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& Herald Volume
Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte
Number
6
41
»
July 25, 1997
Charlotte Delegation Visits Sister City in Poland By
JIMMY ROSTAR
CHARLOTTE
—
Wroclaw has
withstood war, changes in government and the test of time to become one of Poland's top cultural, industrial and religious centers. And recently, a delega-
—
including two from Charlotte embraced many facets of life in a region steeped in history and
tion
parish priests
—
Part of a six-person delegation,
Ed Vilkauskas and FaFrank Cintula traveled to the Polish city, host of the 46th International EuSpiritan Father
ther
The
entire region of Silesia, for ex-
ample,
is
central
Europe along the Oder River ba-
a historic area located in east
Wroclaw
as capitol of the region during the
The
city
1
100s.
has withstood two world wars,
— democratic one —
centuries of political upheaval, and
Congress.
every aspect of
"We were
in the
ambiance of a
city
with 20,000 people in Wroclaw for
filled
the Congress," said Father Vilkauskas,
Our Lady of Lourdes Church Monroe and its mission, Sacred Heart
pastor of in
Church also
and
in
many it
since 1991,
was a rather broad exposure to the and religious
social, cultural, political
sense of the place."
As
in generations
when
ernment yielded
the
to a
communist gov-
a period redefining that
encompasses
life.
A
central highlight of the visit was Corpus Christi celebration, where Father Cintula and Father Vilkauskas
the
participated in the Eucharist procession as thousands lined the streets.
Father Vilkauskas,
Wadesboro. "But there were opportunities for dialogue,
is
one of Silesia's most important cities, founded in the 10th century and serving
At the invitation of the mayor of Wroclaw, the Charlotte Sister Cities Committee delegation were guests of the city government during the charistic Congress.
who
also serves
as diocesan director of evangelization, said the procession epitomized the
long celebration of the Eucharist
week-
— and
the ongoing, ingrained faith that exists still a predominantly Cathocountry despite the adjustments ex-
Poland,
past, Wroclaw's culture also involves a
in
vibrant appreciation for art and music
lic
and history that applies age groups.
perienced as a result of democracy's tak-
to citizens of all
ing hold.
Wroclaw was designated a sister city of Charlotte in 1993. The Sister Cities Committee is a private, non-profit organization responsible for coordinating the
"The church functioned for the longtime as the pivotal, most vocal, public and only voice of opposition to the communists," Father Vilkauskas added. est
"Now
the church has to take
exchanges between citizens of Charlotte and the seven cities sharing official relationships formed by municipal govern-
place in the
ments.
in a
Plans for this summertime
gan
a
year
ago,
visit be-
when Bodgan
a critical
moment;
in Poland, too.
At Wroclaw's
II upon and the members were part of the congregation of 200,000
Com-
for the pontiff's
Mass
Congress on June
1
group
were
each claiming Slavic roots.
inside August Collection Provides
city hall,
with Pope John Paul
Father Vilkauskas, Father Cintula, and Charlotte area Catholics Carlos Salcedo, Jeannine Clark, and Johanna McCloskey, that
is
counters with various aspects of the faith
Peggy Wesp,
posing
It's
major transition." The Charlotte group had other en-
his arrival to town,
the Congress and sample the city.
own
the society at large
Zdrojewski, mayor of Wroclaw, invited Charlotte Sister Cities ex-
its
new freedom of Poland.
Wesp met
ecutive director, and five others to attend
8"9
several events of the Congress, meetings with municipal leaders, and guided sightseeing tours. But both priests were struck by simple encounters of the regional charm and its inhabitants.
sin in southwestern Poland.
culture.
Kyndall Jackson offers a helping hand as Mariana Danie lands a fish during festivities at the St. Mark parish picnic in Huntersville on July 13. The event was hosted by Msgr. Joseph Kerin, pastor of the newest parish in the diocese.
The group's schedule, organized by Wroclaw mayor's office, included
the
Staff Writer
versations with
.
that closed the
And numerous con-
Wroclaw citizens helped
delegates understand the view of the faith
See Sister
Cities Visit,
page 3
4 5
7
Way To Thank
,,,,14-15
Retired Priests
16