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Easter Message from the Provincial of New England Province.

Toma — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 06:15:58 +0000

In the editorial of the current Provincial’s Newsletter we can read that the Resurrection is the crowning truth of the Christian Faith, with all basic doctrines founded on this truth and serving as the central theme of apostolic preaching. Easter guarantees our own resurrection and signifies a participation in the death and Resurrection of Christ through the Holy Spirit. Please, read the full reflection.

[Newsletter No. 3/24] Dear Confreres! When Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York was asked in an interview who the most influential person in his life is, he answered, without hesitation, “Jesus Christ, of course.” A bit perplexed, the reporter clarified, “I meant someone who is alive.” To which the Cardinal answered, with all the surety of not merely belief but first-hand experience, “You know? Jesus IS alive!” (Fr. Bill Nicholas).

Easter is the greatest and the most important feast in the Church. It marks the birthday of our eternal hope. The Resurrection of Christ is the basis of our Christian Faith, for it proves that Jesus is God. That is why St. Paul writes: “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain; and your Faith is in vain. And if Christ has not been raised, then your Faith is a delusion, and you are still lost in your sins… But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep” (I Cor 15:14, 17, 20).

In the words of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC #638): “The Resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of our Faith in Christ, a Faith believed and lived as the central truth by the first Christian community; handed on as fundamental by Tradition; established by the documents of the New Testament; and preached as an essential part of the Paschal mystery along with the cross…”

All the basic doctrines of Christianity are founded on the truth of the Resurrection. “Jesus is Lord; He is risen!” (Rom 10:9) was the central theme of the kerygma (or “preaching”), of the apostles.

Easter is the guarantee of our own resurrection. Jesus assured Martha at the tomb of Lazarus: “I am the Resurrection and the Life; whoever believes in Me will live even though he dies” (Jn 11:25-26). Christ will raise us up on the last day, but it is also true, in a sense, that we have already risen with Christ. By virtue of the Holy Spirit, our Christian life is already a participation in the death and Resurrection of Christ (CCC #1002, #1003).

The real proof of Christ’s Resurrection is not the empty tomb but the lives of believers filled with His Spirit, then and today! The initial disbelief of Jesus’ own disciples in his Resurrection, despite his repeated apparitions, is a strong proof of his Resurrection. It explains why the apostles started preaching the Risen Christ only after receiving the anointing of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

Easter, the feast of the Resurrection, gives us the joyful message that we are a “Resurrection people.” We are expected to live a joyful and peaceful life, constantly experiencing the real Presence of the Risen Lord in all the events of our lives. “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad” (Ps 118:24).

For true Christians, especially priests, every day must be an Easter Day, lived joyfully in the close company of the Risen Lord. We are called to be transparent Christians, showing others, through our lives of love, mercy, compassion, and self-sacrificing service, that the Risen Jesus is living in our hearts. We need to live new, disciplined lives in the Risen Jesus.

“Faith is not an album of past memories; Jesus is not outdated. He is alive here and now” (Pope Francis) Father Basil Pennington, a Catholic monk, tells of an encounter he once had with a teacher of Zen. Pennington was at a retreat. Each person met privately with this Zen teacher as part of the retreat. Pennington says that at his meeting, the Zen teacher sat there before him, smiling from ear to ear and rocking gleefully back and forth. Finally, the teacher said: “I like Christianity. But I would not like Christianity without the Resurrection. I want to see your Resurrection!” Pennington notes, “With his directness, the teacher was saying what everyone else implicitly says to Christians: “You are a Christian. You are risen with Christ. Show me (what this means for you in your life), and I will believe.” (sermon archive, Marilyn Omernick)

That is how people know if the Resurrection is true or not: does it affect how we live?

Let us always be bearers of the Good News of Resurrection power. Happy Easter!

Rev. Marek Sobczak CM

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.

Message from the Provincial for the Lent 2024

Toma — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 21:32:06 +0000

In the message from the Provincial, F. Marek Sobczak for the Lent 2024 we can read: “Lent is, for us, such a reset to get rid of the devil’s presence in our lives. To get rid of our failures, weaknesses, wrongdoings, and shortcuts. It is a time to turn around and become holy as we were holy during our Baptism”.

[Newsletter No. 2/24] An Arab fable tells of a traveler startled by seeing a camel’s nose thrust in at the tent’s door where he was sleeping. “It’s frigid outside,” said the camel, “I only want to get my nose in.” The nose was allowed in, then the neck, and finally, the whole body.

