A "Blessed" Connection to Sts. Peter and Paul Church
+STEFAN CARDINAL WYSZYŃSKI BEATIFIED ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH
Blessed Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński (1901-1981), the "Primate of the Milennium", was beatified on September 12th in Warsaw, Poland. The Primate of Poland for the greater part of the 20th century, Wyszyński heroically resisted communism and preserved the Catholic Faith in Poland. He was a mentor to Karol Wojtyła, the future Pope John Paul II. On September 12th, St. Stanislaus Basilica in Chicopee marked this solemn event with catechesis and prayer, Eucharistic Adoration, and the Divine Mercy Chaplet, at 2:00 pm.
A touching anecdote: Upon his arrival at the Vatican, Cardinal Karol Wojtyła told the Italian cardinals, 'In Poland, 40 percent of the cardinals ski.' When it was pointed out to him that Poland had only two cardinals, Wojtyła explained, 'Cardinal Wyszyński accounts for 60 percent.'" (The "40 percent" was Wojtyła referring to himself)
In 1976, Blessed Cardinal Wyszyński blessed several items for our church. In the photo below, he is seen blessing the following items which are in our church today: the icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa, the painting of Our Lady of Częstochowa, and the portrait of St. Maximilian Kolbe. This blessing took place in Poland, before their shipment to Sts. Peter and Paul Church. These images have inspired the faithful in our parish and deepened devotion to our Blessed Mother and to St. Maximilian Kolbe.
Blessed Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński, Primate of Poland, pray for us!
