LONDON - 10 April 2008 - 210 words
London: Polish Catholics celebrate year at Anglican church
A year ago at Easter, the Polish Jesuit
Community in Willesden Green got permission to use the Anglican
church of St Francis of Assisi. The great influx of
Poles into this area of London since 2004 had forced the Polish
Jesuits who administer the chapel on Walm Lane to look for a larger
church to accommodate all worshippers.
On Sunday, the Polish Community marked the first anniversary of
using that church in Willesden Green by celebrating Mass. Among
the guests were Bishop Alan Hopes, the British Jesuit Provincial,
Fr Michael Holman SJ, the Polish Provincial from Warsaw, Fr Dariusz
Kowalczyk SJ, the parish priest of St Andrew and St Francis Church,
Rev Scott Anderson, the former President of Republic of Poland,
Ryszard Kaczorowski, with his wife, and MP for Brent East, Sarah
Teather.
In his introduction to the Mass, Bishop Alan said: "It is
the Mass which unites all of us with Jesus Christ and with one
another whatever our cultural or language differences may be. On
behalf of the Cardinal (Cormac Murphy-O'Connor), I would like
to say how much your presence is welcomed by the Church in England
and Wales, and especially here in the Diocese of Westminster. You
have enriched the Catholic community here with a particular spirituality
and with your example of commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ and
his Church. Over the years you will become more and
more integrated with the local Church and will become a valuable
part of the evangelizing missionary work to bring others to know
and love the Lord'.
Bishop Alan and all invited guests were very impressed by the
huge number of young Poles attending the Mass and the high standard
of English the Polish children were speaking.
There was an unseasonal fall of snow that day, but Polish Jesuits'
Superior, Fr Jerzy Bialek SJ said: "The winter weather didn't
spoil the joyful community spirit this Sunday. All guests were
very happy to be together enjoying the barbeque prepared by the
parishioners afterwards."
© Independent Catholic News 2008
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