On Monday, May 17, celebrations began in Bolesławiec to mark the second anniversary of St. Maria de Mattias being established as the city’s patron saint. Bishop Marek Mendyk blessed a wayside shrine dedicated to the Italian saint. Among those attending the ceremony were Deputy Bolesławiec County Starosta Stanisław Chwojnicki, Bolesławiec Deputy Mayors Wiesław Ogrodnik and Maciej Małkowski, City Council Chairwoman Janina Piestrak-Babijczuk, Deputy City Council Chairman Józef Pokładek and City Secretary Jerzy Zieliński.
“On May 18, 2008, St. Maria de Mattias was proclaimed the patron saint of Bolesławiec. We did not celebrate the first anniversary of this event particularly grandly. This time will be different. Guests from Italy have come to us, and Bishop Marek Mendyk blessed a wayside shrine dedicated to the saint,” says Dean Stanisław Kusik, parish priest of the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. “The Blood of Christ Association operates in Bolesławiec and the surrounding area. Its members promote devotion to St. Maria de Mattias. We believe that we have a patron saint in heaven. We hope that she intercedes for us and obtains the graces we need.
The first day of the anniversary celebrations ended with a concert by the orchestra from Vallecorsa, held at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The Italians performed, among other works, pieces by Franz Schubert, Giuseppe Verdi and Ludwig van Beethoven, as well as... the theme from the film “Sister Act.” The Bolesławiec audience gave the orchestra a standing ovation.
The celebrations continue
On Tuesday, May 18, a ceremony will be held to name Municipal Lower Secondary School No. 3 after John Paul II (starting at 10:00). Then, at 18:00, Holy Mass will begin, preceded by another performance by the orchestra from Vallecorsa. The well-known Kamerton Choir will also perform.
You can read more about Bolesławiec’s patron saint HERE.
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