News

News and Views

Volume 9, # 8

November 30, 2005

The 16th International Festival of Religious Song, organized by Catholic Youth Studio – KSM Inc., took place from November 18-20, 2005 at the John Paul II Cultural Centre in Mississauga. This year's Festival counted among the great events dedicated to the memory of John Paul II. It also fell on the one-hundredth birthday of the humble Polish nun, St. Sr. Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938) whom God chose to teach the world devotion to His Divine Mercy. The theme of the Festival was centered on Psalm 89:1 "The promises of the Lord I will sing forever; proclaim Your loyalty through all ages." The six-member "Chili My" Christian rock band was invited as the special guest of this year’s event. During the Festival opening, Chili My performed as did the winners of the Best Songs dedicated to John Paul II that were performed at the John Paul II Legacy Concert in Roy Thomson Hall in October. Taking First Prize in the adult group category as well as the Festival Grand Prix was a duet composed of sisters Renata and Marta Ulman. They were also voted first choice by the youth members of the audience.

Fr. Jacek Nosowicz OMI has completed his work at the parish in Prince Rupert, BC, and as of November 17 is helping at Prince George, BC, where he will stay until Christmas. After our annual retreat in 2006, Fr. Jacek will take over the parish in Kitmiat, where he will stay until the end of June of the following year. Currently Fr. Jacek’s address is:

    Sacred Heart Cathedral
    887 Patricia Blvd.
    Prince George, B.C.
    V2L 3V5
    Tel: 250-564-5225

Polish Children: The Hope of Canada's Polish Community – Such was the theme of a contest for the best Christmas cards designed by children and undertaken in the Polish communities of Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton and surrounding areas. The contest was organized by the John Paul II Polish Business and Professional Association. By the time all the entries were complete in late October, the committee consisting of Fr. Janusz Blazejak OMI, Fr. Adam Filas OMI and Fr. Fred Grzempa OMI presented the winners with awards which were provided by the contest sponsors. The winning submissions were selected and produced as actual Christmas cards. The aims of the contest were the discovery of young talent and putting the person of Jesus Christ back into Christmas – for without Him, Christmas would have no meaning at all. The winning cards can be bought as Christmas cards in our Polish parishes and in various Polish stores. All proceeds from the sale of the cards will go towards the building of St. Eugene de Mazenod Parish in Brampton.

Sharing our Gratitude and Thanksgiving for 150 years of The Felician Sisters service to God and His People. Someone once said that anniversary celebrations are exercises in gratitude. This is exactly what we witnessed last Sunday. On November 20, 2005, during the morning Eucharist at St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish “The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Felix of Cantalice,” popularly known as the Felician Sisters, celebrated its 150 years of ministry. Together with the rest of the community gathered for the celebration, the Felician Sisters expressed their thank you to all those who have, by God’s grace, gone before them, pioneers and saints and to all people who have taken part in fulfilling the dream of the founders of their Congregation. The whole gathering could be easily described as the celebration of the roots, tradition, successes and growth of the Felician Sisters. In short it was a wonderful celebration of the vision of Blessed Mother Mary Angela, namely helping the poor and most abandoned – a vision that is still so real and in such a need to be kept alive. There was a great sense that as the Felician Sisters shut the door on the past 150 years, they opened new doors in hope to the future. Bishop Matthew Ustrzycki presided at the Mass, concelebrated by Fr. Rudolph Nowakowski, OMI representing Oblates of the Assumption Province, Fr. Andrzej Sowa, OMI Pastor of the Maximilian Kolbe Parish, along with Fathers Richard Wolak, OMI, Marian Gil, OMI, John Mazur, OMI and Slawomir Oblak, OMI and other priests associated with the Felician Sister through their ministry. Ad multos annos – “many more years” of working in God’s vineyard sisters. - Fr. Slawek Oblak OMI

On Sunday November 20^th at St. Casimir’s Parish in Vancouver a celebration took place marking the 90^th birthday of Fr. Marian Mroz OMI. Fr. Marian himself celebrated Mass, while the Provincial, Fr. Janusz Blazejak OMI, gave the homily. Concelebrating were the pastor, Fr. Wladyslaw Karciarz OMI, pastoral assistant Fr. Marek Czyzycki OMI, Fr. Chris Pulchny OMI and two Salvatorian Fathers. A banquet took place in the parish hall following Mass. The Consul General in Vancouver and the president of Warsaw, Mr. Urbanski, were the guests of honour.

Our Lady Queen of Poland Parish Celebrates its 15th Anniversary. On Sunday November 27, 2005 a celebration took place at Our Lady Queen of Poland Parish in Edmonton marking the 15th anniversary of the parish. The parish was prepared for this celebration by a week-long parish mission, led by missionary Jaroslaw Wachowski from Poland. The evening before, a vigil Mass was held with a candlelight procession through the streets around the church. It was a beautiful sign of faith and commitment to the parish by the parishioners. Our Provincial was the main celebrant at this Eucharist and led this procession. On Sunday at 11:00 AM, the main celebration took place and the Archbishop of Edmonton, Thomas Collins, was the celebrant. Present were Polish priests from Edmonton, Fr. Roman Majek, and our Provincial Fr. Janusz Blazejak and the first pastor of the parish, Fr. Mieczyslaw Fidyka. After the celebrations in the church, a beautiful banquet was held in the parish hall. Congratulations to Fr. Janusz Jajesniak for a well prepared celebration!

Brother Peter Nowak will make his perpetual vows at the Retreat Centre on December 5, 2005 during our annual Toronto District meeting on the occasion of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The ceremony will begin at 11:00 AM. We warmly invite all brother Oblates to this celebration, and especially those who live in the Toronto district. We wish Brother Peter God’s abundant blessings, the protection of the Blessed Virgin, and the abundant zeal of our Founder, St. Eugene de Mazenod.

I would like to inform you that on November 19, 2005 the Provincial Council approved the ordination of Peter Nowak to the diaconate. We are very happy that this next important step on the road to realizing his vocation is going forward well. Peter’s ordination to the diaconate will take place on Friday December 16, 2005 at St. Casimir’s Parish in Toronto at 7:00 PM. Bishop Richard Grecco will perform the ordination rite. Everyone one is invited. Fathers from the Toronto District especially should make sure that they are present at this celebration.

This week, Fr. Provincial Janusz Blazejak and Fr. Wojciech Kowal will be part of the meeting for the Oblate Conference of the North American Region. The Conference will take place from November 27 to December 3.

Our web page – http://www.omiap.org – has recently been updated and we have begun regular web updates concerning Provincial matters on the website. You can visit the website to read about previously addressed matters. If there are any corrections or omissions, please contact Fr. Tuan at tuan@omiap.org . We greatly thank Fr. Tuan for his work in maintaining our Provincial website.

The following Oblate confrere in our Province will soon be celebrating his birthday. We would like to wish him all the best.

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