On August 23, 2010, Joseph Cardinal Glemp, Senior Primate of Poland, visited the offices of the Connelly Foundation where he met Josephine Mandeville and Mrs. Emily Riley, two Chief Executives of the Foundation. Cardinal Glemp expressed his and John Paul II Foundation’s gratitude for the splendid financial help of more than $2,000,000 which their late parents, John and Josephine Connelly, extended to the Polish Church and Pope John Paul II Foundation in helping to construct an Academic Center in Lublin, Poland, for poor students, particularly from the former Soviet Union occupied countries. More than 700 students graduated from the Catholic University of Lublin thanks to this wonderful facility.

The Connelly Foundation was also a financial benefactor of the Old Age Home in Pilaszkow, Poland – owned by the Warsaw Diocese at the time of great need for such facilities in post-communist Poland. Cardinal Glemp was warmly welcomed. He bestowed on all his blessing and assured the Connelly Foundation of his constant prayers. Father Krzysztof Wieliczko every Thursday at 7:00 A.M. celebrates a Mass at the tomb of the late Pope John Paul II in the Vatican Grottos asking for God’s blessing for the benefactors and friends of the Foundation, including the Connelly Foundation.

By Richard Krzyzanowski