr. Popieluszko at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Warsaw. On Saturday, after the evening Mass there was a pantomime presented by youth fro the parich about Fr. Popieluszko, followed by overnight adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

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Na temat wydarzenia przeczytaj także w NOWY DZIENNIK – POLISH DAILY NEWS i BLOGU ks. ks. Tadeusza Isakowicza-Zaleskiego

To read more about other celebrations and events dedicated to Blessed Father Jerzy Popieluszko visit the website of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish

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.

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