Rome, October 26, 2025 – On Sunday, at 12:30 p.m., a solemn Mass of thanksgiving was celebrated at the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help on Via Merulana in Rome to mark the 30th anniversary of the Redemptorists’ pastoral ministry in Poland. The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by His Excellency Bishop Robert Chrząszcz, delegate of the Polish Episcopal Conference for the Pastoral Care of Polish Emigrants.
Concelebrating alongside the bishop were, among others, Fr. Zdzisław F. Stanula, CSsR, Vicar General of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, and Fr. Mariusz Mazurkiewicz, CSsR, Vicar Provincial of the Province of Warsaw. Also participating in the concelebration were Redemptorists working in Rome and several priests involved in the pastoral care of the Polish diaspora: Msgr. Jan Główczyk, coordinator of the pastoral care of Polish emigrants in Italy; Fr. Tomasz Jarosz, administrator of the Church and Hospice of St. Stanislaus; and Fr. Jacek Staniek SCHR.
The church was packed with faithful—both those who remember the community’s beginnings and new members who over the years have found their spiritual home here in the Eternal City. The celebration was opened by Fr. Marek Kordecki CSsR, currently responsible for the pastoral care of Polish faithful at the shrine, who warmly welcomed those present, emphasizing the importance of this jubilee.
Remembrance of the beginnings and testimony of the community
The homily was delivered by Fr. Marek Kotyński, CSsR, a Redemptorist who began Polish-language celebrations at this shrine thirty years ago. He recalled the early stages of the ministry, which began simply—with a small group of faithful—up to today’s gatherings, with two Sunday Masses that bring together numerous participants.
“People often arrived in Rome feeling lost, not knowing anyone, but knowing they would find support here,” the preacher recalled. This openness and solidarity, he emphasized, have become the foundation of the community, which for three decades has united, strengthened faith, and given hope.
In his homily, Fr. Kotyński recalled that love constitutes the true meaning of life and gives meaning to the hardships of emigration: “Man lives for love. And for this reason, staying here, in the land of emigration, is justified only if love for family and relatives remains its primary and most important goal,” he stated, emphasizing that the Polish community in Rome is not only a place of prayer, but also a space of solidarity and fraternity.
Gratitude and prayer
Gratitude for the years of shared journey and for the protection of Our Lady of Perpetual Help resounded in the prayers of the faithful and the procession of offerings.
Before the celebration concluded, Fr. Marek Kordecki, CSsR, expressed his gratitude to the concelebrants, guests, and all those who contributed to the organization of the jubilee.
Fr. Mariusz Mazurkiewicz CSsR, vicar of the provincial of the Province of Warsaw, thanked the General Government of the Redemptorists for the opportunity to collaborate in the Polish pastoral care in Rome, and expressed gratitude to all the confreres who over the years have served the Polish-speaking faithful.
Representatives of the Polish authorities also took part in the celebration.
His Excellency Adam Kwiatkowski, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to the Holy See, expressed his gratitude to the Redemptorists for their care of the Polish community, expressing his hope that “the seed planted thirty years ago will continue to bear fruit for Poland and for the Church in the Eternal City.”
Professor Dariusz Dudek, advisor to the President of the Republic of Poland, presented a commemorative image of Saint John Paul II as a Jubilee gift on behalf of the President, recalling the encyclical Redemptor hominis, which encapsulates the essence of the Redemptorist charism.
Blessing and celebration
At the end of the Holy Mass, Bishop Robert Chrząszcz spoke, recalling the words of St. Paul from the second reading of Sunday’s Mass, regarding the “good fight” of faith and the “finished race” of the apostolate. The bishop compared the past 30 years to a good effort and a good race, wishing everyone to continue this work with dedication and fidelity:
“With this blessing I wish to embrace all the priests responsible for Polish pastoral care working in Italy, and in particular you, dear compatriots, who remain faithful here to the language, to the faith, and to the Lord.”
After the Eucharistic celebration, the participants gathered for a convivial moment in the central hall of the Alphonsian Academy, where, in an atmosphere of joy and emotion, the jubilee celebrations continued.
Thirty years of shared journey
The celebrations for the 30th anniversary of the Polish community’s pastoral ministry were an opportunity to give thanks to God for the many graces received and for all the people who, over the years, have built this community.
It was also a moment of reflection on the importance of having, even far from home, a place where one can pray, meet, and feel at home.
Today, the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Rome stands as a living testimony to how faith and love can transcend all boundaries, both geographical and human. The Shrine continues to attract and welcome many people. Every Sunday, Masses are celebrated in Italian, Polish, English, and Spanish. During the Jubilee Year in particular, the church hosts numerous groups of pilgrims daily.
GR/Scala News
photo: Fr. S. Tirkey CSsR, J. Opałka
