History
The Association of Priests
for Polish Affairs was formed in Buffalo, New York on January 11,
1912, its purpose being to afford Diocesan and Religious Order
priests an opportunity to share culture and traditions among our
Polish Parishes in the Diocese of Buffalo.
Our Goals as an
Association are to form a stronger friendship and communication
among the Polish clergy. This is accomplished by quarterly
meetings to discuss matters of concern arising from the
membership and of interest from Polonia and the preservation of
our cherished traditions.
Throughout the history of
its 86 years the Association has been involved in promoting our
Polish heritage and culture within the Diocese of Buffalo. We have
been on the Planning Committee for the celebration of the Polish
Millennium of Christianity in 1966 and the celebration of the 600th
Anniversary of the arrival of the Portrait of Our Lady of
Czestochowa to the Polish Fatherland in 1982.
In the past few years we
have coordinated the visits of Polish dignitaries to the Diocese
of Buffalo, such as Cardinal Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II),
Cardinal Jozef Glemp (the Primate of Poland), Cardinal Henryk
Gulbinowicz (chairperson of the 1997 Eucharistic Congress in
Wroclaw, Poland), and the Polish President Lech Walesa.
We have been a support to
the Catholic League for Religious Assistance to Poland and the
Pope John Paul II Cultural Center through Parish collections and
personal contributions.
We sponsor an Annual Mass
for deceased Clergy and Religious in November to remember our
Faithful Departed Priests and Religious Sisters and Brothers of
the Buffalo Diocese.
In April of 1998 we
sponsored the Ninth Annual P.A.P.A. (Polish American Priests
Association) Convention in Niagara Falls, New York. Priests from
all parts of the United States gathered in Niagara Falls for a 4-day
convention to discuss "Polonia: Vision of Hope for the
future."
We hope that with the help
of God we will continue our involvement in the Polonia of Western
New York into the New Millennium.
(Text
prepared by Fr.
Dennis Fronckowiak)
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Last Updated:
10/14/2002
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