July 30, 2023

St. Stanislaus Basilica to host Our Lady of Czestochowa Festival Aug. 26

REGIONAL
Staff report

As a teen, Karol Wojtyla, the future Pope John Paul II, dedicated his life to Mary during a visit to the Marian shrine at Jasna Gora in Czestochowa, Poland. The image of Our Lady of Czestochowa that is housed at the shrine is a symbol of Polish nationalism and religious liberty. (CNS photo from Art Resource) 

CHICOPEE – On Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023, the Basilica of St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr in Chicopee will host a festival in honor of Our Lady of Częstochowa. Admission is free.

The festival, will consist of Polish-American food, music, dancing, and an outdoor Mass and candlelight procession with the icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa. The goal is to bring together the Polish-American community in the city of Chicopee and western Massachusetts and to honor the Polish heritage and culture. Crowds are anticipated from not only the immediate area, but as far as New Britain, Connecticut, and beyond.

Polish plates, as well as hot dogs and hamburgers, will be available for purchase from noon-3 p.m., 5:30-7:30 p.m., and 8:30-9:30 p.m. There also will be a cash bar.

Sarah the Fiddler and Friends will provide music from noon-2:30 p.m. An outdoor bi-lingual Mass will be celebrated at 4 p.m. with Springfield Bishop William D. Byrne presiding. The Mass will be followed by a brief ceremony with local dignitaries.

The Heritage Pops Orchestra will provide dinner music and dancing from 5:30-7:30 p.m. At 7:45, there will be a candlelight procession with the icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa, which will process down Front Street and back to the basilica.

Following Benediction, there will be music and dancing until 10:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria, with music by Polish-American DJ Dan Kania.

The icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa will be displayed outside all day for the duration of the festival.

Admission is free of charge and open to the public thanks to the generous support of festival sponsors, including presenting sponsor, the Polish National Credit Union in Chicopee.