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Mass to spotlight Polish-American month

NEW BEDFORD -- Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 235 N. Front St., will be the setting for a Commemorative Mass at 11 a.m. Sunday in honor of Polish-American Heritage Month.

The Rt. Rev. Msgr. Stanislaus Sypek, a native son of the church, will be main celebrant and guest homilist at the Mass of Thanksgiving and Grace for all of Polish heritage in Greater New Bedford.

Msgr. Sypek was ordained on Jan. 6, 1943, and celebrated his first Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church on Jan. 17, 1943. He received a doctor of philosophy degree from Fordham University. An educator who served for years as chairman of the social science department at Emmanuel College, he was elevated by Pope Paul VI to monsignor in 1963 and named by Pope John Paul II a protonotary apostolic in 1992.

Msgr. Sypek will be joined by the Rev. Roman Chwaliszewki, the host pastor, and the Conventual Franciscan Friars of the parish as well as visiting priests in concelebrating the Mass.

A banquet following the Mass sponsored by the United Polish-American Organizations of Greater New Bedford will be held at 1 p.m. at Thad's Steak House on Ashley Boulevard.

Marching into the church in procession before the Mass will be several Polish-American organizations with members wearing uniforms and carrying banners, along with others in traditional Polish dress.

Organizations and individuals who plan to participate are asked to gather in the garden and parking lot adjacent to the church at 10:15 a.m. In the event of rain, all will meet in the parish hall.

Organizations that intend to participate include the Polish-American Women's Business and Professional Club, the Polish-American Women's Citizens Club, Henry Dabrowski Society, Lodge 536 of the Polish National Alliance; Woodrow Wilson Club, Lodge 1667 of the Polish National Alliance; Marya Sklodowska Lodge 2715, Polish National Alliance; Adam Mickiewicz Club and Society, Polish Roman Catholic Union 889; White Eagle, Polish Workers Aid Group 4; Polish-American World War Veterans Association Inc.; Polish-American World War Veterans Auxiliary, Polish Benefit Society, St. Casimir Seniors, St. Hedwig Seniors, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Seniors, and Friends of Poland Inc.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church is the Mother Church of the Polish-American Community of Greater New Bedford. The parish was formed in 1903 and the North End church dates from 1905. Participating also are St. Hedwig Church, St. Casimir Church and Holy Cross Polish National Catholic Church.