It is worth recalling that in May 2003, Pope John Paul II raised Maria de Mattias, founder of the Congregation of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, to the glory of the saints. The congregation dates back to the first half of the 19th century and was founded in Acuto, Italy, on 4 March 1834.
The Adorer sisters arrived in Bolesławiec after the Second World War, in August 1946, together with repatriates from the countries of the former Yugoslavia. Since then, the sisters have become firmly involved in the city’s social life; with the establishment of the Polish ASC province, the history of the Congregation of the Adorers’ house in Bolesławiec also became permanently connected with it.
Ten years ago, St Maria de Mattias was proclaimed patron saint of Bolesławiec. The Bolesławiec City Council established St Maria de Mattias as the city’s patron saint, recognising her dedication to serving people through preaching and educational activities promoting the ideals of mercy, peace and unity among people.
The anniversary celebrations brought together crowds of residents of Bolesławiec and the surrounding area. Delegations also arrived from the Italian partner cities of Acuto – the place where Maria de Matias opened the first school for girls and founded the congregation – and Vallecorsa, Maria de Matias’s birthplace. From Rome came Sr Nadia Coppa, Superior General of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ. “For us, for the Congregation of the Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ, it is a great honour that St Maria de Mattias is the patron saint of Bolesławiec. We are convinced that she protects this city in a special way. It is a great joy for us that many years ago a friendship and partnership between the cities of Vallecorsa, Acuto and Bolesławiec was initiated. This is proof that the spirituality of St Maria de Mattias transcends borders and extends to all countries and people,” Sr Nadia Coppa said during the celebrations.
The main event of the celebrations was a solemn Mass at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, presided over by the Bishop of Legnica, Zbigniew Kiernikowski. At the end of the Eucharist, the Bishop of Legnica, Zbigniew Kiernikowski, and the parish priest of the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Fr Stanisław Kusik, presented the President of Bolesławiec, Piotr Roman, with the “Meritorious for the Diocese of Legnica” medal.
Those gathered in the church also had the opportunity to watch a performance about St Maria de Mattias, prepared by pupils of Primary School No. 2 in Bolesławiec and young people from Acuto and Vallecorsa.
On Sunday afternoon, further celebrations of the patronage took place in Zamkowy Square in Bolesławiec, featuring Polish and Italian ensembles. The programme included performances by Gruppo Folk Citta di Acuto, Mały Bolesławiec from the Municipal Cultural Centre, pupils of the First- and Second-Level Music School in Bolesławiec, participants of the BOK–MCC Vocal Workshop, the BOK–MCC Guitar Workshop, the Cantate Deo choir from Bolesławiec and the Capella Musicale San Michele Arcangelo choir from Vallecorsa, which had also performed the previous day at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The celebrations concluded with a joint singing of the song “Barka”.
More at www.boleslawiec.eu.