On November 29, 2024, the feast of All Saints of the Seraphic Order, the restored altar of St. Francis and the restored image of Blessed Salomea in the shrine church at Smardzewice, Poland, were blessed. The church is in the Diocese of Radom, Poland.
The altar depicts two images of St. Francis: the moment he received the stigmata and the moment of his transitus (passage to heaven). The altar also displays medallions showing the Franciscan Martyrs of Pariacoto, Blessed Zbigniew STRZAŁKOWSKI and Blessed Michał TOMASZEK. Both friars undertook their novitiate year in Smardzewice in the early 1980s. Thus, the rites of blessing were presided over by Friar Mariusz KOZIOŁ, the Minister Provincial of the Province of St. Anthony and Bl. James of Strepar in Poland (Cracow), because the Blessed Martyrs were members of that Province.
Friar Mariusz prayed: “Almighty and eternal God, we praise you in your saints. Their lives are a model for us and their intercession allows us to obtain Your help. Imitating their virtues, we look forward to receiving Your glory as our inheritance. We humbly beg You to bless this altar and this image. Grant that we may not only invoke the intercession of these saints and blesseds, but also seek to imitate their love and dedication to Christ, thus becoming faithful to Your truth and love.” He added: “May God grant the abundance of His graces to those who care for the beauty of this church.”
At the beginning of the Mass, the Guardian and Pastor, Friar Mariusz KAPCZYŃSKI, announced that the Mass was being offered in thanksgiving for the prayers that had been answered at this altar, the prayers that appealed for help in renovating the church interior. Friar Mariusz added: “Today we would like to thank the people who, grateful to these saints for graces received, contributed offerings and prayers to restore the altar and image depicting them.”
For more information about the shrine and the novitiate in Smardzewice, go to:
http://smardzewicefranciszkanie.pl/
Friar Jan M. SZEWEK
