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The Pope
Book of Condolences for Pope John Paul II The Consulate of the Republic of Poland in San Francisco had the sad duty to announce the passing of Karol Wojtyła, His Holiness Pope John Paul II, a great statesman, an unequivocal defender of human values and dignity, a great Pole. President of Poland Aleksander Kwaśniewski declared a time of national mourning until the entombment of His Holiness. A book of condolences was open for signatures at the Polish Consulate in San Francisco, Humboldt Bank Building, 785 Market Street, Suite 1120, on April 6 and 7th. Consuls General or their representatives from the governments of France, Germany, Great Britain, the Russian Federation, Italy, Switzerland, Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Hungary, Viet Nam, Peru, India, Indonesia, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Brazil, Malta, Venezuela, and the Philippines came to the Polish Consulate in San Francisco and signed the Book of Condolences. Two representatives of the U.S. Department of State also came to the Consulate to express their condolences and signed the book. The book was also signed by in excess of 75 members of the Polish community. Copies of the book will be sent to the Vatican and the Polish Embassy in Washington. San Francisco, April 2005 Christopher A. Kerosky Honorary Consul Letter of Minister of Foreign Affairs Adam Daniel Rotfeld to His Eminence Eduardo Martinez Somalo on Pope's Death It is with sorrow and grief that I ask Your Eminence to accept my expressions of the deepest sadness and sympathy. We celebrate the remarkable Pontificate of John Paul II, aware that no words are capable of conveying what is in our hearts. The Holy Father was with us at all the key junctures of the last 26 years, he shared with us joy at the successes of his Beloved Homeland, studied its problems with deep concern, always pointing to the path of hope and love, solidarity and brotherhood. The ministry of His Holiness was to millions of Poles a profound manifestation of "the heroic spirit" in the face of the evil of the modern world, a source of solace for people distressed by their daily travails, a trail marker indicating the sense of suffering. It is with the greatest reverence and respect that I thank for every moment of the Holy Father's presence. His Holiness was the Supreme Champion of the freedom of our Homeland and of all the subjugated peoples. In international forums, he forcefully called for the observance of human rights and respect for the sovereignty of states and nations. He opened Poland's path to liberation from the totalitarian enslavement of lies and manipulation. His words conveyed encouragement to transcend the borders of states and political systems, they instilled hope for the victory of truth. Today, a sovereign and free Poland pays tribute to its Beloved Compatriot, filled with gratitude for the gift of this Pontificate, which changed the course of the 20th century. His Holiness ushered humanity into the new millennium, endowing us with the Christian message of hope, enshrined in such values as respect for the dignity of the human person, and a striving for peace rooted in solidarity, friendship and brotherhood - something that unites us, Europeans, through a common heritage. For ever, he will remain in our grateful memory as a Great Man and a Great Pole, the First Slav on the throne of Peter, the Pope of "the civilization of love", whose Pontificate became deeply embedded in the hearts of Poles - as deeply as Poland was present in the heart of the Polish Pope. Foreign Minister, Republic of Poland, Adam Daniel Rotfeld The Pope's Unique Political Impact on the World By Christopher A. Kerosky 25 years ago, during my first trip to Poland, I witnessed the beginnings of the Solidarity movement taking shape among a reinvigorated Polish population. The new Polish Pope had returned triumphantly to his homeland the year before. The passionate response of the Polish people was being translated into political activism against the atheistic Communist government. This revolutionary labor movement was the beginning of the end of the Soviet bloc. Pope John Paul II was already making his impact upon the political world. Now, a generation later, one can say that the political impact of John Paul II was unprecedented in the history of the Papacy. In fact, few world leaders at any time in history have had a more profound impact upon the world than this humble priest from Kraków. Apart from being a powerful and charismatic spiritual leader, the Pope was a masterful political actor. Pope John Paul II made a practice of staying very well informed of the political developments in the world. As recounted in his biography of the Pope by Watergate journalist Carl