It is no coincidence that the tenth month of the year—October—is celebrated on the East Coast of the USA as Polish Heritage Month.
On the first Sunday of the month, we all gather in Manhattan for the Pulaski Day Parade to proudly remind others that we are Polish Americans, whose ancestors built this country and fought for its independence. October 16 marks the anniversary of Cardinal Karol Wojtyła's election to the papal throne. On this day, Poland gave the Catholic Church one of her sons—an outstanding Pope of the 20th century—who, through his life, prayer, and service to the faithful in Christ, was rightfully elevated to sainthood. (The universal Church observes the feast of Saint John Paul II on October 22, commemorating the beginning of his pontificate in 1978.) Three days later, on October 19, the Polish Church remembers the martyr for the faith, Blessed Fr. Jerzy Popiełuszko. It is a sorrowful anniversary for all Poles, reminding us of the cruelty and ruthlessness of the communist regime imposed on our homeland.
The New York Chapter of the John Paul II Foundation remembers the October anniversaries. At St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, we arranged a special Mass to thank God for the gift of the Holy Polish Pope and to pray for the swift canonization of Blessed Fr. Jerzy. The Eucharist was celebrated by the parish pastor, Fr. Marek Sobczak, and our Chapter's chaplain, Fr. Józef Szpilski.
Fr. Józef also delivered a touching homily, recalling the events of both 1978 and 1984. As pastor of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish at the time, he remembered how reporters from all major American television stations and newspapers flocked to Greenpoint, crowding outside the church and seeking information about the new successor of St. Peter—the cardinal from Kraków. Immense joy and pride were shared by Polish immigrants who thanked God for this extraordinary gift to both Poland and the Church.
Six years later, the parishioners and the entire Polish community in the neighborhood were once again paralyzed by shock and sorrow upon hearing of the murder of the Catholic priest known as the 'Chaplain of Solidarity.' Following the failed 1981 assassination attempt on John Paul II, which shook not only Catholics but people of all faiths, the death of Cardinal Wyszyński, and many attacks and provocations against clergy, this was another severe blow to the Polish nation, the Polish diaspora, and the Catholic Church.
“Fr. Popiełuszko bravely defended the ideals of truth, freedom, and justice. He was killed by operatives of the communist regime, brainwashed by propaganda of lies and hatred. His death was one of many acts of state-sponsored terror against its own citizens. His motto, drawn from Scripture—‘Overcome evil with good’—was, is, and will remain our guiding light. We honor his life, which he offered in sacrifice for his nation.”
We wish to once again share this excerpt from a speech by Mieczysław Pająk, President of the New York Chapter of the John Paul II Foundation and one of the initiators of the Fr. Jerzy Popiełuszko monument, on this October day in 2015.
Since the very beginning, the Polish-American community has actively participated in commemorating this tragic anniversary in Polish history. This year, after Mass, we once again held a procession from St. Stanislaus Kostka Church to Fr. Jerzy’s monument at the square bearing his name in McCarren Park. As always, the John Paul II Foundation, the Polish American Congress, the Maritime League, and Polish Scouts were in attendance. Despite the cold and wind, many Foundation friends, parishioners, and Greenpoint residents gathered at the monument to pay tribute to the Chaplain of Solidarity. Representatives from the Regional Assembly of Małopolska were also present.
Fr. Marek Sobczak spoke beautifully about the life of Fr. Jerzy and his moral legacy for future generations. Frank Milewski, President of the Polish American Congress for Downstate New York, also addressed the crowd. In a brief presentation, Polish Scouts reminded attendees of the circumstances surrounding the abduction of the Chaplain of Solidarity and mentioned other clergy persecuted by the communist regime.
President Mieczysław Pająk, members of the Foundation, and parishioners—many of whom were donors of the monument—clearly remember the challenges of commemorating the martyrdom of Fr. Jerzy. Just three weeks after its official unveiling, the statue was vandalized—Fr. Jerzy’s head was broken off. The original sculptor, Stanisław Lutostański from Vermont, recreated it. The original head now rests inside St. Stanislaus Kostka Church as part of a granite plaque containing the relics of Blessed Fr. Popiełuszko.
At the conclusion of our gathering, Mieczysław Pająk once again spoke, thanking all those present—especially those who continue to care for this significant place for the Polish community. Special appreciation goes to the Scouts, who cleaned the square, prepared the ceremony, and laid flowers at the monument. The local police, led by Stefan Komar, also help maintain the safety of the site by patrolling it, especially in the evenings and at night.
All of us should make a habit of visiting the square with our children or grandchildren, sitting on the benches near the monument, and telling them about the humble priest who reminded us that 'evil must be overcome with good.'
ELŻBIETA SERDAK