Soon, the traveler began to be inconvenienced by such an ungainly companion in a room not large enough for both. “If you are inconvenienced,” said the camel, “you may leave; as for myself, I shall stay where I am.”

“Give but an inch,” says Anglican bishop Lancelot Andrews, “and the devil will take an ell; if he can get in an arm, he will makeshift to shove in his whole body.”

This happens in our lives much too often. In our busy lives, we compromise with the devil by allowing him to tempt us. And then we fall to the devil’s temptation quite often. And finally, we allow the evil spirit to enter our hearts and dwell within us. The Holy Time of Lent is an excellent opportunity to eliminate it.

How often did our cell phone or computer freeze, get stuck, or become unresponsive? What did we do in such a situation? We had to restart or even do the reset of the equipment to make it work again.

Lent is, for us, such a reset to get rid of the devil’s presence in our lives. To get rid of our failures, weaknesses, wrongdoings, and shortcuts. It is a time to turn around and become holy as we were holy during our Baptism.

You may find it hard to believe, but I remember that my grandmother did not eat meat, cold cuts, sweets, and cakes, nor drank milk, coffee, sodas, or alcohol throughout Lent. On the other hand, she prayed a lot and went to Church for Lenten services such as the Stations and Lamentations.

According to historical sources, many early Christians rejected the pleasures of this world, the comforts of life, or good food by fasting 290 days a year. Their goal was to live in God, to sacrifice themselves to increase God’s glory.

In the Old Testament Book of Daniel 9:3, we read: “So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, fasting and sackcloth and ashes.”

The author reminds us that Lent is a time of prayer, petition, fasting, and repentance. And the purpose of Lent is to get closer to God, who wants to be closer to us.

During Lent the Church tries to lead us to a metanoia or true “repentance” and renewal of life through fasting, prayer, almsgiving, self-control, and practice of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.

The Superior General, Father Gregory Gay, in one of his letters writes: “The Church offers us a precious gift: the season of Lent. It is a sacred space, a time beckoning us to pause, draw back from life’s daily grind, and drink more deeply of Jesus’ story of our salvation: his life, passion, and resurrection. Simply put, Lent is a time of sabbatical for the soul.

As a people claimed by Christ and committed to the charism of St. Vincent de Paul, this holy season can help us better live out our Catholic faith and the Vincentian way. Like Vincent, our identity is rooted in Christ. These forty days of Lent are not only a time for prayer, penance, and almsgiving, but also for reflection, connection, and action”.

Referring again to modern achievements of technology in this digital age we may say that “We’re all connected” through all kinds of electronic media. How true it is. Our faith and charism challenge us to connect Jesus’ command to love God and serve our neighbor more profoundly. Lent calls us to examine the presence of the suffering Christ in the world more clearly so that we might understand their plight and be Christ to them.

Make your Lent a time for personal reflection on where you stand as a Vincentian in accepting the Gospel challenges in thought, word, and deed. Assess your relationships with the people you serve and the people who still wait for your help or services. Connect them with the love of God.

Examine whether you can make any positive contribution to other people’s lives.

Convert your Lent into a time for spiritual growth and Vincentian maturity.

Take up the fight daily against the evil within and around us, and never give up. Jesus has assured us that the Holy Spirit is with us, empowering us to achieve final victory through Jesus Christ.

In other words – get rid of your own evil and live in holiness of God’s love. This is what Lent is all about.

Marek Sobczak, C.M.

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

From The Provincial’s Desk – July, August & October 2023 Newsletters

Toma — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 21:15:53 +0000

The latest editions of the our Provincial’s Newsletter – July, August & October 2023 – are here.

Inside you can find updates on our Confreres whereabouts, jubilees, assignments and other news regarding our Province .

Click on the link below to read/download it.

NEWSLETTER – July 2023

NEWSLETTER – August 2023

NEWSLETTER – October 2023

NEWSLETTERS of the New England Province were issued regularly until 2009. In September 2022 Provincial decided to restart this practice. We hope newsletters become regular, additional source of information about our Province and the life of our Vincentian community and our charism.

Now, Newsletters are more accessible on a dedicated page – NEWSLETTER – where you can find all recent editions of Provincial’s bulletin of news.

We invite you to give us your feedback. Please, share your opinion how do you find the newsletters in comments below or sending email to webmaster@cmnewengland.org. Give us suggestions on how we could make it better and how can we improve it. You can also send us your information which you think might be interesting for the Confreres and other readers, especially regarding the parishes where we are present.

