Angelus News | May 17, 2024 | Vol. 9 No. 10

were oppressed and suffering because
of political conflicts or wars.
“He tried to reach every heart and
every soul of all peoples with his compassion,
love, and mercy.”
The celebration began with the
Divine Mercy chaplet, a devotion
originated by Polish mystic St. Faustina
Kowalska and made popular by John
Paul’s establishment of Divine Mercy
Sunday. During the recitation, parishioners
asked for God’s grace and the
faith to trust in Jesus.
“Jesus, I trust in you; this is my prayer
every day,” said Boguslawa Doerr, who
heads the Los Angeles chapter of the
John Paul II Foundation. “It makes me
stronger. St. John Paul II gave us this.
He has been a huge influence on my
life.”
John Paul was officially canonized
by Pope Francis on April 27, 2014, on
Divine Mercy Sunday. He was found
eligible for sainthood after being credited
with two miracles that happened
after his death on April 2, 2005.
Frankowski told parishioners their
beloved intercessor healed thousands
more, including one man sitting in the
pews whose story was so compelling it
was submitted to the Vatican.
In the early 2000s, Michael Mietek
Dutkowski was suffering from multiple
health conditions, including liver
failure. He says parishioners from Our
Lady of the Bright Mount and the St.
John Paul II Polish Center in Yorba
Linda began praying for his recovery
through the intercession of John Paul.
“Prayers were answered, I was healed,”
Dutkowski said. “My documents with
medical history were delivered to the
Vatican by the president of the John
Paul II Foundation and included in the
process of the beatification … [but] I
believe he was a saint while alive.”
In addition to individual blessings with
the first-class relic of John Paul’s hair,
worshippers were invited to kneel and
pray where the saint once sat. In 1976,
then-Cardinal Karol Wojtyla visited the
parish, stayed overnight in the rectory,
then celebrated Mass.
Several parishioners remember that
day with awe. Andrew Goska was only
10 years old at the time but sensed
something special about the man and
the moment.
“The way he spoke to people, it was
like the Holy Spirit was present,” said
Goska, a parishioner at Our Lady of the
Bright Mount. “I feel [my faith] has a
lot to do with him being there shaking
our hands and touching our souls. It
was very powerful.”
Casey Habrat was also at this acclaimed
Mass. He remembers the
cardinal trying to connect with every
person, a trait he carried into his
papacy.
“What I really respect about him is
that he took the Vatican out of the Vatican,”
said Habrat, a parishioner at Our
Lady of the Bright Mount. “He went
out where the people were and didn’t
wait for them to come to him.”
Most of the Mass-goers seemed to
have a personal story about John Paul,
including Father Frankowski. The Polish
native said when he was discerning
the priesthood, he prayed for a sign and
got one through a dream.
“There’s Pope John Paul II sitting in
the main chair of the sanctuary of the
church,” Frankowski recalled. “My
Mom says, ‘Well, Mirek, go and serve
the pope.’ When I woke up, I knew
what I had to do and I entered seminary.”
Admiration for John Paul and Polish
culture was evident throughout the
Mass. Father Espinoza wore a vestment
bearing John Paul’s face while some
parishioners opted for classic folk attire.
Chris Grzelecki, in a dark wool vest
and colorful striped pants, helped bring
the gifts to the altar.
“I came here for tradition, a lot of
tradition,” said Grzelecki, a parishioner
at Our Lady of the Bright Mount. “Yet
it was nice to see so many different
nationalities come together and share a
reverence for Pope John Paul.”
Following Mass, attendees enjoyed a
reception that included kielbasa, pierogies,
stuffed cabbage, and further reminiscing
about John Paul. Frankowski
hopes the saint’s lessons are remembered
in these times of global peril.
“His legacy is the same as Jesus
Christ,” Frankowski said. “He taught
us to love one another, respect one
another, and respect the freedom of all
people.”
Father Miroslaw “Mirek” Frankowski, S.Ch., left, pastor at Our Lady of the Bright Mount Church, and Father Luis
Espinoza look on as a parishioner kisses the relic of John Paul. | VICTOR ALEMÁN
Natalie Romano is a freelance writer
for Angelus and the Inland Catholic
Byte, the news website of the Diocese of
San Bernardino.
May 17, 2024 • ANGELUS • 15