The Jubilee Year of 350th Anniversary of death of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac is coming to the end this weekend. Special three day celebrations prepared by Vincentian Family take place in Rome from Friday, September 24 to Sunday, September 26. The events opened on Friday morning with the Eucharist presided by Cardinal José Saraiva Martins in Augustinianum, followed by series of conferences on “Charity and Mission” and another Holy Mass in Augustinianum chaired by Superior General, Fr. Gregory Gay CM has closed the celebrations today, Sunday. There were at least 500 people from all over Italy and abroad who confirmed their participation in the Conference. Fr. Rafal Kopystynski CM, Provincial and Fr. Marek Sadowski CM represented Province of New England.
“Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith” is the title of the Message of Benedict XVI for the 26th World Youth Day, which will be celebrated in Madrid, Spain in August 2011. VIS – Vatican Information Service has released the message today (September 3), however the Message is dated from the Vatican on 6 August, Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. “The decision to follow Christ is not an easy one to make, so young people should look for support from the Christian community and the church”, Pope Benedict XVI said and continued, “do not believe those who tell you that you don’t need others to build up your life! Find support in the faith of those who are dear to you, in the faith of the church.” Recalling his own youth, Benedict XVI reflected on his time as a university student and the challenges of responding affirmatively to his vocation to the priesthood. Read the full text of the Message for XXVI World Youth Day:
Mike Trott (Kanty G77) has created this video slideshow, a tribute to the Vincentian Fathers who staffed St. John Kanty Prep in Erie, PA. As the author said himself describing the video, “it’s sad, but it also reflects the gratitude many of the Alumni and feel… this tribute honors the Vincentian Fathers, deeply religious men of character, conviction and morals, who spoke to us of God, of hard work, of success”. Thank you all Kanty Alumni, who keep in heart years spent in St. John Kanty. We are honored, that the work we did is so much appreciated and not forgotten. Thank You Kantians.
Independent Trade Union SOLIDARITY in Poland is celebrating 30th Anniversary this week. On this occasion the special concelebrated Mass in Polish was given at 11:30 AM, Sunday, August 29 in St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY. Fr. Marek Sobczak CM, pastor, presided and Fr. Jan Urbaniak CM was concelebrant. In this way the parish commemorated the events from 1980, when after over two weeks of nation wide strike and workers’ protest communist authority was forced to sign agreement with new workers organization. The agreement guaranteed creation of trade union, first such behind Iron Curtain not controlled by the communist party and government. This victory in peaceful battle ignited the light of freedom and change which lead Poland and other East European countries to get rid of the communist regime. Thanks to to this victory, after 30 years Poland is enjoying freedom, democracy and membership in European and world organization as strong and proud nation. August 31, 1980 was one of the most significant and important events in Polish history in at least 20th century.
August 31, 1980, Gdansk, Poland. For the first time in the history of after Yalta Europe communist government signed and agreement with protesting workers. Unlike in 1956 in Budapest and Poznan, 1968 in Prague, 1970 in Gdansk and 1976 in Radom, this time a peaceful protest and strike in many areas of the country lead to unprecedented solution – free, independent trade union, not controlled by the communist authority. Soon, the union created in the shipyard developed into strong social movement – SOLIDARITY. Today, Poland celebrates 30th anniversary of this moment when the Spirit of the Lord “came down and renewed the face of the Earth, that soil” as Pope John Paul II said during his first visit to homeland in 1979.
70 years ago, in the afternoon of August 30, 1940, Servant of God, martyr of WWII, Fr. Joseph SLUPINA CM was massacred in the KL Auschwitz. He is one of over 50 Vincentian priests and brothers from Province of Poland who died during World War II and one of 11 recognized as martyrs. For almost a decade Fr. Slupina was working in New England conducting popular missions in parishes in North Eastern United States. He was one of the Founding Fathers of St. John Kanty Prep, Erie, PA and first Mission Team Director in Vincentian community in New England.
The board of trustees has petitioned the Board of Regents of the State Education Department (the University of the State of New York) to form a corporation to operate a nursery school for preschool children from three to five years of age, a universal pre-k program, a kindergarten for five year olds, and a grade one through eight elementary school. The Office of Nonpublic School Services recommends that a provisional charter be granted for a period of three years.
The Vincentian Family in St. Louis marks 350th anniversary of the deaths of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac with charity acts and prayer. Celebrations are planned for upcoming weekend, August 21 and 22. Saturday will be the day of service at more than a dozen sites across the St. Louis, Missouri, area and East St. Louis, Illinois. On Sunday there will be special Mass at Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis.
The Jubilee Year of 350th Anniversary of death of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac is coming to the end this weekend. Special three day celebrations prepared by Vincentian Family take place in Rome from Friday, September 24 to Sunday, September 26. The events opened on Friday morning with the Eucharist presided by Cardinal José Saraiva Martins in Augustinianum, followed by series of conferences on “Charity and Mission” and another Holy Mass in Augustinianum chaired by Superior General, Fr. Gregory Gay CM has closed the celebrations today, Sunday. There were at least 500 people from all over Italy and abroad who confirmed their participation in the Conference. Fr. Rafal Kopystynski CM, Provincial and Fr. Marek Sadowski CM represented Province of New England. 
