Welcome to Pope John Paul II Polish Center

Sunday Masses
8:30AM English
10:30AM Polish

Saturday Vigil Mass
4:00PM English

First Friday Masses and Adoration
8:30AM English
7:30PM Polish

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Bulletin July 10 2005

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EULOGY

This page is dedicated to Pope John Paul II only.
Please read the poem Czeslaw Milosz, one of the finest Polish poets wrote once for Karol Wojtyla's birthday

Also you can read how the members of our Center remember John Paul II.

scroll down to read the Eulogy

ODE FOR THE EIGHTIETH BIRTHDAY OF
POPE JOHN PAUL II

by Czeslaw Milosz

We come to you, men of weak faith,
So that you might fortify us with the example of your life
And liberate us from anxiety
About tomorrow and next year. Your twentieth century
Was made famous by the names of powerful tyrants
And by the annihilation of their rapacious states.
You knew it must happen. You taught hope:
For only Christ is the lord and master of history.

Foreigners could not guess from whence came the hidden strength
Of a novice from Wadowice. The prayers and prophecies
Of poets, whom money and progress scorned,
Even though they were the equals of kings, waited for you
So that you, not they, could announce, urbi et orbi,
That the centuries are not absurd but a vast order.

Shepherd given us when the gods depart!
In the fog above the cities the Golden Calf shines,
The defenseless crowds race to offer the sacrifice
Of their own children to the bloody screens of Moloch.
In the air, fear, a lament without words:
Since a desire for faith is not the same as faith.

Then, suddenly, like the clear sound of the bell for matins,
Your sign of dissent, which is like a miracle.
People ask, not comprehending, how it's possible
That the young of the unbelieving countries
Gather in public squares, shoulder to shoulder,
Waiting for news from two thousand years ago
And throw themselves at the feet of the Vicar
Who embraced with his love the whole human tribe.

You are with us and will be with us henceforth.
When the forces of chaos raise their voice
And the owners of truth lock themselves in churches
And only the doubters remain faithful,
Your portrait in our homes every day remind us
How much one man can accomplish and how sainthood works.

To purchase Czeslaw Milosz's "New and Collected Poems 1931-2001" from Harper Collins click here

Pope John Paul II Eulogy

As I looked into his eyes standing only 20 feet away, he looked at me made the sign of the cross. Without any words said I felt the strongest energy flowing through us. I will remember this moment forever.

I will never forget the overwhelming emotion of being in His presence. In 1982 in St. Peter's Square the Holy Father held my hand and asked me in Polish: 'Where you from, Miss?'. It seems to me that I still hear His voice and feel His touch.

I admire the humility, faith and courage he exemplified. His devotion to Our Lady and youthful optimism for our church.

I remember seeing Pope John Paul II when he was Archbishop of Kraków in 1975 in Wawel Castle. I admire him for bringing people together regardless of their religion, social status, nationality, race.

When meeting him in 1976, when as Cardinal Wojtyla he visited Our Lady of Bright Mount Polish Church in LA, we had this privilege and wonderful feeling of his exceptionalness and a feeling that he was so holy, so warm like a father embracing his children.

In October 1982 we were part of a group of 20 people from the Polish Community of Orange County and Los Angeles, who made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Rome. In Rome, we attended the Liturgy for the Cannonization of Maximilian Kolbe, and after that had a private audience with the Holy Father, John Paul II. We presented Holy Father with a beautifully framed picture of helena Modrzejewska, the picture which was a photograph of her monument in the City of Anaheim Pearson Park. We told Holy Father about the museum of Madame Modrzejewska in Modjeska Cannyon in Orange County and he, when presented the picture, had tears in his eyes, thanked us and said: 'I bless Polonia in California and hope to visit you some day.'

JPII was a very compasionate, loving and strong human being. He did wonders for the world such as defeating communism and spreading freedom and peace through Christ our Jesus. I consider him a great Saint.

JPII will always remain in our hearts and homes. He is what a 'real Christian' should be. He was a good example for everyone.

Pope has always been a source of inspiration and contemplation. He has always been with people even that last Easter when he could not speak anymore but still showed up in his window. Seeing him at that time and knowing how he wanted to speak up was heartbreaking.

One of the things that I admire about Pope John Paul II is that he was very intelligent. He used his knowledge of so many languages to communicate God's message of love for everyone, both Catholic and non Catholic.

What I admire the most about the Great Pope John Paul II is his continuous love, support and example for us to follow. His work is a great inspiration to all.

Being in his presence at Dodgers stadium in 1987 absolutely awsome. One of the moments of my life. I can still feel that wonderful feeling. He treated everyone withe same amount of respect, no matter who they were.

Pope John Paul II was a very kind, generous and thoughtfull person. He forgave the man who shot him.

Photo gallery
Praying for the Pope
...I will never forget the overwhelming emotion of being in His presence....
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Pope John Paul II Polish Center
3999 Rose Dr
Yorba Linda, CA 92886
tel/fax.714.996.8161
office@polishcenter.org

Director
Rev. Douglas Cook J.C.L
cell 714.396.9986
emergency only
e-mail
Assisting
Rev. Henry Noga SVD
cell 714.396.9989
emergency only
e-mail
Rev. Norbert Nawrath
cell 714.488.3161
emergency only
e-mail
Ministries Director
Sr. Joanna Rościszewska CSJ
tel. 714.996.8130
e-mail

Baptisms, Marriages and Funerals by appointment
714.996.8161
714.996.8130

Confessions
30 min. before each Mass or by appointment

Office Hours
Mon-Fri 10:00am-5:00pm Thurs. 12:00pm-9:00PM
30 min lunch break at 1:00pm
Secretary:
Slav Zatoka

Sunday 9:00am-12:00pm Secretary:
Alexandra Hulisz

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EULOGY

ODE FOR THE EIGHTIETH BIRTHDAY OF POPE JOHN PAUL II

Pope John Paul II Eulogy

ODE FOR THE EIGHTIETH BIRTHDAY OF
POPE JOHN PAUL II