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November 12, 2018
Immaculate Conception Parish honors veterans and Polish heritage
REGIONAL
Story and photos by Carolee McGrath
Youth from Immaculate Conception Parish in Indian Orchard participate in a ceremony celebrating Polish heritage.
SPRINGFIELD – Parishioners of Immaculate Conception Parish, in the Indian Orchard section of Springfield, gathered for the 11:30 a.m. Mass, Sunday, Nov. 11 to honor veterans and St. John Paul II, and to mark the 100th anniversary of the independence of Poland in Europe. Father Stanley Sokol, the pastor of the parish, celebrated the Mass in Polish.
“We are focusing on the 100th anniversary of the Polish independence and the 40th anniversary of St. John Paul II’s election to the papacy,” Father Sokol told iObserve.
For 123 years, from 1795 to 1918, Poland did not exist as a country. It was divided up and controlled by the Austrian, German and Russian empires. After World War I, Poland was established as an independent state.
“After 123 years of not existing on the map, all of Poland is celebrating today,” said Stasia Wojcik, a parishioner of Immaculate Conception. Wojcik also helped organize the event.
“We invited everyone from the community. To the Polish community, it (the anniversary) is so strong in our hearts,” she said.
At the end of Mass, teenagers from the parish processed up the side aisles of the church with pictures of St. John Paul II at different stages of his life. Once on the altar, adults of the parish took turns reading different facts about St. John Paul II’s life. St. John Paul II was elected pope by the College of Cardinals in October of 1978.
“It’s a full church. The foundation of Polish culture is their faith. It was shown through Pope John Paul II,” Wojcik continued. Both of her children participated in the ceremony.
After Mass, the entire congregation processed outside the church where the Polish and American flags were raised. People joined in the singing of both “The Star Spangled Banner” and the Polish national anthem. Prayers also were offered for veterans and for men and women who are currently serving in the U.S. military.
Many of those in attendance were the youth of the parish.
“It’s always beautiful to see the youth. Like St. John Paul II used to talk to the children and say you’re the future of the church,” said Father Sokol.
A reception was held in the parish hall following the service.
A video version of this story will be on an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel” which airs Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. on WWLP-22 NEWS and in the Berkshires Sunday mornings at 5:30 on Albany’s Fox 23, WXXA.