Poznać Kościół

"Kościół poznaje siebie coraz lepiej" - pod takim hasłem w niedzielę (5 maja, 2013 r.) w auli przy rzymskim kościele św. Stanisława BM odbyło się kolejne spotkanie z cyklu "Sobór Watykański II busolą nowej ewangelizacji". Cykl, którego organizatorami są Ośrodek Dokumentacji i Studium Pontyfikatu Jana Pawła II oraz Duszpasterstwo Polaków w Wiecznym Mieście, ma charakter wykładów popularyzatorskich prowadzonych przez o. prof. Zdzisława Kijasa OFM Conv. oraz ks. dr Andrzeja Dobrzyńskiego. Spotkanie było poświęcone przybliżeniu znaczenia i treści Konstytucji dogmatycznej "Lumen Gentium" o Kościele.

Fr. Krzysztof Wieliczko OSPPE, administrator of the John Paul II Foundation in Rome and also longstanding pastor at the St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Church in Manhattan led the 40 hours celebrations in his former parish. Installation of the relics of Bl. John Paul II at the St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Church on Sunday, April 28, 2013 was the culmination point of the celebrations.

When the John Paul II Foundation New York Chapter’s ad of the pilgrimage to Turkey appeared many of us began to wonder – why to travel to this unstable country? Also, most likely there is not much to see?  Some had a very poor country in front of their eyes. Is it worth it to go? – a question with which so many struggled.  Some lost this “battle” and stayed at home.  Brave ones decided to go. And what…? Huge surprise.  In front of us appeared a beautiful country with many natural, cultural and architectonic attractions, the country with a high level of infrastructure and friendly people; but, most of all the country in which the first missionary church was created.  After all, over here the great missionary – St. Paul the Apostle was active.  Over here we met with the characters – St. John the Apostle, St. Philip.  So many saints from the first centuries stood on our pilgrim’s path that only now we started to better understand the Letters of St. Paul, the Acts if the Apostles and the Revelation of St. John.  From the very first moments we started to enjoy the idea of our pilgrimage organized by the Foundation.

In preparation for the great feast of the Divine Mercy, the faithful of the Church of Divine Mercy came together for a 9-day Novena, which began on Good Friday and ending on the Saturday before the feast day. 

The first three days of the Novena were held at the homes of parishioners. The remaining 6 days were held nightly in the parish followed by Mass. The parish invited Father Krzysztof Wieliczko, OSPPE, administrator of the John Paul II Foundation in Rome to preach on the mystery and message of the Divine Mercy. The power of the Spirit was very palpable throughout the 9 days.