(Warsaw, Poland) The Redemptorist Province of Warsaw celebrated the closing event of the Jubilee Year of the 200th anniversary of the death of St. Clement Hofbauer that was the Holy Mass celebrated on March 14, 2021, in the Church of St. Clement and the Guardian Angels in Warsaw, presided over by Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz, archbishop of Warsaw. In his homily, he spoke about St. Clement as a man who had not waited for better times but kept working at evangelization for the good of people, trying to respond to the time’s challenges properly.
The thanksgiving for St. Clement’s gift was attended by Rev. Zbigniew Kras, chaplain of Poland’s President, diocesan priests from local deanery, Redemptorists from Warsaw, Tuchów, and Bardo, as well as representatives of students from the Redemptorist Major Seminary in Tuchów and postulants from Bardo. Fr. Provincial Janusz Sok was represented by Fr. Dariusz Paszyński C.Ss.R., vicar provincial.
The bakers and confectioners, who decorated the church with their baked goods, also honored their patron. It is due to their daily support that parish charity can provide bread for the poor. There were also Knights of Columbus and representatives of some government offices and institutions.
All those present were warmly welcomed by Fr. Damian Simonicz C.Ss.R., pastor of St. Clement parish. He invited the gathering to pray for the Redemptorists, for the bakers and pastry chefs, and the residents of the City of Warsaw. Those who were unable to attend the Eucharist due to pandemic restrictions had the possibility to join the celebration through online transmission.
The commemorative letters from the Speaker of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, Ms. Elżbieta Witek, from the Prime Minister, Mr. Mateusz Morawiecki, and the President of the Law and Justice Party, Mr. Jarosław Kaczyński, had been directed to the participants of the celebration.
The Holy Mass was accompanied by a magnificent artistic setting thanks to the choir “Sonus Innumerabiles” and the Warsaw Senior Citizens Orchestra musicians. Conductor Artur Backiel led the performance.
Let us ask our Patron to be, as he was, heralds of the kingdom of God’s grace through a lively faith and trust in God’s providence which guides everything.
Fr. Dariusz Paszyński, C.Ss.R.
Courtesy: redemptor.pl (kindly open the link for more photos).
