Polish community shares its 'great joy' at Mass in Dublin

POLES IN IRELAND:HUNDREDS OF Polish people gathered at a Mass in Dublin yesterday to celebrate the beatification of Pope John Paul II.

Held at St Audoen’s Church on High Street, the location of the Polish chaplaincy in Dublin, it coincided with celebrations in Rome where Pope Benedict XVI celebrated the beatification Mass for his predecessor.

Speaking at the 12.30 Mass yesterday, Fr Jaroslaw Maszkiewicz, chaplain and national co-ordinator to the Polish community in Ireland, broke into English to extend a special welcome to “all of our Irish friends who join us here today to share in our joy”.

Of “Jan Pawel II”, Fr Maszkiewicz said that “his life was excellent, not only as a pope but before he became a priest . . . he was very much attached to God, his life was full of prayer and he worked very hard for the Lord.” Speaking afterwards he said: “There is really great joy in the Polish community. We were waiting six years . . . we are very proud.”

Kasia Wroniecka said, “It’s great. It’s a big day for Polish people. He was a magnificent person. There was no border for him, for his love and support for people, and because he was Polish, that’s the greatest thing of all for us today.”

Paul Porebny, who has lived in Ireland for five years and attended the Mass with his wife and daughter, said, “I remember when I was a kid watching on TV when he came to Ireland – one million people came out to see him, that was amazing.”

Aneta Oczki, who watched the events at the Vatican on television said, “I was crying, it was very emotional.” Ms Oczki, a member of the Polish chaplaincy in Dublin said, “I was born with him as pope and I grew up with him and his teachings. He had a huge effect on the young people in Poland.”

She continued, “He was a role model because during my time, there was no such role model on our television or in our papers in Poland.

“He was outside. He gave us the fresh air. He encouraged us to live and to travel, to explore the world and to make our dreams come true. I am in Ireland now and whatever I have achieved, it was because I was told it was possible, it was all up to me and it was in my hands. I know the way I am now is because of him.”