When the tragedy in Smolensk happened on Saturday, April 10, America was sleeping. It was about 3 AM in New York. Fr. Marek Sobczak CM, pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Greepoint, Brooklyn said, he was woken up at 4 AM by a phone call from his friends in Poland with the news about tragedy. It was 10 AM in Warsaw then. At that time official announcement came about the tragedy happening in Smolensk. Polish Presidential airplane with 96 people on board heading for anniversary celebrations in Katyn crashed while landing in Smolensk airfiled, Russia. All passengers including First Couple were killed.
As soon as Fr. Sobczak opened the church for early morning Mass people started to come in and pray. Church which is usually closed between Masses stayed opened all day long. Soon after announcement of special services commemorating the tragedy more people flowed in. Some officials including Polish Consul in New York, Mrs. Ewa Junczyk-Ziomecka attended the Devine Mercy Devotion dedicated to dead President of Poland and his associates. Mrs Maja Komorowska, famous Polish actress was among special attendants. All were in grief and mourning.
Special Masses dedicated to President of Poland, his wife and all other victims of the crash will be celebrated in St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY on Sunday, April 10, 2010 at 11:30 AM (in Polish) and on Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 7:00 PM (in Polish)
Here are some links to media reports on how New Yorkers are mourning:
- Cityroom nytimes.com – “A Plane Crash in Russia Shakes Greenpoint“
- NewYorkPost.com – “‘Everyone crying’ in NY’s Little Warsaw“
- NY1.com – “Polish New Yorkers Mourn Loss Of Poland’s President“
- NewYorkDailyNews.com – “New York Polish community mourns President Lech Kaczynski and top officials who died in plane crash“
- WCBSTV.COM – “Polish Tri-Staters Mourn President’s Tragic Death“
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