The Wigilia celebration, sponsored by the St. John Paul II Liturgical Center was a moving spiritual experience that brought nearly 120 people to the beautifully decorated Chapel of Our Lady of Orchard Lake – Archdiocesan Shrine of St. John Paul II, located on the Orchard Lake Schools campus.
The celebration, the second one organized by the St. John Paul Liturgical Center since its founding in 2023, took place on Saturday, December 7th and began with a few Christmas carols sung by the Filarets Choir, then continued with a mass celebrated by Father Bernard Witek, the Center Director. This was followed by a traditional Christmas Eve dinner served in the OLS Dining Hall. The American Polish Cultural Center and Irena’s Pastry catered the delicious and sumptuous Christmas Eve fare.
For those who do not attend Polish masses often, listening and singing along to traditional Polish Advent songs, such as the early nineteenth century song “Archanioł Boży Gabryjel” during the mass provided an additional uplifting experience.
Before the dinner started everybody joined in singing “Sto lat” for Sister Genowefa and Father Witek, whose birthdays are coming up.
Father Witek hosted the dinner together with the vice chairman of the Orchard Lake Schools Board of Regents, Joseph Majcher, who welcomed the guests in Polish and English. (The text of the remarks delivered at the Wigilia by Joseph Majcher is below.)
It took a long time to break opłatki and exchange good wishes since so many people knew each other and appreciated the chance to connect. The Filarets Choir sang more Polish carols after the dinner, while the guests stayed on and enjoyed the beautiful Christmas atmosphere of the event.
Photos: Alina Klin and Alicja Karlic
Joseph Majcher’s remarks at the Wigilia celebration on December 7, 2024:
Serdecznie dziękuję za wzięcie udziału w tegorocznej Wigilii.
Centrum Liturgiczne Świętego Jana Pawła Drugiego, pod kierownictwem księdza Bernarda Witka dokłada wszelkich starań, aby obchodzić najważniejsze polskie święta oraz pielęgnować język polski i kulturę na terenie Szkół w Orchard Lake.
W każdą niedzielę mamy polską mszę o 9:00 rano, a w każdą pierwszą niedzielę miesiąca polską mszę o godzinie 13:00, po której jest obiad. Z okazji ważnych polskich religijnych i narodowych świąt, w ciągu roku organizujemy około sześciu uroczystych polskich mszy, połączonych z odświętnym obiadem.
Podobnie jak w latach poprzednich, również i w tym roku ksiądz Witek odprawi pasterkę w języku polskim o godzinie 22:30. Ksiądz Witek jest na naszym terenie świetnym przywódcą duchowym.
Korzystając z okazji, chciałbym serdecznie podziękować pani Małgorzacie Wozny, która współpracuje z księdzem Witkiem. Pani Wozny jest odpowiedzialna za wydanie modlitewnika „Pan z Wami” jak również organizuje obiady po mszach.
Pragnę także podziękować siostrze Genowefie Potaczale, która podczas roku wiele razy nam pomagała oraz organistce pani Kindze Kostrzewie i chórowi Filareci za piękny akompaniament w czasie mszy.
Thank you for attending this year’s Wigilia celebration, undoubtedly the most festively celebrated holiday in Poland. The Saint John Paul II Liturgical Center at Orchard Lake, under the direction of Fr. Bernard Witek strives diligently to maintain the Polish character of the Orchard Lake Schools with weekly Polish masses, special Polish masses every first Sunday of the month followed by lunch, and around 6 special events honoring the most significant Polish religious and national holidays.
I wish to acknowledge several people who made this Wigilia event possible. Marco Santia, dining hall director, along with his entire staff set up the dining hall and insured distribution of the food. Robert Mazur and Lisa Gray of the development department decorated the dining hall. Will and Cherie Cosnowski of the Moms and Dads Club helped with waiting on the tables. Charlene and Dr. Harry Morris along with Nadia Metti so beautifully decorated the shrine Chapel for this event. If I’ve inadvertently missed anyone I apologize.
And finally, the entire Orchard Lake Schools complex wishes everyone a blessed and joyous Christmas and the very best in 2025.
