God knows us, knows everything about us, our strengths and weaknesses, proclaimed Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton, last week, for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, Sunday 28 April.
Speaking on the occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversaries of the Polish Catholic Centre and the Polish Franciscan Friars in Perth, Bishop Sproxton was joined by Maylands Polish Community Priest, Fr Tomasz Bujakowski OFM, Provincial of the Franciscan Province of Our Lady of Angels in Krakow, Stanislaw Tomasiak OFM Provincial Minister, Province of the Holy Spirit, Fr Krzysztof Bobak, as Nollamara Parish Priest, Fr Franciszek Kot SDS, Ocean Reef Parish Priest Fr Leonard Macionczyk SDS, Perth Franciscan Fr Maecelinus Meilak and Sydney Franciscan, Fr Piotr Rzucidlo OFM and Fr Phillip Miscamble from Sydney.
In the presence of some 300 people, and continuing his homily, Bishop Don said, yet God continues to love and welcome us.
“It is on that basis that we can come into his presence without fear,” Bishop Don said.
“It is with God that we can grow steadily,” he said.
“It is like the branch that is attached to the vine: our connection to God and his Son, Jesus, is the source of our growth in a strong faith and generous love,” he continued.
“We need to remember this. God does not give up on us. All he looks for from us is that we stay connected with him: trusting in his immense love for each of us and his desire that we discover true happiness with him,” Bishop Don said.
In an interview with The Record, Maylands Polish Community Priest, Fr Tomasz Bujakowski, spoke about the arrival of Polish migrants in Perth following World War II.
Four priests also arrived during that time – under cover, to administer pastorally to the many migrants and their families.
During that time, they were first stationed at St Brigid’s Church, Northbridge – as Maylands did not yet exist – while also ministering in Bindoon.
“They supported families by saying Mass and celebrating the sacraments,” Fr Tomasz explained.
“They were also stationed at Northam, which had the biggest group of people at the Army camp,” he said.
In 1973, the Polish community purchased a property in Maylands for Mass – now the parish hall – which had been formerly used by the Salvation Army.
With a new wave of migrants in 1981, the Church soon became too small and so in 1984 a new Church was built – now Our Lady Queen of Poland – which also celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
With five Sunday Masses in Polish and two in English, Fr Tomasz explained the community is very much filled with faith and of course, the Holy Spirit.
“We have a strong number of people who, while also honouring their culture, are excited to know and follow God,” Fr Tomasz said.
“They love their community, they love their Church, and most of all, they love coming to know God,” he continued.
“This has been the same for the past 50 years and will be for many more years to come,” he said.
At the end of Mass, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland, Mr Paul Bitdorf congratulated Fr Tomasz and the Polish community, also reading a letter from the Polish Ambassador, Maciej Chmieliński, who is based in Canberra.