Bernstein, John Paul received many personal intelligence updates from the Reagan administration throughout the Solidarity and martial law era in Poland in the early 1980s. Top Reagan officials would make pilgrimages to the Vatican to give information and get advice from the Pope on the evolving situation in Poland. Soviet files now reveal that Brezhnev and other Soviet leaders agonized over the impact of the Pope on the stability of the Eastern Bloc. In fact, their worst fears were realized. The Pope's role in the steady weakening of the Soviet Bloc, while subtle, is unmistakable. While respecting the reality of Soviet dominance of Poland, John Paul II never accepted it. He worked behind the scenes to inspire Poles and other Central and Eastern Europeans to resist it in non-violent ways. His repeated trips to Eastern Europe helped keep the fires of the underground opposition burning in these Communist countries. John Paul II was a critical player in the downfall of the Soviet Union through his resolute and vocal opposition to Soviet Communism and its domination of other lands. Even after the Cold War ended, the Pope continued to alter the political landscape of the world. He opposed the Catholic liberation theology popular in Latin America when he became Pope and limited its role there. He criticized the role of priests in the Sandinista government in Nicaragua. Yet his strident condemnation of authoritarian governments was directed equally at dictators on the right and left. When visiting Latin America, he never hesitated to criticize the military rulers there and decried the gap between rich and poor. Ultimately all of the South American dictatorships fell during his reign as Pope and now, at the time of his death, democracy prevails virtually throughout Latin America. As the 20th century drew to a close, John Paul II remained the most profound moral leader on the worldwide stage. Five American Presidents sought audiences with him and in later years, these became photo opportunities for Presidential candidates. Gorbachev gave way to Yeltsin who gave way to Putin, but Wojtyła remained. Even in death, he made a clear moral and political statement to the world: while disease ravaged his body, his public suffering became a final statement of the Catholic belief that life is sacred and must end only as God wills. In the end, this man of modest background, from a small but proud nation, who never held public office and commanded no armies, has left a political legacy as few political leaders ever have or will. Polonia Convention, Scottsdale, Arizona, September 3-4, 2005 We are happy to announce the first Polonia Convention for the Western United States. This will be a gathering of Honorary Consuls of Poland as well as representatives and activists of the Polish-American community, social, cultural and business organizations. It will take place in the luxury resort of Paradise Valley in Scottsdale, Arizona on September 3-4, 2005. The Convention will take place at Marriott's Camelback Inn located in Paradise Valley, offering very well-equipped conference space as well as great recreation facilities (hiking is possible). Spacious rooms are also equipped with a microwave. (For more information go to www.camelbackinn.com/index.asp). For the participants, the cost of the package is $400.00 per person including 2 nights at the hotel, BBQ, 2 lunches, tickets to the Ball and additional items. This amount must be paid prior to the Convention by the date indicated in the contract. Those who have confirmed their attendance will be responsible for the payment even in the case of cancellation. We are negotiating lower air fares with American West Airlines and we are making transportation arrangements to/from the airport based on information about arrival and departure times provided by the participants. Please send the following information by mail or e-mail mailing.list@consulplla.org
Mission to Museum of the History of Polish Jews, June 2005 The Museum of the History of Polish Jews is honored to invite you to join the 2005 Mission to Poland . The Mission will take place from Sunday, June 26 through Tuesday, July 5 2005 and will offer a unique exploration of a country to which most American Jews trace their roots. The Museum of the History of Polish Jews is an extraordinary institution, which will serve as a modern, narrative educational center focusing on almost one thousand years of Jewish presence on Polish soil. In its size and scope, the Museum, which will be completed in 2008, will be the first of its kind. With the President of Poland as the patron of this project, we are building a Museum that will reflect and honor Jewish culture and its contributions to Eastern European traditions. We are fortunate to have Dr. Michael Berenbaum, writer, lecturer