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Thursday, May 4, 2000
Saint Faustina
(Continued from page 1)
In the last years of her brief life, the
nun kept a diary in which she
recounted her many visions of Christ,
who told her to spread his message of
mercy.
The canonization Mass, held in
Saint Peter’s Square under a cloudless
sky, was one of the biggest events of
Holy Year 2000, with some 200,000
pilgrims in attendance.
Among those at the Mass were
Polish Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek;
Stefan Frankiewicz, Poland’s ambas
sador to the Holy See; and Marian
Krzaklewski, president of the
Solidarity movement.
Some 50 cardinals, bishops and
priests concelebrated, including U.S.
Cardinal Edmund C. Szoka, head of
the commission governing Vatican
City, Cardinal William H. Keeler of
Baltimore, and Father Ronald P.
Pytel, the Baltimore priest whose
heart was miraculously healed due to
Saint Faustina’s intervention.
The miracle was formally recog
nized in December, clearing the way
for the Polish nun’s canonization.
At least 300,000 faithful turned out
at Saint Faustina’s sanctuary in
Krakow for a Mass of Thanksgiving
before watching the canonization in
Rome via satellite on enormous tele
vision screens set up outdoors.
At the Vatican, pilgrims waved ban
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ners from the four cities where Saint
Faustina lived in convents during her
lifetime: the Polish cities of Warsaw,
Krakow and Plock and the Lithuanian
city of Vilnius, part of Poland prior to
World War II.
The pope sent a special message to
the Polish pilgrims who traveled to
Rome and to those gathered in
Krakow, declaring the new saint the
patron of all four cities and “entrust
ing to their inhabitants a particular
care for the Divine Mercy aposto-
late.”
Speaking in Polish for part of his
homily to the cheers of his co-nation
als, Pope John Paul said Saint
Faustina’s canonization possessed
deep significance for future genera
tions.
“With this act, I intend to transmit
today this message to the new millen
nium,” he said.
The faithful must be open not only
to God’s mercy but to the practice of
mercy toward others; God’s love and
brotherly love are inseparable, said
the pope.
“The people of today must be
inspired by this love in order to face
the crisis of meaning, the challenges
of diverse needs, above all the need to
safeguard the dignity of each human
person,” said the pope.
The pope proclaimed the second
Sunday of Easter as Mercy Sunday
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throughout the world in honor of the
new saint and her message.
Two U.S. pilgrims who attended the
Mass called the experience, in unison,
“overwhelming.”
“This is the closest we’ll get to
heaven—while we’re still breathing,”
said Bonnie Remsberg of the sister
parishes of Saint Francis Assisi in
Brunswick, Maryland, and Saint
Mary, Petersville, Maryland.
Having followed Father Pytel’s
miraculous story of healing through
his longtime friend Father Larry
Gesy, her pastor, Remsberg said Saint
Faustina’s message proved “you can
accomplish anything through faith.”
Father Gesy’s sister, Kathleen
McCombs of Cedar Falls, Iowa, said
getting to know Father Pytel and
reading Sister Faustina’s diary had
“It’s hard to fathom a miracle,” she
said. “But when you know someone
who’s received one, it brings it
home,” said McCombs.
During an evening prayer service in
Saint Peter’s Square, the pope told
pilgrims to entrust themselves always,
like Saint Faustina, to God’s merciful
love.
“May the personal experience of
this love commit each person to
become, in turn, a witness of active
charity toward” others, the pope said.
The pope’s appearance at his studio
window above the square marked his
first physical presence at the daily
prayer service, launched for the
jubilee year.
strengthened her faith.
An Invitation to a
Golden Anniversary Celebration
Father Thomas H. Payne cordially invites friends and former parishioners to
rejoice with him at a Mass of Thanksgiving on May 18, at 6:00 p.m., at Saint
Michael’s Church, Tybee Island, A covered dish supper will follow the Mass to
which supper guests are invited to bring their favorite dish. The meat entree
will be provided by the committee.
On May 30, at 7:00 p.m., a Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated at Saint
John the Evangelist Church in Valdosta. A reception will follow.
“Send forth, we beseech you Lord, laborers into your harvest, for the harvest
indeed is great but the laborers are few. ”
Diocese of Savannah Vocation Retreats
Vocatio Dei 2000, Session I, June 2-4. This weekend retreat is open to any
single adult man who is searching for God’s will for his life and is open to
the priesthood. (The minimum age is a rising junior in high school.) The
retreat begins on Friday evening and concludes on Sunday afternoon. It will
be held at Saint John’s Center in Savannah. (Vocatio Dei, Session I is co
sponsored this year by the Diocese of Saint Augustine.)
Vocatio Dei 2000, Session II, June 7-10. This four-day combination sports
camp/retreat is for rising 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th grade boys. It is an opportu
nity to learn about different vocations, to grow in holiness and to have a
great time! The camp will be held at Saint John’s Center in Savannah.
Call to Holiness 2000, July 23-26. This four-day sports camp/retreat is the
same opportunity as Vocatio Dei Session II, except it is for girls. The camp
is for 7th-10th grade girls and will be held at Saint John’s Center in
Savannah. Older girls are also needed as counselors.
For more information about these retreats, contact Father Brett Brannen at
912-743-1454 or e-mail him at Frbrett@savannahpriest.com or
Aaron Killips at Bravesfan@Hotmail.com.
Vocatio Registration Form
Vocatio Dei, Session I.
Name
Vocatio Dei, Session II
Call to Holiness
Age
Grade Parish
Address
City, State, Zip
Tel. ( )
E-mail
Mail to: Vocation Office, 131 Ward Street, Macon, GA 31204.