Parish Events

December 31, 2010

New Year’s Eve

After a year break, our parish organized our annual New Year’s Eve Dinner-Dance. In a beautifully decorated banquet hall, about 100 people took part in this celebration. After social hour, a delicious meal was served. The meal was prepared by our very own parishioner, Teresa Szul with the help of her husband and son. We danced to the music provided by the group “FORMAT” from Chicago. At midnight everyone popped the champagne as we greeted the New Year wishing each other all the best in the New Year. Fr. Peter welcomed the New Year with a prayer and thanked everyone who helped to organize this year’s event.

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December 29, 2010

School Trip

On Wednesday, December 29th, Polish School organized a bus trip to Delavan, Wisconsin, to see a Dancing Horse Show. We arrived at the Theater after 11:00 am, and we went to see a Yak and a Reindeer. When we settled at the theater, we had lunch and most of the children took a camel ride or pony rides. We were all excited and anxious to watch the Dancing Horses. The show was beautiful; the children were clapping with excitement for these magnificent creatures. After the horse show we went to see a different type of show. This time the children got to see an Exotic Bird Show. They have seen talking, singing and trick-performing parrots and macaws.

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December 25, 2010

Christmas Day

This year the Polish Mass was celebrated by the Provincial of our Conventual Franciscans, Fr. Jaroslaw Zachariasz, who came for a visit from Poland. The children from Polish Language School took part of the celebration by carrying the sacrificial gifts to the altar and sang a beautiful song to baby Jesus. After Mass every child received baby Jesus and candy.

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December 24, 2010

Midnight Mass

Our Christmas celebration began with a prelude of Christmas Carols in English and Polish by our choir. At Midnight, Fr. Peter placed Baby Jesus in the manger and began the Bilingual Mass. The Youth Group of our parish took part of the celebration by carrying all the offertory gifts to the altar.

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December 9,2010

Advent trip to Chicago

On December 9th, a group of 14 people took a trip to Chicago. Everyone gathered in church at 10:00 am for Holy Mass lead by Fr. Peter. After Mass we left for Chicago by cars. Our first stop was lunch at Old Warsaw restaurant on Harlem Rd. We all had lots of fun: we joked, we laughed, we even tried our singing talents, and of course had a delicious meal. When we had enough to eat, we went across the street to the DOM (Polish Store) full of beautiful Christmas items. The ladies had a ball shopping for Christmas. Then it was time for more shopping. Next door to DOM there is a Polish grocery store, Rich’s Deli, where we bought a lot of great tasting sausage and other foods. Our cars smelled great all the way home. On the way home we got caught in the winter storm, thank God we got home safe.

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December 5, 2010

St. Nicholas Day

Sunday, December 5^th, St. Nick visited our children after the 9:00 and 11:00 am Masses. He told children the story of Saint Nick and gave each of them a small gift. After the ceremony in church all were invited to Kolbe Hall for coffee and cake. Participants could buy beautiful Christmas decorations and delicious baked goods prepared by the ladies of the Women’s League.

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November 14, 2010

Independence Day

On Sunday, November 14th at the 11:00 am Mass our Polish community gathered to thank God for the Independence of Poland and for Fr. Jerzy Popieluszko (a Polish martyr who was killed for the Solidarity movement). To celebrate this special day, an adult group presented an artistic program dedicated to Fr. Jerzy Popieluszko. After Mass, everyone was invited to Kolbe Hall for delicious soup and sausage prepared by Stan and Jadwiga Golab, Anna Moskalis and Agata Gibala.Many people enjoyed great food and company.

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October 16, 2010 

Pilgrimage to Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary Helper of Christians in Holy Hill

Saturday, October 16th, the Society of Mercy of our parish organized a bus pilgrimage to the Holy Hill in Hubertus, WI, to the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary Helper of Christians. On the way, we prayed the holy rosary and sang songs. At the Basilica Fr. Peter celebrated Holy Mass. After a delicious lunch, many of the participants took a walk and prayed the Stations of the Cross; some climbed the tower to see the beautiful Wisconsin terrain. We came back home tired, but spiritually renewed.

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October 9, 2010 

Centennial Celebration

On the weekend of October 9/10 Polish National Alliance, Group 1224 of Rockford celebrated their 100 year anniversary. The celebration started on Saturday with a banquet, where the children of our Polish Language School performed traditional folk dances and read poems. Then, after the official part of the banquet and a delicious dinner, an adult group invited everyone to dance the traditional dance “Polonez”. The celebration continued with a Holy Mass on Sunday, where children dressed in the traditional costumes took part in the Mass.  After the service, Group 1224 invited everyone to Kolbe Hall for coffee and paczki.

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October 3, 2010

Transitus

The passing of St. Francis from death to eternal life (Transitus) was celebrated this year on Sunday, October 3^rd at 6:00 pm. Many parishioners and the Franciscan Community of St. Stanislaus and St. Anthony’s parish, as well as the Third Order of Secular Franciscans, took part in this celebration. After the service in church, Fr. Peter invited everyone to Kolbe Hall for coffee and cake.

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October 2, 2010 

Traveling Statue of Our Lady

As in prior years, our church hosted the Traveling Statue of Our Lady of Fatima. The Statue arrived on Saturday, October 2^nd and was welcomed with a bilingual Mass at 10:30 am. The statue stayed in our church for a week, and again we wished a farewell to Our Lady on Saturday, October 9^th.