and Holocaust authority, joining us as scholar-in-residence for part of the mission. His knowledge, warmth and experience will truly add to our unforgettable tour of Jewish heritage, religious life, art and learning that once flourished in Poland . The trip will be a life-affirming exploration of the very sources of Jewish life and culture that have long been overshadowed by the unspeakable horrors of the Holocaust and the trauma and memories stemming from those tragic times. Should you have questions about the Mission or would like a mission brochure and application , please feel free to contact Rachel Andres, mission coordinator at 323.965.5541 or by e-mail rachelandres@comcast.net. Museum of the History of Polish Jews. LATEST DEVELOPMENT A turning point was reached last week in our exciting project. An agreement between the Polish government, the City of Warsaw and the Jewish Historical Institute in Poland has been signed. These three entities joined together to establish this important cultural institution. The Government and the City have committed $26 million towards the construction of the building. The agreement also contains the commitment of the Government and the City to jointly cover 97% of the basic operational costs of the Museum after its opening. Major contributions have been already pledged by American donors. Consequently, we are certain this museum will become a reality in 2008! More information about the museum is available online at http://www.jewishmuseum.org.pl PACF Grand Polonaise Ball, May 2005 On Saturday May 7, 2005, The Polish Arts and Culture Foundation presents its 25th Annual Gala Grande Polonaise Ball in the historical Garden and Gold Rooms at The Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. This year we celebrate our own 39tth Anniversary, Poland's 1791 Constitution and Polonia Day as well as the 60th Anniversary of The United Nations. Many plans are already established for this important occasion, and yet I hope that your calendar would allow you to attend our Ball. Your participation would add the international atmosphere we are hoping to present to our guests. Always an elegant affair, we can assure you it will be a memorable evening with entertainment including a piano solo by Dr. William Wellborn, playing Chopin, and the always fabulous performance by Podhale Polish Folk Ballet from Los Angeles. Both will take your breath away! The Menu reflects foods from nations representing some of the original Charter Members. Invitations will be mailed soon and we look forward to having you join us! The Consul General of the Republic of Poland, Mme. Krystyna Tokarska-Biernacik from Los Angeles will again join us. Please visit our website www.polishculturesf.org for additional information about our longstanding contribution to the cultural diversity of the Bay Area, as well as over 400 photographs from last year's Ball. With over 115,000 Poles in the Bay Area, we are glad to have Mr. Christopher Kerosky represent Poland as an Honorary Consul here in San Francisco. When Poland joined the European Union last year, he took part in the various celebrations and meetings honoring that occasion and is now fervently working at resolving the Visa Waiver problem for Polish citizens. We are confident that his work will make an impact. As we all know, the world desperately needs cohesion now, and each of us has a responsibility to the success of that. The Foundation is working closely with Mrs. Pat Di Giorgio in executing an extraordinary Programme for the UN60 Celebrations here in San Francisco. We played a significant role in participating in UN50 when President Walesa was in attendance. Another recent accomplishment was cooperating in 2003 with The Legion of Honor in promoting "Leonardo da Vinci and The Splendor of Poland," attracting over 208,000 visitors in ten short weeks. Over 30 cultural events were presented to coincide with that exhibit. Thanks to the PACF, you can find Lech Walęsa Street at Civic Center, Joseph Conrad (Korzeniowski) Square across from The Cannery and The Black Madonna Chapel at St. Mary's Cathedral. Respectfully yours, Caria Tomczykowska, President PACF 4077 Waterhouse Road, Oakland, California 94602 (510) 599-2244 polishartssf@yaho.com http://www.polishculturesf.org Commemorating the 60th Anniversary of
the Liberation of Auschwitz
There were also Prayers (Catholic, Orthodox, Evangelical, Jewish) Cantor Joseph Malowany sang Kadish Lightning of the funeral lights at the plaques of the Nations' Memory Monument in Birkenau
Links: http://www.um.oswiecim.pl/rocznica/ http://www.prezydent.pl/oswiecim/index.php http://www.auschwitz.org.pl/ http://www.auschwitzanniversary2005.pl http://www.pap.com.pl/auschwitz/index.html | |||||||||||||||
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