By EmmaLee Italia | Correspondent
The Cohort of St. Mary of the Lake Parish and St. Anthony Claret Parish, both Lakewood, will gather for a special trilingual Mass Aug. 5 celebrated by Archbishop Waclaw Depo from the Metropolitan of Czestochowa in Poland, who will dedicate an icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe parishioners received on a recent trip.
Designed to unify and celebrate the various cultures and languages of the two parishes, the Mass will take place at 1 p.m. in St. Mary of the Lake Church, with music and Readings in English, Polish and Spanish. Priests of the two parishes will concelebrate, including Father Guilherme Andrino, St. Anthony Claret Parish parochial vicar, said Father Marian Kokorzycki, St. Mary of the Lake parochial vicar.
“This is a huge dedication, having a Polish archbishop dedicating an icon to our church,” Father Kokorzycki said, explaining how the two faith communities with Polish and Latino faithful have been working together as they prepare to merge in July 2020 as part of the Faith in Our Future process.
“We are blessed and fortunate to share and be a part of what Bishop [David M. O’Connell, C.M.] has asked of us, which is to collaborate and work as a team,” said Cori Scotti, music minister in St. Mary of the Lake Parish, “and to fulfill one another with the riches and share the gifts of the Holy Spirit … It’s important to let people know we’re all here to celebrate the Eucharist, no matter what language we speak or sing.”
Archbishop Depo and his priest-secretary have been guests of Father Kokorzycki and Father Michael Sullivan, St. Mary of the Lake Parish pastor, for several weeks. Using Lakewood as a base, the archbishop has been traveling to and evangelizing various Polish communities throughout the United States during his stay, including Washington and Chicago. Bishop O’Connell and the archbishop are also set to meet during the visit.
“We are happy to have him here with us and grateful for his wisdom and knowledge,” Scotti said. “Father Sullivan has welcomed our guests with open arms and is grateful for the gifts they have bestowed upon his people. Father Kokorzycki continues to work tirelessly to make their visit comfortable.”
Scotti will sing some of the Mass music selections, as will the adult choir and Spanish and Polish choirs of the two parishes. She called Archbishop Depo’s visit, as well as the chance to collaborate as a Cohort, a blessing both personally and spiritually.
“We are here to work as one and be one in Christ,” Scotti said. “As we prepare for the merger of our English, Polish and Spanish communities, we must fully be open to all possibilities and look at change as part of the growing process.”
St. Mary of the Lake Church is located at 43 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 08701.