On October 30–31, 2021, members and friends of the John Paul II Foundation from the East Coast of the United States took part in a pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Częstochowa in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
The meeting aimed to commemorate the 43rd anniversary of Cardinal Karol Wojtyła’s election as the successor of St. Peter, to honor the 100th birthday of St. John Paul II (celebrated a year later due to the cancellation of events in 2020 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic), and to mark the 40th anniversary of the founding of the John Paul II Foundation. The event began on Saturday, October 30, with a formal banquet attended by presidents of the Foundation’s chapters: Marianna Eckel (Washington D.C.), Barbara Pyśk (New England), Mieczysław Boksz (New Jersey), Ryszard Krzyżanowski (Philadelphia), and Mieczysław Pająk (New York). Also invited were individuals who had contributed significantly to the Foundation’s growth, including Mary Witkowska-Flanagan, Teresa Romanowska, Cecilia and Raymond Glembocki—who printed and distributed educational materials promoting the legacy of St. John Paul II; Monsignor Anthony Czarnecki, a member of the Foundation’s Administrative Council; and Michael Blichasz, Director of the Polish American Cultural Center in Philadelphia.
The gathering was honored by the presence of Brooklyn Bishop Witold Mroziewski. Also attending were Father Tadeusz Lizińczyk, provincial of the Pauline order, and Bogdan Chmielewski, president of the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union, who presented a $5,000 check to support the Foundation’s work. Numerous members and supporters attended, and from Rome came Father Krzysztof Wieliczko, the Foundation’s Administrator, who conveyed blessings from Pope Francis. He also read a letter from Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko, Chairman of the Administrative Council, which said in part: “Dear Friends, before the joy of the Jubilee of the Great John Paul II has fully settled, we now enter into the celebration of the anniversary of the Foundation’s establishment.”
“It was founded at the initiative of the Pope himself on October 16, 1981. Its goals include a scholarship fund, the Documentation Center of John Paul II's Pontificate that collects valuable materials and publications, and the Pilgrim House on Via Cassia, also consecrated 40 years ago, serving the Church in Poland, Polish compatriots, and in many ways, the entire Church. What has emerged from your generosity continues to grow and develop. It reflects a sense of responsibility for the content and future of our Foundation. May this meeting on the East Coast of the United States be both a moment of thanksgiving for 40 years of the Foundation’s work and a prayer for God’s continued blessings for its future development, the legacy entrusted to us by our founder, John Paul II the Great. With heartfelt blessings.”
During the banquet, Mary Witkowska-Flanagan of Washington D.C. received the “Fidelity to the Legacy of Saint John Paul II” award for her selfless and dedicated service to the Foundation. She was the chief secretary of the committee that raised funds for the Polish House in Rome on Via Cassia, which continues to serve pilgrims and house the documentation of St. John Paul II’s pontificate. She co-founded the Washington Chapter of the Foundation with Władysław Zachariasiewicz. Pope John Paul II awarded her the Order of St. Sylvester.
Another significant moment was the presentation of American flags that flew over the U.S. Capitol on the 100th birthday of St. John Paul II. These flags, along with certificates, were presented to Bishop Witold Mroziewski, Father Tadeusz Lizińczyk, Michael Blichasz, Bogdan Chmielewski, and Foundation Chapter Presidents: Marianna Eckel, Barbara Pyśk, Mieczysław Boksz, Ryszard Krzyżanowski, and Mieczysław Pająk. Recipients are tasked with displaying the flags during major events honoring St. John Paul II.
Bishop Witold Mroziewski concluded the banquet by sharing reflections on the Foundation. As a graduate of the Catholic University of Lublin, he recalled meeting Foundation scholarship recipients who gave witness to their faith and Catholic upbringing. He emphasized the importance of supporting Catholic higher education and shared his personal connection with the New York Chapter, which spans 25 years. “I know what it means to be part of the Foundation,” he said. “Being involved fills us with joy and strength. It is good to belong to the Foundation and to be a part of its mission.” Father Krzysztof Wieliczko then gave a blessing and invited all to a joint prayer in the Chapel of the Miraculous Image of Our Lady of Częstochowa, where Bishop Mroziewski led the traditional evening hymn, the “Jasna Góra Appeal.”
On the second day of the pilgrimage, Father Krzysztof Wieliczko met with members and chapter presidents to discuss current organizational matters. He spoke about the peregrination of the triptychs honoring the 100th birthday of St. John Paul II, and the activities of chapters in Mexico and Indonesia, as well as the scholarship program. Currently, 100 students are studying at the Catholic University of Lublin and the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Kraków. Each chapter president presented an activity report, with many expressing concern about preserving the Pope’s spiritual legacy. There was unanimous support for continuing the scholarship program for youth from Eastern Europe and Asia. Ryszard Krzyżanowski, president of the Philadelphia Chapter, announced the creation of an endowment fund to support Catholic education. The continued growth and initiatives of the Foundation depend on the financial and spiritual support of its members.
The gathering concluded with a concelebrated Mass in the Chapel of the Miraculous Image of Our Lady of Częstochowa, offered for all friends of the Foundation. The celebrants were Bishop Witold Mroziewski (main celebrant), Monsignor Anthony Czarnecki, and Father Krzysztof Wieliczko. In his homily, the bishop said: “Founded on October 16, 1981—40 years ago—the Roman John Paul II Foundation is a precious pearl reflecting beauty in those who shape it and those who benefit from it. Over 40 years, thousands of gifted and spiritually open young people have undergone academic and spiritual formation, becoming leaders of a society grounded in the commandment to love God and neighbor.
Thanks to your dedication and the prayers of many, devotion to our fellow Pole, St. John Paul II, remains alive in the hearts of those who represent the future of the Church and the world. Let us continue this noble work. As St. John Paul II emphasized: ‘Not only in words, but above all through a lifestyle, a free heart, and a creative mind, let us show that Christ is our joy and happiness. We must avoid the all-too-common situation where faith fails to permeate life.’ All of you present here reflect this harmony of life as members of the John Paul II Foundation. May the memory of the 100th anniversary of his birth, the 43rd anniversary of his election, and the 40th anniversary of the Foundation be filled with joyful service to others, for God’s glory and the good of all in the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.”
The liturgy was enriched by the voices of Natalia Prajzner, Lidia Wiśniewska, Maria Zdunek, and organist Paweł Raczkowski. After Bishop Mroziewski’s blessing and closing remarks from Father Krzysztof Wieliczko and Monsignor Anthony Czarnecki, it was time to say goodbye. Everyone parted with joy, grateful that after a year of pandemic, they could meet in such numbers and continue the Foundation’s mission. It is hoped that similar gatherings will take place in the future—and perhaps be extended to other chapters and societies of the Foundation across the United States. In summary, the meeting provided an opportunity to deepen relationships, exchange ideas, evaluate our chapters’ work, and most importantly, define future goals to ensure that the legacy of our Polish Pope is passed on to the next generation.
We encourage everyone who values the teachings of St. John Paul II, his spiritual legacy, and Christian ethics and culture to get involved in the work of the John Paul II Foundation.
ZOFIA TWAROWSKA
RYSZARD DZIEDZIC