Decades before he made history as Pope John Paul II with his appearance at Giants Stadium in October, 1995, then Karol Wojtyla, Titular Bishop of Ombi and Auxiliary Bishop of Kraków, paid a much quieter visit to New Jersey, touring Polish communities and conducting masses in local churches such as Holy Rosary in Passaic.
His ascension to the Papal seat in 1978 corresponded to the beginning of a Polish social and political revolution called the Solidarity Movement. In a historic address, he is credited with the peaceful revolution helped end communism. He became a symbol of hope for many in Polish American communities like Passaic and Bayonne.
Dedicating himself to the priesthood in secret in Nazi occupied Krakow during World War Two, Wojtyla was ordained in 1946, finished his doctorate in theology in 1948, and on vacations worked and preached to Polish immigrants in France, Belgium and Holland. After 1948, he became vicar to various parishes, and eventually was appointed Auxiliary Bishop in 1958 and Archbishop of Krakow in 1964. Since being named Pope in 1978, Pope John Paul II became one of the most powerful men religiously and politically in the world. In 1981, he was the victim of an assassination attempt in St. Peter’s Square. But he survived and traveled the world greeting thousands of people wherever he went.
In 1995, he came to Newark, New Jersey, where he talked with high ranking American officials about human rights, the American family and the war then raging in Bosnia. He held services in Giants Stadium.
Bayonne religious leaders remembered Pope John Paul II with great reverence.
Father Gerard Lombardo of St. Michaels Church called the pope “a remarkable man,” who legacy would include helping with the fall of communism, but as a person, had a profound caring for people.
“He care about people around the world and went to see them,” Father Lombardo said. “and people here are very sad. We have lost our shepherd.”
St. Michaels will have a service in the Pope’s memory on Thursday evening at 8 p.m. Father Joe Barbone of Our Lady of Assumption said he had mixed feelings about the death.
“His legacy is that he touched more people that most of the other popes combined,” Father Barbone said. “He traveled far and touched so many people in so many countries and people of different religions. He was very charismatic and it will be difficult to replace him. The person who replaces him will need to be charismatic, too.”
Our Lady of Assumption will hold a memorial mass in the pope’s memory on April 11, at 7:30 p.m.
Rev Andrew Kulig, Dean at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, said he and his parish felt a great sadness and sense of loss.
“We did not only lose the head of the Roman Catholic Church, but a very great fatherly figure,” Rev. Kulig said. “He emanated that fatherly sense to everyone not only catholic world.”
Rev Kulig said Pope John Paul II lived up to the credo “Here I am, Lord, I’ve come to do your will.”
“He was someone very important to the Polish community,” Rev. Kulig said. “We’re a Polish parish and we are grieving.”
Over the weekend, the church has held masses and other ceremonies to help the parishioners.
“Pope John Paul II led us for 27 years with absolute dedication. He was vigorous in preaching Christ’s message. He exuded that enthusiasm and of course Polish people were very proud to have a polish Pope.”
Rev. Kulig said John Paul II transformed the work and agreed with at statement issued by President George W. Bush who called the pope “a hero for all ages.”
“He was my hero,” Rev. Kulig said. “I’ve always tried to emulate him and follow his example.”
To help parishioners get over their grief, Rev. Kulig said the church facilities would be available and priest through homilies would try to remind people that this Pope was a man of action and a man of peace.
“He will be in our hearts and minds forever,” he said. “Jesus’ first message to his disciples was `Peace be with you,’ and that was John Paul’s message.
Pope John Paul II is a pontiff that took the papacy to the people, and during his term he visited more than 130 countries.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is holding day time masses in English and evening masses in Polish over the next week to help people get over their grief and express their gratitude at having such a pope.
“I was in Rome eight years ago,” Rev. Kulig recalled. “I was only in the general audience, but I was able to touch him and shake his hand. I saw him when he came to Giants Stadium. When the Popemobile passed you by, you felt a strong presence. When you saw him, you felt that if he was there for you, even if you were in the middle of a crowd.”
Monsignor Edward M. Matas of St. Joseph’s Church said he had met Pope John Paul II several times in his role with the Slovak Catholic Federation of the United States and Canada.
“He was holy, very joyful and a very amusing man,” Monsieur Matas said. “The last time I saw him he asked me where I was from. When I told him I was from the Archdiocese of Newark, he recalled his visit and Giants Stadium. He said, `rain, rain, rain.” He still remembered being there three years later
Al Sullivan can be contacted at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com