Dialog Editor
Niech będzie pochwalony Jezus Chrystus!
Praised be Jesus Christ!
“We used to say that when a priest or a nun walked by,” said John Przybylek after closing Mass of St. Hedwig Church in Wilmington’s 125th anniversary Oct. 18.
Bishop Malooly was the main celebrant of the Mass. Concelebrants included the pastor of St. Hedwig’s, Father Andrew Molewski, and Msgr. Francis B. Koper, a Wilmington priest from St. Hedwig’s who teaches seminarians at SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, Mich.
Przybylek, who was born in the traditionally Polish parish in 1938, received his sacraments under the church’s twin spires and attended the former school that was run by the Felician Sisters.
“It was a big Polish community then,” Przybylek said. “My grandparents were married here in 1896.”
The Przybylek family had to move out of the parish when their house was claimed for the path of I-95 in the early 1960s.
Bishop Malooly processes into St. Hedwig Church for the 125th parish anniversary Mass, Oct. 18. (The Dialog/www.DonBlakePhotography.com)
But like many former St. Hedwig parishioners, Przybylek and his Polish-born wife, Ewa, enjoy coming back to Linden and South Harrison streets occasionally each year, especially to hear some Mass readings in Polish.
“I speak English but I still pray in Polish because of how I was praying from childhood,” Ewa said. “My grandmother taught me all the prayers.”
The Przybyleks live in Prices Corner and also attend Masses at St. Catherine of Siena and Corpus Christi, while remaining loyal to St. Hedwig’s.
“Father Andrew is doing a good job,” John Przybylek said.
“And he speaks Polish,” said Ewa. “Sometimes, I’m very nervous to go to confession in English.”
In a short talk toward the end of the Mass, Father Molewski thanked the congregation for coming to the anniversary liturgy and told them, “We feel the obligation to continue our mission of worship and praying in honor of our Polish tradition.”
The pastor added, “Today we celebrate 125 years since our parish was founded in 1890.
“Many generations of our parishioners worshipped God in this beautiful church.
“Tens of thousands received the sacraments and were prayed for at funeral Masses.
“It’s difficult to imagine how many people were ministered with the sacraments … in this very special parish of St. Hedwig.”
Father Molewski, a native of Poland, has been pastor of the 500-family church for 17 years. He noted its inherent beauty was recently enhanced with new paint and other repairs provided through parishioners’ donations to the diocesan Sustaining Hope for the Future campaign.
He said the anniversary celebration was a day “to thank God for all he has done for us and for giving us so many opportunities to serve him, so many graces and blessings.”
Bishop Malooly told the parishioners that he always wears the cross St. John Paul II, the first pope from Poland, gave him in 2004 when he visits the parish.
“It reminds me of the legacy he gave the church and also the legacy Polish Catholics have given all us.”
The sight of St. Hedwig’s twin spires from I-95 always gives the bishop a feeling he’s home in Wilmington, he said.
Reflecting on the day’s Mass readings he called on parishioners to recall the suffering and sacrifices of the immigrant founders of the parish and remember that Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection is “a central theme of our faith.”
Bishop Malooly encouraged the parishioners to talk about their faith with others in addition to simply living it.
He also called on them to keep recognizing that every person is important to God, everyone is a neighbor to Christians.
And the bishop noted St. Hedwig’s tradition of service to others, through helping neighbors as members of the police and fire department and reaching out to the broader community.
“I want you to continue being the welcoming presence that you are,” Bishop Malooly said.
Na wieki wieków amen.
Forever and ever, amen.
