Gifts of His Holiness Pope John Paul II

Envelop addressed to His Holiness   with the gift of the Christ Child statue	The statue of the Infant Jesus, carved in cedar wood and painted in Jerusalem, was a gift to the Holy Father while on his pastoral pilgrimage to the Holy Land in Bethlehem. Pope John Paul II gave it as a gift to the Polish Community in Brampton on December 12, 2004.	Certificate of authenticity of the statue of the Christ Child.

	One of 25 gold and ivory Rosaries issued by the Vatican on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Great Pontificate of John Paul II. The Holy Father offered one of them on December 12, 2004, to the Our Lady of Ludźmierz Sanctuary  in Brampton.
	Cassock, worn by Pope John Paul II during the World Youth Days in Toronto in 2002, was offered on October 15, 2003, by His Holiness to St. Eugene de Mazenod Parish in Brampton. We thank God for yet another gift – relics which for us and the next generations will call us to imitate the holiness of our great countryman.

Sincere thanks to our beloved Archbishop Stanisław Dziwisz, personal secretary to the Holy Father John Paul II, to express our devoted gratitude and the assurance of our prayers for the priceless support and his great heart for the millennium project of the Polish Community in Canada. “May you live a hundred years” Your Grace! May God bless you in your difficult yet distinguished ministry.

 John Paul II Statue in Brampton

Miniature Statue at the Vatican On June 19, 2002, a unique gift - a 45cm miniature of the "Pope of Peace" was presented to John Paul II by the St. Eugene de Mazenod Parish. The Holy Father blessed the project of the statue as well as the building of the New church in Brampton.

  Unveiling and blessing of the Holy Father’s statue.

Solemn unveiling and blessing of the Holy Father statue for the future Millennium church, on July 21st 2002, by His Eminence, Józef Cardinal Glemp, Primate of Poland.

“Looking at our Community of Faith from the perspective of time, no one could have foreseen, nor imagine all that has happened . At every step of the way one can see the hand of God, His touch Everywhere and in everything that has happened in Brampton, one can also see the protection of our Mother, Our Lady of Ludźmierz, as it is to her that we entrust all the difficult matters.” [words of the pastor, Fr. Adam Filas, O.M.I., on the occasion of the unveiling & blessing of the statue July 21, 2002]

 For more information call: 905-451-1422.

 Pope John Paul II statue founders

The great 5 meter bronze statue  of the “Pope of Peace” was donated to the Polish Community in Canada by the former vice-president of Taiwan, dr. Lien Chan and Mr. Andrzej Krawczyk, engineer.

