In the name of the John Paul II Club 1000 of the Polish Business and Professional Association, with a feeling of national pride and heartfelt joy, I wish to invite all Poles, Polish Parishes, schools, groups, organizations, ensembles and businesses to take part in the JOHN PAUL II GRAND PARADE.
This parade will take place on Sunday, May 14, 2006. It will start at 10:00 am from the Sheridan College at McLaughlin St. and Steeles Ave. W in Brampton, and will proceed west on Steeles Ave. W., and will pass by the John Paul II monument, temporarily located by the St. Eugene de Mazenod Chapel. There it will be greeted by His Excellency Boissonneau, auxiliary bishop of Toronto, Bishop Mathew Ustrzycki of Hamilton, Fr. Janusz Blazejak, O.M.I., provincial superior of the Oblates, Assumption Province, Her Worship Susan Fennell, mayor of Brampton, Dr. Piotr Konowrocki, Consul General of the Republic of Poland, pastors, political leaders and other invited VIPs. The parade will end on the grounds of the future St. Eugene de Mazenod Millennium church at 1252 Steeles Ave. W., in Brampton. Steeles Ave. W., will be closed to traffic on the almost 3 kilometers of the Parade.
The John Paul II Parade will close with an outdoor Solemn Mass to be celebrated by Bishop John Boissonneau of Toronto. A grand picnic will then be held on the same grounds.
During the Parade as well as the Solemn Mass we will underline three important events in the history of our homeland: The Polish National Day, commemorating the May 3rd Constitution, the Feast of the Mother of God, Queen of Poland and the birthday of the greatest son of Poland – the Servant of God John Paul II.
Today we invite your Parish, School, organization, group, ensemble and business to let us know of your desire to participate in this Parade. We will provide you with an Application Form. Please return the completed Application Form to the St Eugene de Mazenod Parish. This will give us the necessary information as well as it will allow us to give you complete information about all matters concerning this Parade. Clarity of information on both sides will allow us to properly prepare ourselves for this first historic event.
Local English speaking Roman Catholic Parishes as well as other English speaking organizations and the Canadian Media will also participate in our first historic John Paul II Grand Parade organized by the John Paul II Club 1000 and St. Eugene de Mazenod Parish.
Please contact the St. Eugene de Mazenod Parish at 905-451-1422 or Regina at 416-817-6242 for your Application Form. Then as soon as possible send the completed Form to the St. Eugene de Mazenod Parish Office. Thank you.
In the name of the John Paul II - Club 1000
Fr. Adam Filas, O.M.I.,
Chaplain
JOHN PAUL II GRAND PARADE GOLDEN SPONSORS:
KARPATY PASTRY & DELI
LOT – POLISH AIRLINES
POLIMEX TRAVEL
FRANK WAWRYKA – HOME LIFE
WISŁA DELI
HONORARY SPONSORS:
CREDIT UNION ŚW. STANISŁAWA I SW. KAZIMIERZA
SUPRIME PIEROGIS
JOHN PAUL II GRAND PARADE PLAN:
9:00 Assembly of all participants of the Parade
9:30 All participants take their place in the parade according to the number assigned earlier.
10:00 The parade moves from Sheridan College on McLaughlin and Steeles Ave.in Brampton. The parade will pass in front of the statue of the Holy Father John Paul II beside St. Eugene de Mazenod Chapel and will end at the land side for the Millennium Church of the Polonia in Canada at 1252 Steeles Ave. W.
1:00 Solemn Mass celebrated by Bishop John Boissonneau from the Archdiocese of Toronto at the land site for the future Church.
14:30 Beginning of the picnic. Attractions as follows:
a. performance by different ensembles
b. performance by “Non Stop”
c. Raffle ( chance to win 3 I-pods)
d. Children’s village with many games and attractions
e. Surprise for all mothers on the occasion of Mothers Day
f. Excellent Polish food
g. No entry fee
Other important announcements:
1. On the day of the Parade only the 8:30am Mass will be celebrated at St. Augustine’s School. There will be no Mass’s celebrated at 10:00, 11:30 and 1:00 at school.
2. From 8:30am busses will be taking people from the school’s parking to the point of beginning of the parade or to the grand stand by the chapel.
3. After the parade busses will be taking people back to their cars till 9:00pm.
4. Those who participate in the parade play very important role, but those who are greeting and watching are as much important. We encourage all those who are not officially participating to come and be present during the parade.
5. We need many volunteers to help during the parade. Those willing to help are asked to come on Saturday May 13 at 10:00am to the land site for the future church, where they will be assigned their function.
“Do not be afraid!" - (First John Paul II, the Great - Parade)
Brampton, 12.05.2006
We are all aware of the meaning of the words “Be not afraid”, which John Paul II uttered at the beginning of his pontificate. When we read this phrase, many different events of the extraordinary times of grace for the world and the Church come to mind. It was after all John Paul II who by his example taught us to overcome evil with goodness! He was not afraid of the darkness of evil that threatened the world and the Church. He was not afraid of Communism with a program to destroy the Church and the values it teaches. He was not afraid of Capitalism, with its many hidden dangers for humankind, in a special way for the poor. He was not afraid to stand in defense of life from conception to its natural death. Above all he was not afraid to journey with Christ’s love and forgiveness where there was hate, the desire for revenge and war; where innocent blood was shed. “Do not be afraid”, in other words, believe that evil cannot always triumph, because it was vanquished by the death and Resurrection of Christ. “Do not be afraid”, or in other words, trust Christ, the only one to guaranty true happiness of every woman, man, youth and child.
The Pope’s “Do not be afraid” reminds the world of the truth that Christ had already proclaimed 2000 years ago. “I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” (Jn 16:33). We would not have had such a pontificate, such achievements in the area of peace and reconciliation, we would not have become so sensitized to the greatness and dignity of human life and the values of Christian Family life – were it not, Holy Father, for your unshakeable faith that the Lord conquered the world. Your words would not have such power, had you not drawn from the source of truth – Christ himself. We would not have seen such changes in the political and economic structures and systems, were you not a credible and trustworthy witness of Christ, who not only resurrected from the dead, but is and lives among us. Holy Father, while among us on earth you were the picture of your Master, and for this reason the memory of your words and deeds will live in us and be passed on to generations to come.
The Great John Paul II Parade is one of many ways of paying homage to you Holy Father, to express the gratitude within our hearts and to promote your teaching which contributed and continues to contribute to the world and the Church of Jesus Christ. Bless us Holy Father from your heavenly window, so that we not only take pride in you and your tireless labour, but above all so that we may imitate you in all aspects of our every day life. May this Parade make us aware of the need to bear witness to our faith and convictions, and as you, to live in intimacy with Jesus and to be always ready to serve Him. May our participation in this Parade be the expression of our taking responsibility for the teaching of the Church you so faithfully guarded and presented to the world to accept and follow. Your pastoral pilgrimages throughout the world were the greatest on earth “parades” of Christian faith, teaching and morality.
Fr. Adam FILAS, O.M.I.