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August 15, 2010

Polish Fest 

For the 29th time our Parish organized its annual Polish Fest on Sunday, August 15th. All activities began with a bilingual mass at 10:15 am. After the mass we welcomed thousands of people to taste Poland’s hospitality. For everyone’s enjoyment we offered dancing to two different bands, folk dance performances, a variety of ethnic foods and beer. Everyone could find something interesting to do, from a sausage and sauerkraut dinner, pierogi, potato pancakes, and pastries to bingo for adults. Children could test their skills on the climbing wall and many different games. As in prior years, we ended the festival with a raffle drawing. 

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August 8, 2010

On Sunday, August 8th, newly ordained Fr. Wojciech Ulman, celebrated his first Mass at our parish. This was a very special day for our community, because Fr. Wojciech stayed at our parish for six months while learning English before he left to study at the University in Uganda.

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June 6, 2010

Corpus Christi

This year Corpus Christi was celebrated at 10:15 with a bilingual mass. As a part of the celebration, the Eucharistic Procession went down the street with stops at four altars decorated by members of the parish. Girls dressed in white dresses paved the way for Jesus with flower petals while boys rang bells announcing His presence. After the ceremony, everyone was invited to parish garden for Agape. Hundreds of potato pancakes were grilled to satisfy the hungry crowd. The afternoon was spent with good company and pleasant sounds of music.

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May 16, 2010

First Communion

First Communion was celebrated on May 16th at 9 am Mass. Thirteen young, members of our parish have prepared for this day for a couple of years. Fr. Peter greeted all attending Mass and during the entrance procession walked with the first communicants and their parents into the church. At the beginning of the ceremony, children asked their parents for special blessings. During Mass children did the readings, carried gifts, and offered flowers to the Virgin Mary. Fr. Peter gave a wonderful homily addressed to the children. Mass finished with a group photo.

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May 9, 2010

Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day was celebrated with mothers in mind; every mother received a special blessing and a flower. After the 11:00 am Mass everyone was invited to school hall to artistic program prepared specially for mothers by children from polish language school. Afternoon ended with coffee and cake.

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May 2, 2010

Solemnity of Blessed Virgin Mary -Queen of Poland and Polish Constitution.

Sunday, May 2nd special Mass at 11:00 am was dedicated to Blessed Virgin Mary-Queen of Poland and to the anniversary of Polish Constitution. During the mass, the theatrical group of our parish performed artistic program, after which everyone was invited to Kolbe Hall for delicious soup and pierogi.

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May 1, 2010

Parade

Saturday, May 1nd, a bus of children and parents from Polish Language School went to Chicago for the third time to take part in a Polish Constitution Day Parade which was held on Congress Avenue.

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April 1, 2010

Holy Thursday

As in the past, the Last Supper liturgy was celebrated with bilingual mass at 7 pm. Peter performed the act of washing feet in remembrance of the events of the Last Supper. To celebrate the institution of the Priesthood; Fr. Peter, Fr Simon and Deacon Jim received flowers from youth group.

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March 28, 2010

Palm Sunday

The Palm Sunday celebration started with the blessing of palms and a beautiful procession with children carrying old fashioned palms made by the ladies of the parish. The beautiful mass, celebrated by Fr. Peter, was a wonderful invitation to celebrate holy week as a parish famil.

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March 21, 2010

Day of recollection and the Lord’s Passion

Sunday, March 21, Fr. Simon Majcherczyk, a missionary from the Franciscan Missions in Uganda began the three day Lenten retreat. Immediately after mass everyone was invited to school hall for the performance of the Lords Passion.

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January 31, 2010

Women of the Year Banquet

Sunday, January 31, 2010 annual "Women of the Year Banquet" was held at Cliffbrakers Restaurant. This year Beata Mekalski represented our parish and received this prestigious award from Bishop of Rockford, Thomas G. Doran.

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January, 2010

Uganda

Fr. Peter travel to Uganda to learn amore about the work of the Franciscan Missions in Kakoga and Manuga. During his travel, Fr. Peter visited some of the children from the "Adopt from the Heart" project our church sponsors. Another reason Fr. went to Uganda was to take part in the celebration of Brother Wojcich Ulman Ordination as a Deacon on Sunday, January 3, 2010. Brother Wojciech lived in our parish for six months and studied English at Rockford College.

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January 17, 2010

Appreciation Celebration

Sunday, January 17th over hundred 160 people attended an Appreciation Celebration dedicated to all the wonderful volunteers who spend countless hours serving our parish. Celebration began with the artistic program in church. Between poems read by our lectors and speech given by Fr. Peter, songs performed by Rock Valley Master Chorale Ensemble of Rockford and the beautiful voice of Anna Mazur-Krawczyk of Chicago set relaxing atmosphere for a great evening. After the program, delicious dinner was served in school hall.

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January 10, 2010

Jaselka

On Sunday, January 10th children of Polish Language  School invited everyone to join them in the presentation of the Nativity Play in the school hall. Children dressed in the characters costumes gave a wonderful performance of our Savior's birth. After the children play, teachers and parents delighted audience with carols and skits. Participants enjoyed coffee and homemade bakery after performances.

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