News

News and Views

Volum 9, # 5

September 18, 2005

Toronto District Meeting – The first Toronto District meeting will be held at St. Casimir’s Parish on Friday, September 30^th, 2005 at 10:30 AM sharp. Since this is the first meeting this year, it is important that you all try to make a special effort to attend so that we can plan our various meetings and activities for the coming year. Also please remember to mail back to the Provincial House the consultation forms for District Superior. It’s important that everyone in the district sends his opinion. The Provincial Council will appoint a new District Superior during its meeting in October. The installation of the new Superior and Council will take place at Holy Angels parish on December 28^th, 2005. Please mark your calendar and we’ll see you all on September 30^th.

On September 9^th, Fr. Zygmunt Musielski’s funeral took place at St. Casimir’s Church in Toronto. Fr. Musielski passed away on September 7^th following a long illness. Over 30 priests took part in the funeral Mass. Fr. Janusz, the Provincial, celebrated the Mass, and Fr. Ron Rolheiser OMI delivered the homily. A funeral Mass also took place in Winnipeg on September 12, 2005, where Fr. Musielski served twice as pastor. Archbishop Szczepan Wesoly led the funeral Mass and Fr. Janusz Blazejak gave the homily. Winnipeg Archbishop James Weisgerber led the final commendation prayers. Fifteen priests took part, as well as a great number of parishioners. As per his own wishes, Fr. Musielski was buried at Holy Ghost Cemetery in Winnipeg.

On Sunday, September 11^th, Fr. Jan Wadolowski was installed as the new pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka parish in Toronto. Bishop Richard Grecco was the main celebrant. Fr. Jacob Szwarc OMI represented Assumption Province.

Also on Sunday, September 11^th, a parish feast took place at St. Eugene de Mazenod parish in Brampton. Bishop Matthew Ustrzycki celebrated Mass, while Fr. Andrzej Sowa OMI, pastor of St. Maximilian Kolbe parish, gave the homily.

In addition, a harvest festival took place in St. Catharines, organized by Fr. Richard Kosian OMI. The Mass, which took place at the park, was celebrated by Fr. Janusz Blazejak OMI. Hundreds of people participated in the liturgy and celebration.

On Sunday, September 18^th, the main celebrations marking the 90^th anniversary of St. Mary’s parish in Toronto took place. Archbishop Szczepan Wesoly of Rome was the guest of honour. Father Provincial, Janusz Blazejak OMI, also took part in the event.

The history of St. Mary's Parish reaches back to the beginning of the Twentieth Century. Ever increasing numbers of Poles began to immigrate to Canada from Poland, which was being torn by conquests. Among the areas where the new immigrants settled was West Toronto. Toronto Archbishop Neil McNeil looked with understanding on the needs of the new Polish community, allowing use to be made of St. John's Chapel on Church Street for the celebration of Mass in Polish. The first parish community comprised about 250 families. Despite serious difficulties in raising the necessary funds, construction did get under way and on the last Sunday in October of 1915, Archbishop McNeil blessed the new church, which initially was referred to as the parish of the Birth of the Virgin Mary. This was the first ethnic Polish parish in Toronto that was built entirely by the Polish community. St. Mary's approached its 90^th anniversary. Today, it no longer plays the role it once did in the early days of its history. In its early years, St. Mary's was a centre of faith and Polish culture for a number of generations of Toronto's Polish community.

On Sunday September 18, the 50^th anniversary celebration for Fr. John Mazur took place at the Queen of Apostles Retreat Centre. Fr. Mazur was ordained on September 24, 1955 at St. Mary’s Church in Toronto – his family parish. After Mass in the chapel, a lovely dinner and get-together was held. Fr. Mazur himself celebrated the Mass, while Fr. Janusz Blazejak, the Provincial, gave the homily. Over 20 priests attended, as well as over 30 Sisters, Fr. Mazur’s family and his friends. Happy 50^th anniversary, Fr. John!

Our 2005-2006 calendars – a project connected to the 50^th anniversary events in our Province – has been printed and already shipped out. I can say that they look fantastic and I am very happy that we were able to complete them on time. I’d also like to remind you of the way in which we are to distribute the calendars: We are to give them out for a donation offered in support of our congregation’s missionary work. We are not to set a price and sell them for any set amount. All the offerings received are to be sent to the Provincial house: Att. 50^th Anniversary Committee. This will help us offset the cost of printing the calendars and also of producing our anniversary book, which will have a special significance.

Our Oblate retreat for 2006 will take place at the Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre from January 8-13, 2006. Please mark this date in your calendar and be sure not to have any Mass intentions booked during that time (this applies especially to Oblate parishes in the Toronto area). The congress marking the 50^th anniversary of our Province will take place from June 11-16, 2006, also at Queen of Apostles in Mississauga.

We remind everyone that we still have anniversary vocation posters available. We ask that they be placed in all the prominent spots inside our churches and offices. If anyone needs additional posters, please call the Provincial office.

From October 10-15 the first Provincial Council meeting will take place. One of the first assignments of the new Council will be the formation of new commissions, committees and Provincial structures, i.e. Formation Board, Finance Committee, Provincial Treasurer, Renovation and Planning Committee, Archives, Vocations Director, Formation Committee, Ongoing Formation Director, Seniors Committee, MAMI, Cottage.

If any of our Fathers is interested in working for any of the above committees, please send a short e-mail to Fr. Provincial. A few Fathers have already volunteered to be part of certain committees.

Please remember in your prayers Fr. Jacob Szwarc, as he has started radiation therapy for his illness.

Also would please pray for Fr. Chris Pulchny as he will undergo a complete transfusion of blood next week.

The following Oblate confreres in our Province will soon be celebrating their birthdays. We would like to wish them all the best. Happy Birthday to you all!

                October 4 -           Fr. Christopher Pulchny
                October 8 -           Br. Peter Nowak
                October 11 -         Fr. Francois Dyjak
                October 11 -         Fr. Peter Reginato

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord.
And may perpetual light shine upon them.
May the souls of the faithfully departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.

We request information regarding various important events so that we can inform the rest of the Province on an ongoing basis. Please send news to provincial@omiap.org The next news and views will be issued in mid-October.

In each upcoming issue we will be including information on our policies. Today we touch upon the topic of pilgrimages:

1) Travel directly related to this ministry is to be approved by the Provincial and Council. When requesting permission, an itinerary must be provided.

2) If an Oblate participates in a pilgrimage and does not leave and return with the group, the additional time spent away from the pilgrimage group proper will be considered part of the Oblates annual vacation.