New England Province » Events

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.

Happy Foundation Day Anniversary of the Congregation of the Mission.

Toma — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 22:32:11 +0000

In 1617 Madame de Gondi asked Monsieur Vincent to preach in her properties on general confession. The Feast of Conversion of Saint Paul, January 25 was the opportunity to preach such a sermon in the village of Folleville in northern France. Response was incredible. In next days Vincent de Paul and his associates preached in nearby churches and crowds of peasant parishioners lined up for confessions. They even asked Jesus from Amiens to come and help them.

This first mission sermon, as he called it, St. Vincent regarded as the beginning of the Company of the Priests of the Mission. However there was no formal institution founded until April 17, 1625 when the legal contract was signed to found the Congregation of the Mission.

These two dates, 1617 and 1625 are the principal milestones in the history of the Little Company as St. Vincent used to call it.

In 2025 we will celebrate 400 anniversary of the foundation of the Congregation of the Mission. Preparations began last year. This year we are moving to another step of the pre-celebration of the Jubilee which theme is: “Put on the Spirit of Jesu Christ”

If you want to learn more about preparations and the Jubilee itself we encourage you to visit specially dedicated website:

https://bit.ly/IUBILAEUM400CM

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

Official Website and Social Media during XLII Assembly General

Toma — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 14:50:46 +0000

Superior General, Father Gregory Gay CM has just announced the official website and social networks where you can follow the General Assembly of the Congregation of the Mission starting June 27 in Chicago, IL.

Rome, 14 June 2016

Dear Confreres,

May the grace of Jesus Christ accompany us during this final stage of preparation for the XLII General Assembly, which will take place in Chicago (the United States) from 27 June – 15 July 2016.

There have been many preparations and there are great expectations as we gather together to celebrate this event. In fact, this will be the first time that a General Assembly is held outside of Europe and, during this gathering, we will elect a new Superior General who will serve the Congregation during the next six years.

In this context, communication will play an important role especially in light of the recent development of technology and the multiple modalities that can provide us with immediate information. The Office of Communications at the Curia has formulated a Communication Plan so that all the themes and work of the Assembly can be assessed by the confreres.

This Communication Plan involves the use of digital media and the social networks. Each one of those various forms of communication has its own public, its own language. Therefore, it is important to be mindful of these differences in order to make known the information with regard to the assembly.

Below you fill find a list of the different sites that the confreres can utilize in order to be touch with what occurs during the Assembly. We encourage you to make yourselves familiar with these various sites so that, together, all of us might experience the joy of this event.

Visit the official site of the Assembly on this link.

http://ag2016.cmglobal.org/

You can follow the Assembly at the following social media channels:

Facebook	Twitter
Google+	YouTube
Flickr	#AG2016CM (hashtag)
Scribd.com online Library	Box.com download library

Let us continue to pray for the success of our next General Assembly.

Your brother in Saint Vincent,

G. Gregory Gay, CM
Superior General

Artykuł jest również dostępny po polsku tutaj:

Witryna internetowa oraz media społecznościowe podczas Konwentu Generalnego Zgromadzenia Misji

An Appeal from SSVdP to support aid for Iraq

Toma — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 11:54:44 +0000

Dr. Michael Thio, President General of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SSVP CGI) addresses a letter to Vincentian Family with an urgent and detailed appeal to support humanitarian aid efforts for persecuted people of Iraq with members of SSVdP among them. This message comes along with released earlier Circular by Fr. Gregory Gay, C.M. calling on the day of prayer for Iraq.

August 19, 2014

Dear Vincentians,

The Peace and Love of Christ be with you.

Please see the circular letter of 15 August 2014 from Fr. Gregory Gay, Superior General of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentian Fathers), specifically referring to the atrocities being committed in Northern Iraq which has caused lives and hardships to thousands of people and Christians and especially affecting also members of our Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

The Commission for International Aid & Development (CIAD) of CGI has been providing relief assistance to the Iraqi refugees and displaced people and also those in Gaza cause by this war-torn crisis along with SSVP Lebanon and SSVP Palestine. We have limited funds available in CIAD from the General Disaster & Solidarity Fund as we have informed you in a circular issued last month and we can only do limited amount of aid. We are making an urgent general appeal to you for donations/contributions for us to continue to undertake relief assistance humanitarian work to help the suffering and persecuted Iraqis. We seek your compassion and generosity to send donations to CGI for the “General Disaster and Solidarity Fund” so that we can do more for the victims of this dreadful crisis.

For all donations and contributions to CGI please send to the CGI office in Paris to our Bank Account as follows:

Bank name: CIC PARIS BAC
account number (IBAN): FR76 3006 6100 4100 0105 8120 129
BIC/SWIFT code : CMCIFRPP
account owner : Confédération Internationale Société de St Vincent de Paul Conseil Général
For payment please state: For the “General Disaster and Solidarity Fund of CGI”

Let us unite in special prayers for the people in Iraq and that the horrendous situation they are experiencing will abate and peace and sanity will prevail.

“Happy is he who has regard for the lowly, the poor and suffering the Lord will keep and preserve him” – Psalm 41:2-3

We pray for the intercession of our Mother Mary, St. Vincent and Blessed Frederic. In Jesus adorable name, we pray. God’s Grace and blessing be to all of you.

Yours appreciatively in Christ,

Dr. Michael Thio
President General