Enjoy reading!

From The Provincial’s Desk – Newsletter March 2023

Toma — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 23:00:43 +0000

The latest edition of the our Provincial’s Newsletter – March 2023 – is here. “May this Lent and Easter inspire you to live a virtuous life, to desire a great holiness and perfection in your priestly ministry. Virtuous priests are needed to spread the Easter message of Christ who Resurrected to proclaim the Victory over sin and death. May the Resurrected Lord be your strength to be virtuous” – Father Marek Sobczak, Provincial, writes in the editorial.

Inside the newsletter you can find updates on our Confreres whereabouts and other news regarding our Province and our parishes. Click on the link below to read/download it.

NEWSLETTER – MARCH 2023

NEWSLETTERS were the regularly published by Visitors of New England Province until 2009. When Fr. Marek Sobczak took over this position in September 2022 he decided to return to this practice. We hope they become regular, additional source of information about our Province and the life of our Vincentian community.

To make the newsletter more accessible we created a dedicated page – NEWSLETTER – where you can find all editions of Provincial’s bulletin of news. We hope you find these publications very useful as a source of additional knowledge about our community life and charism.

We invite you to give us your feedback. Please, share your opinion how do you find the newsletters, suggest us how we could make it better and how can we improve it. You can also send us your information which you think might be interesting for the Confreres and other readers, especially regarding the parishes where we are present.

Enjoy reading!

Election of the next Provincial superior confirmed

Toma — Sun, 17 Apr 2022 22:19:07 +0000

In recent weeks the community of New England Province has got through the process of electing the next provincial superior. After more than one round of voting by all Provincial Confreres, the winner was elected. At the beginning of the Holy Week the result has just been approved by the Superior General and his Council. And yesterday, April 16, 2022 the confirmation was officially announced.

The next Provincial (Visitor) of the New England Province will be Father Marek Sobczak, C.M, presently vicar in St. Michael’s parish in Derby, Connecticut. In June 2021, being a pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka parish, Greenpoint, Brooklyn, N.Y. he celebrated 40th priesthood anniversary and 35th years of ministry in the United States of America.

More to read about next Provincial of New England HERE

The Statues of the Congregation of the Mission revised by the last General Assembly in 2016 state, that “the Superior General, with the consent of his Council, names the Visitor for no less than three years, after having consulted at least those members of the Province that have active voice. In the same way, the Visitor can be confirmed one or more times, according to the provincial norms in force in the province, but for no more than nine consecutive years”(S68 § 1.) “The confirmation of the Superior General with the consent of his Council is required.”(S68 § 4.).

According to this regulation Fr. Tomaž Mavrič, C.M., the Superior general, has sent the official confirmation of the election of next Provincial to Fr. Rafal Kopystynski, C.M., Chair of the Election Board. In his letter of April 16, 2022 we read:

“Dear Fr. Rafał,
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us always!

On April 13 we reviewed in the Ordinary Council Meeting the letter sent by the Board of Electors of the New England Province. We have confirmed the election of Fr. Marek Sobczak as the next visitor of the New England Province. I have personally spoken with him and he has accepted. The Installation will proceed as usual on September 27, 2022.

Please inform the Province of this confirmation and of my heartfelt thanks to Fr. Marek Sadowski for his leadership of the Province of New England for these last six years.

Fraternally in St. Vincent,

Tomaž Mavrič, C.M.
Superior General

Father Sobczak will inaugurate his term of office on September 27, 2022. It is tradition in our Province that Provincial take their office on the Feast of St. Vincent de Paul.

Fr. Marek will be the ninth head of the New England Province since it was erected in April 1975.

PROVINCIAL SUPERIORS

OF THE NEW ENGLAND PROVINCE

1975 – 1975 Rev. Henry Sawicki, C.M.

1975 – 1981 Rev. Julian Szumilo, C.M.

1981 – 1987 Rev. Waclaw Hlond, C.M.

1987 – 1996 Rev. Chester Mrowka, C.M.

1996 – 2005 Rev. John Sledziona, C.M.

2005 – 2007 Rev. Roman Gorowski, C.M.

2007 – 2016 Rev. Rafal Kopystynski, C.M.

2016 – 2022 Rev. Marek Sadowski, C.M.

September 27, 2022 – Rev. Marek Sobczak, C.M.

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.