Catholic Outlook July 2016
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POLISH CATHOLIC COMMUNITY<br />
The Church is a social and faith driven hub<br />
By Adrian Middeldorp and<br />
Elizabeth McFarlane<br />
IN 1966, Cardinal Gilroy consecrated Our<br />
Lady of Czestochowa, Queen of Poland<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> Church in Marayong.<br />
The six roof peaks of the Church represent<br />
the six million Polish people who were killed in<br />
World War II.<br />
In the past 50 years, the Church through the<br />
Society of Christ (SChr), an order devoted to the<br />
care of Polish migrants, has provided pastoral<br />
care through a connection with strong faith<br />
and devotional traditions through the Polish<br />
language.<br />
Half a century later, Polish Community<br />
Rector, Rev Henryk Zasiura SChr sees the<br />
community as a bridge between the ageing<br />
first and second generation of migrants, and<br />
the later generations who now speak English as<br />
their primary language and who are generally<br />
involved in their local English-speaking<br />
parishes.<br />
The Marayong church is the centre of Polish<br />
pastoral care, not only for the local community,<br />
but the entire Sydney metropolitan area. The<br />
chaplaincy plays a significant role in Polish<br />
devotional and national celebrations that often<br />
overlap.<br />
Very Rev Przemyslaw S Karasiuk SChr (Fr<br />
Sylvester), the Provincial of the Society of<br />
Christ, believes the Church is a social and faith<br />
driven hub for special celebrations.<br />
“For the meaningful dates in the Polish<br />
religious calendar or national calendar, they<br />
come here (Marayong). Special gatherings<br />
include Corpus Christi and Christ the King –<br />
the patronal feast of our Congregation. On 3<br />
May is the Feast of Our Lady Queen of Poland<br />
and Polish Constitution Day,” Fr Sylvester said.<br />
Celebrating traditional devotions is an<br />
extremely important part of the work of the<br />
Chaplaincy and the Polish language is the<br />
uniting factor to their work.<br />
They participate in the Litany of Loreto in<br />
May, devotionals to the Sacred Heart in June,<br />
October is the month of the Rosary and they say<br />
prayers for the deceased in November.<br />
“Polish religious tradition is tied to the<br />
devotions. In May, for example, Polish people<br />
gather by road crossings where there are small<br />
chapels and they pray a litany such as a litany to<br />
the Sacred Heart in June,” Fr Sylvester said.<br />
Polish celebrations include traditional dancing<br />
and styles of clothing that differ depending<br />
on regions of Poland, and include colourful<br />
celebrations with costumes, flowers and food.<br />
This year is a significant year for the Polish<br />
Rev Henryk Zasiura SChr and Przemyslaw S Karasiuk SChr (Fr Sylvester).<br />
community, not only in Sydney for the 50th<br />
anniversary of the church, but worldwide as it<br />
marks 1050 years of Christianity in Poland.<br />
In 966, Prince Mieszko I, ruler of the Polans,<br />
converted from paganism to Christianity.<br />
Since the establishment of the first Archdiocese<br />
in the year 1000, to 1978 when Karol Wojtyła (St<br />
John Paul II) was elected the first non-Italian<br />
pope in 455 years and who played an influential<br />
role in the downfall of communism in the<br />
country, the Polish story of Christianity has<br />
been one of both struggle and triumph.<br />
Its culture and Christianity are indispensable,<br />
as recognised by the preamble in the Polish<br />
constitution:<br />
“Beholden to our ancestors for their labors,<br />
their struggle for independence achieved at great<br />
sacrifice, for our culture rooted in the Christian<br />
heritage of the Nation and in universal human<br />
values.”<br />
Polish celebrations will culminate at the end<br />
of this month with a Papal visit to Poland, as<br />
Pope Francis visits Czestochowa and World<br />
Youth Day in Krakow.<br />
On 20 November, the Polish community will<br />
welcome Most Rev Wacław Depo, Archbishop<br />
of Czestochowa, who will lead the 50-year<br />
celebrations in Marayong.<br />
PHOTO ELIZABETH MCFARLANE.<br />
The interior of the beautiful Our Lady of Czestochowa,<br />
Queen of Poland <strong>Catholic</strong> Church in Marayong<br />
<br />
PHOTO: ELIZABETH MCFARLANE.<br />
Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy<br />
Penrose Park<br />
Fatima Day: Wednesday 13 <strong>July</strong><br />
A day of prayer with our Bishop Peter Ingham!<br />
Exposition 10am, Holy Mass 11am, After Lunch; Procession and Devotions at<br />
Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes<br />
Principal Celebrant: Most Rev Peter Ingham<br />
Bishop of Wollongong<br />
Divine Mercy Sunday: 3 <strong>July</strong><br />
11am - Solemn Mass followed by<br />
Devotions including Chaplet of<br />
Divine Mercy<br />
Fatima Family Sunday: 17 <strong>July</strong><br />
11am - Holy Mass with Renewal<br />
of Wedding Vows, followed by<br />
Devotions<br />
Upcoming celebrations in our shrine<br />
Our Lady of Mt Carmel: Saturday 16 <strong>July</strong><br />
11am - Holy Mass followed by Exposition and Benediction<br />
Pauline Fathers’ Monastery<br />
Address: 120 Hanging Rock Road, Berrima, NSW, 2577 Phone: 02 4878 9192<br />
Email: paulinefathers@yahoo.com.au<br />
Website: www.penrosepark.com.au<br />
18 <strong>Catholic</strong><strong>Outlook</strong> | JULY <strong>2016</strong><br />
www.catholicoutlook.org