THE LIFE OF JOHN PAUL II - AND HIS GREAT PONTIFICATE
HIS FAMILY
Father Karol Wojtyła	Son of a master tailor Maciej and Anna, born July 18, 1879 at Lipnik near the city of Bielsko Biała, Poland. Tailor, from 1900 administrative officer of the Austrian army, then lieutenant in the Polish army until his retirement in 1927.
Mother Emilia Kaczorowska	Daughter of a pack-saddle maker and refurnishes carriages, named Feliks, and Maria Anna; born March 26, 1884.
Brother Edmund	Born on August 27, 1906 in Kraków, physician, worked in Powszechny Hospital in Bielsko.
KAROL JÓZEF WOJTYŁA
1920
May 18	Born in Wadowice (Kraków), Poland.
June 20	Baptized by the military chaplain P. Franciszek Zak.
	Lived with his parents at Rynek 2, (now Via Koscielna 7, apt. no. 4).
1926
September 15	Attended the elementary school for boys, and then the prep years of secondary school "Marcin Wadowita" in which during all his classes he achieved the top grades.
1929
April 13	His mother dies.
1930
June	Admitted to the State Secondary School for boys, "Marcin Wadowita".
1932
December 5	His brother Edmund dies.
1933
June 14	Finishes the third form of Secondary School.
1934-1938	His first student theatrical performances in Wadowice; during Secondary School he is president of the Society of Mary; first pilgrimage to Częstochowa.
1935
September	Participates in military training exercises at Hermanice.
December 14	Admitted into the Society of Mary.
1938
May	Receives the Sacrament of Confirmation.
May 14	Completes leaving exams at Secondary School.
June 22	Enrolls in the Faculty of Philosophy (course of Polish Philosophy) at Jagellonian University, Kraków.
Summer	He and his father move to Kraków (Via Tyniecka 10).
Academic Year 1938-39	While studying at University he joins the "Studio 38", experimental theater group founded by Tadeusz Kudliński.
1939
February 6	Joins the Student Society at the Jagellonian University (Eucharistic and charity section).
July	University military training camp at Ozomla, near Sadowa Wiszna for Polish and Ukraine students.
September 1	Second World War begins.
November 2	Registers for the second year university courses in Literature and Philosophy.
1940
February	Meets Jan Tyranowski, tailor, a man of profound spirituality, shaped by the Carmelite School. Introduces Wojtyła to the writings of John of the Cross and Teresa d’Avila.
	Participates in the underground theater directed by Tadeusz Kudliński.
November 1	He earns a living and forestalls deportation and imprisonment, as a stone cutter in quarry at Zakrzówek, Kraków.
1941
February 18	His father dies.
August	Receives into his house the family of Mieczysław Kotlarczyk, founder of the live words theater (Rhapsody).
November 1	First presentation of Król Duch (The Spirit King) by Jiliusz Słowacki.
1942
Spring	Transferred to Solvay chemical plant.
October	Begins clandestine studies for the priesthood in Kraków's underground seminary; registers in the Faculty of Theology of the Jagellonian University.
1943
March	Takes the lead role of "Samuel Zborowski" by Juliusz Słowacki making his first appearance on the theatrical scene. It is also his last appearance in the world of theater (Clandestinely; they preform in the house of a group of friends).
Academic Year 1943-1944	Second year of theology studies. Continues to work in the Solvay chemical plant.
1944
February 29 - March 12	Hit by an automobile; recovery in hospital.
August	Archbishop Adam Stefan Sapieha transfers him, together with other clandestine seminarians to the Archbishop's Residence where he remains until the end of the war. He continues his studies but not his work at Solvay.
November 9	Receives the tonsure.
December 17	Receives the first two minor orders.
1945
January 18	The Russian Armed Forces free Kraków from Nazi occupation.
Academic Year 1944-1945	Third year of theological studies.
April 9	Elected vice-president of the student organization "Bratnia Pomoc" (Fraternal Help) at Jagellonian University. Serves in this capacity until the end of May 1946.
Academic Year 1945-1946	Fourth year of theological studies.
December 12	Receives the two other minor orders.
1946
October 13	Sub-diaconate.
October 20	Diaconate.
November 1	Ordained a priest. As on the preceding occasions, he received Holy Orders from the hands of Archbishop Metropolitan Adam Sapieha in his private chapel.
November 2	Celebrates his first Mass in the crypt of St. Leonard at Wavel.
November 15	Leaves Poland to begin studies in Rome.
November 26	Registers at the Angelicum University.
November 15 - end of December	Lodging with the Pallottines in Via Pettinari.
End of December	Together with Fr. Starowieyski lives at the Pontifical Belgian College in Via Quirinale 26.
1947
July 3	Earns a licentiate in theology.
Summer	With Fr. Starowieyski he travels to France, Belgium and Holland. In the area of Charleroi he carries out his pastoral activities with the Polish workers.
1948
June 14-19	Defends his thesis "The Problems of Faith in the Works of St. John of the Cross"; earns a doctorate in philosophy.
Beginning of July	Returns from Rome to Poland.
July 8	Sent as assistant pastor to Niegowić near Gdów.
December 16	Earns a master's degree in theology at the Jagellonian University in Kraków (1942-1946). Earns a doctorate in sacred theology in the Faculty of Theology at the Jagellonian University with highest marks.
1949
August	Recalled to Kraków to be assistant pastor at St. Florian's.
1950
	He starts his publications.
1951
September 1	Archbishop Baziak puts him on leave (until 1953) to complete his qualifying exams for a university position. Up until now he served as a chaplain to the university students (in St. Florian's) and for health workers.
1953
From October	Gives a course in Catholic social ethics for the students of fourth year theology at the Jagellonian University.
December 1-3	Completes his qualifying exams by presenting his thesis on the "ethical system of Max Scheler".
1954
	Faculty of Theology at the Jagellonian University abolished, this faculty is then organized at the Seminary of Kraków where he continues his studies. Catholic University of Lublin offers him a non-tenured professorship which he accepts.
1956
From December 1	Appointed to the Chair of Ethics at the Catholic University of Lublin.
1957
November 15	The Central Qualifying Committee approves his appointment as free docent.
1958
July 4	Appointed Auxiliary Bishop to Archbishop Mons. Eugeniusz Baziak of Kraków.
September 28	Ordained Bishop in the Cathedral of Wavel.
1960
January	Dissertation published by the Academy of Sciences (Towarzystwo Naukowe) of the Catholic University of Lublin: "Evaluation of the Possibility of Constructing a Christian Ethic based on the System of Max Scheler".
During 1960	First edition of "Love and Responsibility" (ed. by TNKUL).
1962
April 15	Member of the Polish Episcopal Commission for Education.
July 16	After the death of Archbishop Baziak, named Vicar Capitular.
October 5	Leaves for Rome to participate in the first session of the Second Vatican Council (October 11 - December 8).
1963
October 6 - December 4	Participates in the II Session of the Second Vatican Council.
December 5-15	Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with various Bishops of different nationalities present at the Council.
December 30	Designated Metropolitan Bishop of Kraków.
1964
January 13	Papal Bull for the appointment of Archbishop of Kraków.
March 8	Installation ceremony.
September 10	Leaves for the III session of the Second Vatican Council (September 14 - November 21); at its conclusion makes a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, remaining for two weeks.
1965
January 31 - April 6	Participates in the work on Schema XIII, Gaudium et spes on the Church in the contemporary world (Ariccia, 31 January 31 - February 6; Rome, February 8-13; Rome, March 29 - April 6).
September 14 - December 8	IV Session and solemn closing of the Second Vatican Council.
November 18	Letter of Reconciliation of the Polish Bishops to the German Bishops, containing the famous words "We forgive and ask forgiveness".
1966
December 29	Episcopal Commission for the Apostolate of the Laity is established; Archbishop Wojtyła is made President.
During 1966	Present at the numerous celebrations of the Millennium of the Baptism of Poland.
1967
April 13-20	Participates in the first meeting of the Council for the Laity.
May 29	Paul VI announces the next Consistory. Among the names of the new Cardinals elect is that of Karol Wojtyła.
June 21	Leaves for the Consistory.
June 28	Consecrated Cardinal in the Sistine Chapel, by Pope Paul VI - titular S. Cesareo in Palatio.
September29 - October 29	First General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. Cardinal Wojtyła does not attend as a sign of solidarity with the Primate, who was not granted a passport.
October 29	Reception ceremony of the Black Madonna of Częstochowa for the purpose of visitation within the Archdiocese of Kraków. The sacred image had been held previously by the authorities in Częstochowa.
1968
February

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