The 74th annual Pulaski Parade, held on October 2, drew crowds of Poles who lined Fifth Avenue in celebration.
Before the march began, a solemn Mass was celebrated at St. Patrick’s Cathedral with Bishop Marian Rojek and Archbishop of New York Timothy Dolan.
The colorful procession of Polonia began at the grandstand located in front of the New York Public Library. Among the participants were New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Parade Marshal Dariusz Knapik, Consul General of the Republic of Poland in New York Ewa Junczyk-Zimecka, as well as other civic and Polish-American leaders. This year’s parade motto was: *Polish-American Youth – the Future of America.*
Among the many Polish-American organizations present—social, artistic, veterans’ groups, parishes, Saturday schools, and scouting troops—was also our own John Paul II Foundation with President Mieczysław Pająk.
We rode up Fifth Avenue on a float adorned with portraits of our Great Fellow Countryman—Blessed John Paul II—as well as white-red Polish and yellow-white papal flags. Leading our procession was a convertible bearing a portrait of Blessed Fr. Jerzy Popiełuszko.
Board members, friends, and benefactors of the Foundation attended the parade with their families. This year, the float was filled with children in traditional folk costumes and Polish-American youth. During our passage, we paused at the grandstand to greet the Grand Marshal, honored guests, and our longtime Foundation member and dedicated activist, Gabriela Urbanowicz. She presented a bouquet of red and white flowers to the Foundation president as a gesture of gratitude from the Parade organizers and the Polish community for promoting the teachings of Blessed John Paul II. We were deeply moved, especially as we each carry in our hearts the memory of May 1—the day our Foundation’s founder and great son of the Polish nation was elevated to the altars.
An important stop along the Parade route is 51st Street, where Church dignitaries, priests from Polish parishes, and Bishop Marian Rojek from Przemyśl greet participants from the steps of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. It was there that we sang Blessed John Paul II’s favorite hymn, 'Barka,' in his honor.
Poles on Fifth Avenue were vibrant and joyful this year. Through symbols, slogans, and portraits of notable Poles, they proudly shared their heritage with the multicultural, multinational crowds of New York.
ZOFIA TWAROWSKA