“Today, let us sing a Te Deum of thanksgiving for our time spent living and working here, and for all the graces God has granted to the parish community in Lubomierz.” Thus spoke Friar Marek KUSTROŃ, the Guardian and Pastor in Lubomierz, at the beginning of a Mass commemorating the 90th anniversary of the day the Conventual Franciscans first came to this village. He mentioned that there is only one person who can remember at least a little of that day: she is a parishioner who turned ninety-six this year.
The Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated on June 2, 2024. Friar Mariusz KOZIOŁ, the Minister Provincial of the Province of St. Anthony and Bl. James of Strepar in Poland (Cracow), presided. Friar Andrzej HEJNOWICZ, a professor of church history, gave the homily.
Friar Andrzej mentioned that on April 21, 1934, His Eminence Cardinal Adam Stefan SAPIEHA, then Archbishop of Cracow, entrusted the Conventual Franciscans with the pastoral care of the parish in Lubomierz, and thus, the salvation of the souls of its residents. October 24, 1934, the Order’s Minister General gave permission to erect a friary there. Friar Andrzej continued: “We have been together for ninety years. We have been with you and you have been with us. Today it would be appropriate to say to each other: Thank you for enduring with us. Our relationship has been like that of a husband and wife….as in any family, we have had hard times and good in this parish.” Conventual Franciscans serving in a parish must play a role similar to the head of a household or the owner of a farm. They must say what is right and wrong, take care of the faith and salvation of the people entrusted to them, watch over them, protect them, share their problems and difficulties, and be role models.
In the afternoon, the friars, together with the local volunteer fire department, organized a picnic in honor of Children’s Day. The fire fighters gave the Minister Provincial and the pastor each a special statuette to express their thanks “for their support in the development of the unit.” Earlier, the Minister Provincial had blessed their new fire engine.
Friar Jan M. SZEWEK
