On August 2, 2019, the Friars Minor Conventual of the Parish of Grodno, belonging to the Provincial Delegation in Belarus, celebrated the feast of St. Mary of the Angels of the Portiuncula (Portiuncula Indulgence) with a large number of faithful.
The 12:30 p.m. Mass was presided over by the Most Reverend Aleksander KASZKIEWICZ, Bishop of Grodno, Belarus. The Vicar General, Friar Jan MACIEJOWSKI also concelebrated and gave the homily. He recalled the words of Saint Francis: “I would like to send you all to Heaven”. In Francis’ request of the plenary indulgence from the Pope, this had a particular meaning; from the bottom of his heart St. Francis wanted to realize Christ’s desire that all people be saved. At the end of the Mass, a Eucharistic procession took place, followed by the Bishop’s blessing with the Blessed Sacrament.
Our parish church of Grodno, dedicated to St. Mary of the Angels, dates back to the first half of the 18th century. From 1922 to 1927, St. Maximilian M. KOLBE worked there, doing pastoral ministry and publishing the Knight of the Immaculate.
Currently, the annual Indulgence of St. Mary of the Angels is the largest parish festival, attracting the faithful of Grodno and those of other cities and abroad.
The Delegation in Belarus belongs to the Province of the Immaculate Mother of God in Poland (Warsaw).
Pope Honorius III granted the plenary indulgence to St. Francis on August 2, 1216. Today, the indulgence can be gained by any faithful who visit a Franciscan church or a parish church, under the usual canonical conditions.
Text / photo: Friar Francesco CZARNOWSKI, OFM Conv.
