Vincentian Priests and Brothers

The Feast of All Souls, November 2, was third day of Father General presence in our community. In the morning our Honorable Guest left Stradom to travel to Vincentian House in Bydgoszcz at St. Vincent de Paul Basilica. The Visitor, Fr. Arkadiusz Zakreta and Provincial Secretary, Fr. Adam Borowski accompanied him. During their trip they stopped in Czestochowa to visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Czestochowa at Jasna Gora.

There, in the Pauline Monastery, they concelebrated the Eucharist together presided by Superior General. In the Feast of All Souls each priest celebrates or concelebrates three Mases. One in his private or ordered intention, one in the intention of of all faithful deceased and one for Holy Father. After the Eucharist they toured the Shrine site and visited the chapel of Miraculous Black Madonna. Superior General spent some time on private prayer and reflection here.

Before concelebrating the Eucharist at Jasna Gora. From the left: Fr. Adam Borowski CM, Fr. Gregory Gay CM, Fr. Arkadiusz Zakreta CM

At early evening he arrived to St. Vincent de Paul Basilica in Bydgoszcz. The church and Vincentian House were founded in 1923  and the cornerstone for the church was laid in 1925 to commemorate 300th anniversary of Congregation od the Mission. Before WWII the House in Bydgoszcz was very important center for Vincentian ministries in the Province. Minor Seminary and Internal Seminary as well popular mission team were located here. During the war the church and rectory were completely devasted and ruined. Nazis set the church on fire just before escaping the city. In 1939 four priests, who are Servants of God now from the house were massacred in the forest outside Bydgoszcz and on the Market Square. Another two confreres were taken to Concentration Camp. In 1980 the rebuilt church was finally consecrated and in 1997 it was proclaimed Basilica Minor by pope John Paul II.

After the evening meal, Superior General met in the recreation room with all confreres from the house in Basilica and confreres from other Vincentian House in the parish of the Resurrection. The meeting was held in very fraternal atmosphere. Superior General wanted to learn about ministries taken in both parishes and other confreres activities. It finished very  late. Father General stayed here overnight for rest.

International viewers can visit our English site to read stories from Superior’s General visit to Poland or follow us on Twitter. Facebook users can visit our page there. Czytaj także pozostałe informacje na temat wizyty Przełożonego Generalnego w Polsce w naszym serwisie. Najświeższe informacje możecie znaleźć w kanale CM_Polonia na Twitterze. Uzytkownicy Facebook-a mogą śledzić wizytę na stronie Zgromadzenie Księży Misjonarzy.

Tags: Bydgoszcz, C.M., Poland, Stradom, Superior General, visits