February 28, 2015 – A New Beginning
(By:Paul Hensler) My web designer, Charles Johnston and I are working on a new look for our website that will allow all of our visitors to follow Blessed Father Jerzy through the last four years of his life. To do this we will be using the speeches and sermons he gave at the once-monthly Masses For The Fatherland, starting on February 28, 1982. In addition, using archival photographs, books video and eyewitness testimony we will try to establish the environment in Poland at the time of each mass and the circumstances of his position at the church as resident priest. The Following is the first installment of the heroic life of Blessed Father Jerzy Popieluszko that led to his martyrdom four short years later: February 1982 was a month of great importance to Father Jerzy Popieluszko. His new goal was to try and make the church a bridge between the underground and the people in the pews. His own church would be a meeting place of patriots: Poles who wanted to restore a sovereign, democratic nation. His pastor at St. Stanislaw Kostka, Father Toefil Bogucki, had revived the tradition of masses for the fatherland in October 1981, and his rough tongue and brassy phrasing had found an interested congregation. Seeing that Father Jerzy was hungry to be more involved in the masses Father Bogucki asked him to speak at the next mass for the fatherland on Sunday, February 28, 1982. The little church was packed, with people spilling out it’s massive brass doors. […]